Question

For patients with liver failure due to cirrhosis liver, transplantation may be the only possible treatment.

please answer the below questions

• How is the care for the patient undergoing liver transplantation different from the care of a regular surgical patient?
• What patient teaching is needed after a patient receives a liver transplant?
• Should the patient with alcoholic cirrhosis be a candidate for a liver transplant?
• Should government funds be used in the care of patients with cirrhosis who continue to consume alcohol?

Answer 1

How is the care for the patient undergoing liver transplantation different from the care of a regular surgical patient?

• Liver is an organ which can regrow on certain circumstances like surgery, unless intact when matured once in a grown up person.
• patient should be well watched for any kind of allergies, infections, immunodeficiency, bleeding and clotting disorders, dyslipidemia, hypertension, diabetes etc
• patient should follow a nutritious diet as per the guidelines of the doctor
• the donor tissue should match that of the patient
• frequent check on infections should be done
• patient undergoing liver transplant should have more rest as compared to others because unlike in other transplantation the dysfunctioning liver is completely removed from the patient.
• proper supplements and care should be given to initiate and progress the growth of the transplanted graft.

What patient teaching is needed after a patient receives a liver transplant?

• A transplanted liver is more sensitive than a normal liver.
• Any sort of exposure to even less toxic chemicals in daily life can create issues in a post liver tranplant patient.
• Mnay household toxins like insecticides, mosquito repellants, paint, paint removers, gasoline and even their fumes can create problems for a post liver transplant patient.
• A patient after liver transplant is adviced to wear safety goggles, mask etc to avoid exposure to any of the triggers of complications.
• The patient is expected to drink boiled water only even it was purified in normal water purifiers or so on.
• Maintain good health through appropriate nutrition, adequate rest, necessary exercise, and stress reduction.
• The patient or the care taker should carry the essential medicines handy. An identification card or bracelet can be worn showing the medical details in brief so that in case of any emergency someone near can help you properly.
• The patient should be away from any other diseased ones so as to avoid chances of infections.
• Emergency number of the hospital, ambulance and the doctor should be save din the phone contacts.

Should the patient with alcoholic cirrhosis be a candidate for a liver transplant?

• Usually, majority of the hospitals do not recruit ALD or alcoholic cirrhosis patients for liver transplant.

Should government funds be used in the care of patients with cirrhosis who continue to consume alcohol?

No government would actually permit this. Already the recruitment of such patients are under question because many infectious and other liver failure patients are waiting for transplants who actually deserve it more than an alcoholic.

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