A healthy liver requires a balanced diet and regular exercise

In an interview with Manav Mander, Dr. Gursagar Singh Sahota, chief liver transplant surgeon at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, shares how organ transplants are a life-saving procedure, giving people with organ failures the opportunity to live. It is also a way to improve the quality of life of people with chronic illnesses.

Punjab and its neighboring states are burdened with liver-related diseases. The patient suffers from liver problems due to alcohol abuse, B&C hepatitis virus, and obesity-related (fatty liver). The problem is increasing due to lifestyle changes (lower activity levels and eating junk/processed foods).

When considering a liver transplant, it is important to remember that you maintain a healthy lifestyle by eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, avoiding alcohol, taking all prescription medications, being proactive, having a significant commitment to frequent monitoring and frequent post-monitoring care, and having strict adherence to medical guidelines, optimizing your chances for recovery.

Depending on the type of liver donor, there are two types of liver transplantation procedures. Patients who donate organs after brain death are called corpses or brain dead donors. On the other hand, if a living person contributes a portion of his liver, he is called a living liver donor while he enjoys a healthy life. Liver transplants are complex manipulations and require experienced, interdisciplinary teams to ensure successful outcomes.

Any person can become an organ donor after death. A living person can swear to donate organs to operate on patients with organ failure. Liver donors should generally be relatives or family members of the patient between the ages of 18 and 55, with no history of diabetes or hypertension and should lead healthy liver lives of liver donors after donation.

Liver donors can donate up to 70% of their liver to fully recover after their donation and save the lives of their loved ones. The liver will regenerate completely within three months. Liver donors are able to perform normal physical activity after recovery. They don't need long-term medicines and can lead normal lives.

Patients undergoing liver transplant surgery (recipient) will stay in the hospital for approximately 18 days. They have a recovery period of almost three months. Recipients need long-term medications to protect their new liver from rejection.

Live liver donors have been observed in hospital for seven days. Donors recover very quickly and do not need long-term medication.

Liver transplant surgery provides good results with survival rates of 90% or more after successful liver transplant surgery. Patients should undergo regular follow-up and physical examinations to ensure long-term outcomes. Patients need to improve their habits or treat the causes that lead to liver disease first to prevent new liver damage.

Liver transplantation is the last option, but everyone should focus on working to maintain liver health. To keep your liver healthy, prioritize a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains, limit alcohol consumption, exercise regularly, maintain a healthy weight, practice safe sex to prevent hepatitis, maintain hydration, and take new supplements and medications that may affect liver function.