When Should You See A Liver Transplant Surgeon?
The liver is the largest of the internal organs. It does complex functions including digesting food and ridding the body of toxic substances. Since these are essential functions for a healthy body, you need to be careful about problems affecting the liver and see a liver transplant surgeon.
Common liver problems
Primary Biliary Cirrhosis: The problem arises due to a faulty immune system. The immune system attacks the bile ducts considering them harmful foreign elements. In other words, the immune system fails to recognize them as native organs of the body.
Hepatitis B/C: It is a viral infection that requires quick attention because even a slight delay in getting treatment could lead to failure of the liver. If you have nausea, fatigue, loss of appetite, and abdominal pain, you should see a liver transplant surgeon as you could have a hepatitis infection.
Biliary Artesia: It is bile duct malformation leading to the accumulation of bile in the liver itself. The affected liver fails to transport bile to the gall bladder or intestine and bile continues to accumulate in the liver. If left untreated, it could lead to liver failure and require a transplant.
Wilson’s Disease: The liver absorbs copper needed for your body and the excess copper is flushed out. But an affected liver fails to remove copper leading to Wilson’s disease. If you have muscle stiffness, problems with speech, or yellowing of the skin, you should see a liver transplant surgeon.
Sclerosing Cholangitis: The problem involves the narrowing and scarring of bile ducts in and out of the liver. The bile ducts get inflamed and inflammation scars the ducts. This disease progresses slowly but could lead to liver failure and require a transplant. See a doctor if you have itching, fatigue, jaundice, and abdominal pain.
Liver Cancer: When the liver gets affected by cancerous cells, the spoiled part has to be removed to save the healthy liver. But it has to be early otherwise cancer could spread to the surrounding organs. You should see a liver transplant surgeon at the earliest.
Acute Liver Failure: This condition develops due to an infection with hepatitis A/E, a toxic element, or an overdose of medicine. It involves a rapid deterioration of liver functions leading to failure.
Final Thoughts
Monitor your liver function and see a liver transplant surgeon as soon as you notice even a slight change in the liver function. It could be due to a problem and the problem could become serious if it is left untreated.
