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Liver Transplantation
Reviewed by Medicinsk Expert•Last updated: 2026-10-22•Transplantation Donation

Liver Transplantation

A liver transplant is a surgical procedure used when the liver fails and other treatments are no longer effective, replacing a diseased organ with a healthy one from a donor.

Overview

The liver is the largest organ inside the body, responsible for digesting food, storing energy, and removing poisons. Because the body cannot function without a working liver, doctors may place patients on a waiting list for a transplant if the organ fails and other treatments are unsuccessful.

The Procedure

During a liver transplantation, a surgeon removes the diseased liver and replaces it with a healthy one. Sources for the new liver include:

  • Deceased donors: Most transplant livers come from a donor who has died.
  • Living donors: A healthy person may donate part of their liver for a specific patient.

Causes for Transplantation

  • Cirrhosis: The most common reason for a transplant in adults, characterized by scarring of the liver due to injury or long-term disease.
  • Biliary atresia: The most common reason for a transplant in children, which is a disease of the bile ducts.

Post-Transplant Care

Following a transplant, patients must take medication for the rest of their lives to prevent the body from rejecting the new liver.

Frequently Asked Questions

Matching considers blood type, body size (weight and height), and the severity of your liver disease (higher MELD scores get priority). Geographic proximity is also important to reduce cold‑ischemia time, so patients listed at centers closer to donor hospitals may receive organs sooner.
Early rejection often presents with fever, abdominal pain, jaundice, or rising liver enzymes. Patients are monitored with routine blood tests (ALT, AST, bilirubin) and sometimes liver biopsies. Prompt adjustment of immunosuppressive meds usually reverses rejection.
Hospital stay is usually 7‑14 days. Full recovery can take 3‑6 months. Light activities are encouraged within the first few weeks; most patients return to sedentary work by 2‑3 months and can resume moderate exercise after 4‑6 months, pending physician clearance.
Eligibility is based on the severity of liver disease (MELD or Child‑Pugh scores), presence of life‑threatening complications (ascites, encephalopathy, variceal bleeding), overall health, absence of uncontrolled infection or cancer, and ability to adhere to lifelong immunosuppression and follow‑up care.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

MedlinePlus brings together authoritative health information from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.

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