If you’re wondering if a person can live without a liver, you should know that the liver is a vital organ that regulates the number of waste products in the blood, eliminates toxins, and stores excess energy as glycogen. Living without a liver is inconceivable. The liver, though, is capable of regeneration. Thus, even though a person cannot survive without a liver, they may survive with only a portion of it.
Similarly, a living donor must donate a portion of this organ if a person requires a liver transplant. After that, the donor’s and recipient’s livers can regenerate their remaining sections. Liver difficulties can result from various injuries and illnesses, including cirrhosis and hepatitis. A person usually requires a transplant, although dialysis may sustain a failing liver.
Continue reading this blog to learn about the liver’s numerous activities, disorders that might damage it, and whether a person can survive without a liver.
Before knowing, Can a person live without liver? Understanding the liver’s function is essential. A big, dark-red organ, the liver, is in the belly’s upper right corner. You cannot live without it. The process of eating and nutrition absorption is significantly influenced by the liver.The liver is responsible for a variety of tasks in the body, including:
The replacement of a failing liver with a healthy one taken from another person’s body through surgery is known as a liver transplant. Dr. Vivek Vij, the best liver transplant surgeon in India, says you can either receive a full liver from a donor who has just been declared deceased or a portion of a liver from a living donor. A split liver can regrow to its original size in both the recipient’s and the living donor’s bodies.
A liver transplant is typically a last-resort procedure. Now let’s discuss the various diseases that can be cured by a liver transplant.
Cirrhosis: The liver tissue becomes scarred due to the chronic liver disease cirrhosis. Alcohol misuse, viral hepatitis, or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease are some of its causes.
Hepatitis: Inflammation of the liver can result from the viral infection of hepatitis. Liver damage from chronic hepatitis B and C can lead to liver failure.
Biliary Atresia: It is a rare condition that affects infants. The bile ducts that transport bile from the liver to the small intestine are either obstructed or nonexistent in this disorder.
Wilson’s Disease: A genetic illness called Wilson’s disease results in the accumulation of copper in the liver, brain, and other organs. It may result in neurological issues as well as liver failure.
Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis: An ongoing condition known as primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) causes the bile ducts both inside and outside of the liver to swell and scar.
Acute Liver Failure: A rare but potentially fatal illness known as acute liver failure causes the liver to suddenly stop functioning. Drug overdose, autoimmune illness, or viral hepatitis are a few possible causes.
First-degree liver cancer: Primary liver cancer, also known as hepatocellular carcinoma, is a kind of cancer that develops in your liver. Removing your liver can eliminate cancer and cure it if it hasn’t spread beyond your liver. Your doctor may be able to remove just a portion of your liver containing the tumour. However, you may require a transplant if your liver is in a bad condition.
If you have these liver diseases, consulting with the best liver transplant surgeon in Delhi is necessary. Dr. Vivek Vij has years of experience treating these liver conditions and providing effective treatment.
Can we live without a liver? There is no way to exist without a liver. Even when the liver isn’t working correctly, people can’t frequently survive. Depending on the extent of the harm, what caused it, and the person’s general health, they can survive for a certain amount of time.
The average life expectancy is decreased by 4 years by non-alcohol-related fatty liver disease, a prevalent but less serious kind of liver disease. Cirrhosis, a more severe kind of liver disease, on the other hand, can severely reduce life expectancy.
Can people live without liver for any length of time if it regenerates? The only organ capable of self-regeneration is the liver. In actuality, the liver may regenerate even when up to 90% of it is missing. This implies that a full liver might be created using just a little portion of another liver. As a result, a living donor may donate some of their liver to someone with liver failure.
The damaged or failing liver of the patient is removed during a liver transplant. It is either completely replaced with a liver from a deceased donor or partially replaced with a liver from a living donor. The partial livers of both the recipient and the living donor will regenerate to become whole livers.
In conclusion, it is clear that the liver is an essential organ in the human body, and it is impossible to survive without one. While partial liver removal is sometimes possible, complete liver removal is not compatible with life.
The best way to address liver damage or disease is through early detection and treatment, including liver transplant when necessary. For those in need of a liver transplant, it is crucial to find the best liver transplant surgeon in Delhi or any other region who can provide the necessary expertise and care for a successful outcome.
When looking for the best liver transplant surgeon in India, look no further than Dr Vivek Vij. He is committed to improving the lives of those affected by liver diseases and can answer your questions. Contact him to learn more about the cost of liver transplant in India.
Q.1 Can a person survive without liver?
Ans. No, without a liver, a person cannot survive. The liver is a crucial organ that carries out a number of crucial bodily processes; without it, the body cannot operate correctly.
Q.2 How long can a person live without a liver?
Ans. Without a liver, an individual cannot survive. A liver transplant may be essential to replace the diseased or severely damaged liver with a healthy one.
Q.3 Is partial liver removal possible?
Ans. Particle liver removal is possible in some circumstances, such as those involving liver cancer or liver tumours. Since the eliminated piece of liver tissue can regenerate and fill in, the liver can continue to work normally.
Q.4 What are the risks associated with liver transplant surgery?
Ans. Risks associated with liver transplant surgery include bleeding, infection, liver rejection, and adverse effects from immunosuppressive drugs used for managing rejection. However, the majority of patients who have liver transplant surgery can anticipate a successful outcome with the right medical care and monitoring.
Q.5 What is the liver transplant success rate in India?
Ans. The success rate of liver transplant surgery depends on various factors, including the patient’s overall health, the severity of liver disease, and the quality of the donor’s liver. Generally, the liver transplant success rate in India is over 80%, with most patients experiencing a significant improvement in their health and quality of life following the surgery.