Liver transplant can have excellent outcomes. Recipients have been known to live a normal life over 30 years after the operation.
Overall, infections are the most frequent cause of mortality in males and females, though they are significantly higher in females. In our cohort, the main causes of mortality within the first year after transplantation were infections and surgical complications in both sexes.
The long-term outlook for a liver transplant is generally good. More than 9 out of every 10 people are still alive after 1 year, around 8 in every 10 people live at least 5 years, and many people live for up to 20 years or more.
Survival rates
86 percent still alive 1 year after surgery. 78 percent still alive 3 years after surgery. 72 percent still alive 5 years after the surgery. 53 percent still alive 20 years after the surgery.
The 1-, 5- and 10-year graft survival rates of liver transplant recipients who were younger than 65 years were 82.1%, 67.8% and 52.6%, respectively; for recipients who were 65 years or older they were 77.5%, 59.7% and 41.2%, respectively.
Liver transplant can have excellent outcomes. Recipients have been known to live a normal life over 30 years after the operation.
After 1-year, survival was 82 percent for patients over 65, 86 percent for patients 60-64 years old, and 83 percent for patients under 60. After 5 years, the survival rates were 73 percent, 80 percent and 78 percent respectively (these differences were not statistically significant).
One reason for this is that older adults with liver disease often have many other health challenges which make recovery from transplant surgery more difficult. However, researchers have recently reported successful liver transplants in older adults—even in people who are in their 80's.
If the previous problem with your liver was caused by alcohol misuse, you are advised not to drink alcohol again. It may also be a good idea not to drink alcohol even if your liver problem was not alcohol-related, although in some cases it may be fine to do so in moderation. Speak to your care team for advice.
The evaluation process is important to assure the best possible outcome for the patient. Eligibility for Liver or Kidney Transplant will provide information about the other eligibility criteria. "There is no standard age limit to be transplanted.
Retransplantation is a therapeutic option when a first liver graft fails. The second operation is technically more complex, and survival is shorter than that of the first graft, but in some cases it is the only treatment option for the patient.
Liver transplantation is an ultra-major operation and probably the most difficult of all transplant operations. The hospital mortality rate after liver transplantation has ranged from 2% to 16% 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, most series reporting a rate of about 10%.
In general, about 75% of people who undergo liver transplant live for at least five years. That means that for every 100 people who receive a liver transplant for any reason, about 75 will live for five years and 25 will die within five years.
If rejection occurs, you may experience some mild symptoms, although some patients may continue to feel fine for a while. The most common early symptoms include a fever greater than 100° F or 38° C, increased liver function tests, yellowing of the eyes or skin, and fatigue.
Very common longer-term risks
Infections are very common, even many months or years after a liver transplant. The most common infections are chest or urine infections. These are usually fairly straightforward to treat with antibiotic tablets. Infections inside the liver transplant itself can be harder to treat.
Complications following transplantation
The most common problems in the liver transplant recipient are the following: Acute graft rejection. Vascular thrombosis. Biliary leak or stricture.
This informal policy, often called "the 6-month rule," can be traced to the 1980s. The thinking was that six months of abstinence gave a patient's liver time to heal and, thus, avoid a transplant. If that didn't work, the patient would have proven they can stay sober and would not return to drinking after a transplant.
In the U.S., a widespread practice requires patients with alcoholic liver disease to complete a period of sobriety before they can get on the waiting list for a liver. This informal policy, often called “the 6-month rule,” can be traced to the 1980s.
Estimated mean cost of a U.S. liver transplantation was US$163,438 (US$145,277-181,598) compared to US$103,548 (US$85,514-121,582) for other OECD countries. Patient characteristics, disease characteristics, quality of the health care provider, and methodology could not explain this cost difference.
You may not be able to have a transplant if you: Have a current or chronic infection that can't be treated. Have metastatic cancer. This is cancer that has spread from its main location to 1 or more other parts of the body.
The pooled rate of post liver transplant survival for patients ≥70 years at 1-year was 78.7% (95% CI 72.6–83.7; I2=74%) (Forest Plot: Fig. 1), at 3-years was 61.2% (95% CI 52.3–69.5; I2=87%) (Forest Plot: Fig. 2), and at 5-years was 48.9% (95% CI 39.3–58.6; I2=96%) (Forest Plot: Fig. 3).
Different types of rejection need different treatments. The risk of rejection is commonest in the first 6 months after liver transplant (early). Beyond this, as long as patients remember to take their prescribed immune suppression, at the correct dosage, late rejection is much less common.
People with cirrhosis of the liver have a life expectancy of between two and 12 years. If you have early-stage cirrhosis, treatment and lifestyle changes can help you live longer. People with advanced cirrhosis of the liver have a much shorter life expectancy.