What precautions do liver transplant surgeons take?

 After any invasive procedure, postoperative care is a must. The same goes for liver transplantation surgery. A liver transplant is a surgery performed on liver ailment patients. Liver ailments like liver cirrhosis by overconsumption of alcohol or chronic infections like hepatitis or liver failure. All these conditions render the patient in a life-threatening situation. Therefore, liver transplantation has been considered the biggest revolutionary treatment for such patients. Liver transplant surgeons India are highly experienced, and trained professionals and have saved millions of lives.

In liver transplantation, the damaged portion of the patient’s liver is replaced with a healthy part. It involves two people, one of them is a donor who donates the healthy liver, and the other is the recipient, the one who receives. Both the recipient and donor undergo surgery and are susceptible to postoperative infections and complications. It is an invasive procedure that comes in with lots of care and precaution that should be taken for the surgery to be a success. Here is a small guide about the postoperative instructions that should be followed after liver transplantation surgery.  

• Prevention of infection:

  After the surgery is completed and the patients are discharged from the hospital, they are most susceptible to infection. To prevent it, the number of visitors should be limited. If more people are around the patient, they have more chances of infection. House should be cleaned thoroughly with a disinfectant. Proper ventilation should be maintained. Patients should avoid wheelchairs as much as they can. Instead, they should prefer walking to regain strength. The patients should refrain from animals or pets as they may be a source of infection. Patients should avoid any outside visits or public places before they are fully ready. Being on immunosuppressants renders them more prone to infections.

• Maintenance of personal hygiene and wound care

  Washing hands frequently with antiseptic soaps. This should be followed diligently by all the family members. Along with body hygiene, oral hygiene should also be maintained. Fingernails should be trimmed to avoid accumulating dirt and food in them. Regular change in the dressing should be done twice or thrice a week. A shower should be avoided immediately after the surgery. With proper preventive measures, patients can shower after two or three days. The wound should be kept clean and dry. If there is any fluid or discharge seen in the wound there may be a chance that it's infected. If anything like this is evident, consult the doctor at the earliest to avoid further complications.

• Diet and nutrition

  Patients always tend to lose weight after surgery. But with time this subsides. Gradually and slowly, patients' appetite is improved. Between all this, proper diet and nutrition are a must. A high protein ensures faster and proper healing. This also ensures liver regeneration at an increased pace. Liquid consumption should be enhanced. Avoid processed, packaged food and junk, greasy food. They all tend to increase the bad fat and result in obesity. Refrain the patient from eating unhealthy food. If the patient is suffering from high blood pressure, they should avoid eating excessive salt. Having a rich diet in vitamins and minerals is vital for staying healthy and fit. 

• Regular exercise and activity

  Being active is a crucial part of the recovery phase. Routine activities should be followed after getting discharged from the hospital. Walking around the house, climbing stairs, slight bending, and body movement will help regain strength. Heavy weight lifting should be avoided. The patient might feel slight discomfort initially in the wound area, but this will subside with time. Regular breathing exercises will ensure you a good oxygen supply, ensuring faster healing.  Bottom Line

Many factors govern the recovery process after the surgery. The patient’s age, overall health, the severity of the damage, or other complications or diseases, all play a major role. Along with all these factors, after getting the surgery, moral support and encouragement from the family, a positive attitude towards life, and strong willpower will help you get healthy faster and ensure a better life.