Liver Transplant
People who suffer from liver disease or liver cancer, face the risk of losing all liver function. End-stage liver disease is usually fatal, unless a liver transplant can be done in time.
How our programme can help you
If your liver is failing, it is no longer able to break down food, repair cells and clear your body of toxins. This can lead to swelling of the abdomen and legs, drowsiness, blood infections and even coma. You may already be seeing a doctor who is monitoring your condition and liver function. If your doctor feels that your liver disease is progressing, you may be referred for a liver transplant.
If you’re suitable to receive a transplant, your liver transplant team will discuss what the best option is with you. One option is to undergo a deceased donor liver transplant. If this is the right choice for you and you are medically suitable, you’ll be added to the waiting list. As soon as a suitable donor is identified, you’ll be admitted to hospital to undergo transplant surgery.
The other option is to look for a living donor. The transplant team will work with you to identify and talk to potential donors, who may be family or friends. For such transplants, only a part of the living donor’s liver is removed and transplanted into you. Both your and your donor’s liver will regenerate close to full size. For the donor, there is no long-term risk of impaired liver function.
While you wait for your liver transplant surgery, the transplant team will help you stay in the best possible physical condition so that your body can better accept the new organ, whether it is from a living or deceased donor.
The team will continue to look after you, even after your transplant has been completed. You’ll also have to take anti-rejection medications for the rest of your life to prevent your body from rejecting the new liver.
Achievements
Singapore General Hospital’s Liver Transplant Programme was set up in 2005. The liver transplant team performed its first transplant in 2006. Since then more than 40 life-saving transplants have been performed for patients with acute liver failure, end-stage liver disease or liver cancer.
For more information on liver transplants
Contact
Ms Lee Hwei Ling or Ms Quek Yih Jen or Ms Dai Ming Xiu
Liver Transplant Service
Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Singapore General Hospital
Outram Road
Singapore 169608