A liver transplant is a life-saving treatment in which a diseased and failing liver is replaced with a healthy one. Many individuals are waiting for a new liver. Those who need a liver transplant in Turkey are severely unwell and have no other options for treatment. End-stage liver disease, abrupt liver failure, or liver cancer are all possibilities.
For foreign patients seeking excellent medical facilities, competent surgeons, and cost-effective liver transplant surgery, Turkey offers a one-stop destination.
Turkey’s healthcare sector has grown to become a global attraction for patients from all over the world. Organ transplantation in Turkey, for example, is a complex procedure that is strictly regulated by approved authorities and has consistent therapeutic outcomes.
The best multi-specialty hospitals include dedicated liver transplantation programs that provide patients with all sorts of liver transplant operations, including living-donor, cadaveric (dead), swap liver transplant, and ABO incompatibility liver transplant.
Turkey’s liver transplant surgeons are experts with a wealth of expertise and understanding in the field. The liver transplant recipient is cared for holistically by a diverse team of qualified specialists and English-speaking nurses.
What Is Liver Transplant?
A liver transplant replaces a diseased and failing liver with a healthy one, saving the patient’s life. Many people are on the waiting list for a new liver transplant. Those who receive liver transplants are terminally ill and have no other options for treatment. They could be suffering from advanced liver disease, acute liver failure, or liver cancer.
You can’t survive without a healthy liver. A liver transplant could save your life if your liver is failing or if you have primary liver cancer. Your liver can stop operating for a variety of reasons, including immediate (acute) causes such as toxic poisoning and chronic liver diseases. There are far more people in need of liver transplants than there are available donor livers.
A liver transplant in Turkey is normally reserved for the following situations:
- Failure of the liver (acute or chronic).
- Primary liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma).
It’s usually a last-ditch effort. Donor’s livers are in high demand, and even if you acquire one, it won’t always cure the underlying condition. On the new liver, several chronic liver disorders will simply resume their damaging work. However, because these diseases progress slowly, starting anew with a healthy liver can help you save time.
When Is a Liver Transplant Required?
When a person has liver failure, which can be life-threatening, a liver transplant is the best option. There are two types of liver failure: acute liver failure, which happens suddenly (within a few weeks) and is generally caused by an infection, and chronic liver failure, which develops over months or years and is caused by persistent exposure to chemicals, drugs, and other causes. A patient with persistent liver failure is usually treated with a liver transplant.
The following conditions can cause liver failure:
- Chronic Hepatitis (B and C)
- Liver cirrhosis: It is a scarring of the liver tissue that results in the failure of the liver’s functions. Excessive alcohol intake, chronic hepatitis, fatty liver disease, and inherited genetic abnormalities are among the causes.
- Primary biliary cirrhosis (in which the immune system assaults and kills the bile ducts) and Biliary atresia are autoimmune liver disorders that damage the bile duct (malformation of the bile duct). Biliary atresia is a rare condition that is the leading cause of pediatric liver transplantation.
- Hemochromatosis (excess iron in the liver and body), Wilson’s disease (abnormal copper metabolism), and other genetic liver diseases.
- Primary hepatocellular carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma, and hepatic adenomas are examples of liver cancer.
- Thrombosis of the liver.
- Hepatitis with fulminant viral hepatitis and liver failure.
A person must meet certain requirements and undergo a series of medical assessments by a transplant team before undergoing a liver transplant.
If they agree, the patient’s name will be added to a waiting list for a deceased donor, or if the patient has a compatible living donor, surgery will be scheduled immediately.
What Are the Requirements for a Liver Transplant?
The demand for liver transplants is great, and not everyone who wants one will be able to get one. Those who do will be subjected to extensive surgery and recuperation. Healthcare providers want to do everything possible to ensure the success of the transplants they undertake. That’s why, in order to be considered for a liver transplant, you must meet certain criteria.
The following are the minimum requirements for a liver transplant:
- You are experiencing symptoms of liver failure or primary liver cancer.
- That you are in good enough health to have surgery and recuperate.
- That you are not at risk of abusing alcohol or drugs in the future.
There’s a lot that goes into figuring these things out. Your physical and mental health, as well as any history of substance dependency, will be thoroughly assessed by healthcare specialists. If you have any compromising circumstances, you must first cure them. You will be placed on the national waiting list for a liver transplant after you meet the basic requirements.
Liver Transplant Cost in Turkey
The average Liver Transplant Cost in Turkey starts from USD 50,000. Liver transplant Cost in Turkey are more affordable when compared when other nations and the hospitals in Turkey have some of the best state-of-the-art types of equipment and renowned liver surgeons in the globe. Listed below are the different types of liver transplant and their starting price.
| Treatment | Starting Price |
| Transplantation of an Orthotopic liver | USD 55,000 |
| Transplantation of a Heterotopic Liver | USD 50,000 |
| Liver Transplantation with a Smaller Size | USD 45,000 |
Cost of Liver Transplant in Different Cities in Turkey
| Cities | Starting Price |
| Istanbul | USD 52,000 |
| Ankara | USD 50,000 |
| Antalya | USD 51,000 |
| Izmir | USD 50,000 |
| Bursa | USD 53,000 |
| Adana | USD 50,000 |
Please note that the pricing of the treatment can vary depending on various factors.
Factors That Can Affect Liver Transplant Cost in Turkey
Here are some variables that can affect Liver Transplant cost in Turkey:
- Medication costs.
- Duration of treatment.
- Geographical location.
- Hospitalization expenses.
- Government policies and subsidies.
- Medical tourism packages.
- Hospital reputation and infrastructure.
- The expertise and experience of medical professionals.
- The type and frequency of diagnostic procedures.
- The choice of treatment modality.
These features can help medical staff members and patients negotiate and make decisions that best meet their own needs and preferences.
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Procedure
What Are the Different Types of Liver Transplant Surgery Available in Turkey?
Liver Transplantation in Turkey can be done in three ways. The following are some of them:
Transplantation of an Orthotopic liver
The entire liver of a deceased donor is taken, conserved, and delivered to the recipient’s location in this surgery. It should take 12 to 18 hours from the time the healthy liver is removed from the donor’s body to the time it is implanted in the recipient’s body.
The donor’s liver is implanted and blood flow is restored after the damaged liver from the patient’s body is separated from the blood vessels and other belly structures retaining it. A tiny tube is attached to the bile duct for connecting.
Transplantation of a Heterotopic Liver
This procedure involves putting the healthy donor’s liver on one side and leaving the diseased liver alone. It is carried out if the doctor believes the damaged liver will recover at some time. As a result, the donor’s liver is quite close to the damaged liver of the recipient.
If the original liver recovers, the donor’s liver shrivels away; however, if the original liver fails, the donor’s liver shrivels and restarts function.
Liver Transplantation with a Smaller Size
This type of surgery is normally reserved for children. In this procedure, 15 to 20% of the original liver is preserved. It entails the transplanting of a portion of the donor’s healthy liver into the recipient.
What Are the Benefits of Liver Transplants in Turkey?
A liver transplant surgery in Turkey has a number of advantages. Most crucially, for patients with medical issues such as end-stage liver disease, it can be a life-saving procedure. The patient can now live a longer and more active life thanks to the replacement liver.
It’s also worth noting that the earlier a liver transplant is performed, the better the chances of success and post-transplant survival. This is because a lengthier wait time can cause the liver’s state to deteriorate even worse.
Patients can avoid a long organ waiting list by having a living-donor liver transplant, and the surgery can be scheduled at the convenience of both the patient and the donor.
How Can I Assist in the Care of My Newly Transplanted Liver?
- Maintain contact with your medical team: Keep all of your medical appointments, complete all of your routine testings, and contact your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns.
- Take your medications exactly as instructed: Do not miss a dosage. Let your healthcare staff know if you forget. Always check your doctor before taking any extra medication, even natural supplements. It’s possible that they’ll interact with your new medicines.
- Take the following precautions to avoid common diseases including viruses and food poisoning: Keep an eye out for symptoms of infection, such as fever, vomiting, or swelling, and seek treatment as soon as possible.
- Maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle: A nutritionist can assist you in developing a long-term eating plan. Tobacco and alcohol should be avoided. On most days, try to get some exercise.
What Is the Success Rate of Liver Transplants in Turkey?
The post-liver transplant life expectancy is at least five years for roughly 72% of individuals who undergo surgery.
Because a living donor has a shorter waiting period and the patient receives the transplant before his or her condition worsens, the living donor approach has a greater liver transplant survival rate.
Living donor liver transplants have a five-year survival rate of around 78%. Around 90% of transplant recipients live for at least a year after the procedure. Liver transplants have a 55-60% long-term success rate.
After a liver transplant, the majority of people are able to live a normal, healthy, and productive life. However, the effect varies from instance to case and is difficult to generalize due to individual circumstances.
The Most Important Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is a Liver Transplant Painful?
A: Although there is discomfort following a liver transplant, it is usually not as severe as it is after other abdominal surgeries. Because nerves are cut after the initial abdominal incision, the skin around the belly becomes numb.
Q: How Long Do You Spend in the Hospital Following a Liver Transplant?
A: After a liver transplant, the majority of patients are admitted to the hospital for seven to ten days. After that, individuals usually recover at home before returning to work or school in around three months.
Q: Is It True That Donating a Portion of Your Liver Shortens Your Life?
A: As much as a person who hasn’t had a liver transplant, i.e. the entire public. Now, You know that living liver donation has no bearing on your life expectancy or health. It just has an effect on your psychology and society. For the rest of your life, you will feel proud and satisfied.
Q: What Makes You Ineligible for a Liver Transplant?
A: A major heart and/or lung diseases, such as heart failure or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or serious mental health or behavioral disorder that makes it improbable that you would be able to follow medical instructions for the rest of your life after a liver transplant.
Q: Is It Possible to Lead a Regular Life Following a Liver Transplant?
A: Although recovering from a liver transplant can take a long time, most people are able to resume most of their daily activities and have a high quality of life.
Top Hospitals for Liver Transplant in Turkey
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