Bloodless liver transplantation diminishes risks
For the last 15 years, it is a proved fact that blood transfusion –that is, blood transplantation- which is made during organ transplantation, cancer surgery and other surgical operation processes has negative effects on patient recovery. Patient physiology should be watched out especially in case of organ transplantations. The more blood is used, the more patient metabolism deteriorates, and recovery process after operation is delayed. Morbidity and mortality increase. For this reason, bleeding should also be minimized during operations; every blood intake means another trauma for the patients. Prof. Dr. Yalçın Polat Kansız, who is The Department Chair of Memorial Bahçelievler Hospital Organ Transplantation and General Surgery, gave some information about liver transplantations.
Intensive care units are just for a day
Using little blood in liver transplantations contributes shorter stay (for 1 or 2 days) in hospital and rapid discharge from hospital. The less blood is used, the less is the complication risk in the patient. Especially in the liver transplants in case of liver failure, the existent haemostasis disorder may become more complicated, and cause bleeding disorders which are irremediable. In the transplantations which we execute in our liver transplantation centres, we use blood for the patients with anaemia at the beginning of the operation.
Liver patients are prone to bleed
Liver transplant is one of the operations in which blood is most frequently used; we can say it is one of the bloodiest operations. In the patients with end stage liver failure, haemostasis is deteriorated for many reasons; some of them are low thrombocyte amount and clotting factor (prothrombin) disorder. These patients may suffer from serious bleedings even during small surgical operations and they may have surgical processes only with special precautions.
Our usage of little blood is not a coincidence
The important thing here is the monitorization of surgical method and anaesthesia, that is, a coherent work of surgical and anaesthesia team during the operation. To detect and assess the unwanted problems during the operation, the physiological parameters of patient should be watched. Our surgical method is important. We use anatomic structure very well to take liver out. We do not enter the areas which can bleed. We use the techniques which simplify the operation as possible. Our usage of little blood is not a coincidence; we ensure this with our special technique.
Liver transplant should be standardized
In liver transplantation, each stage should be standardized well. Surgical techniques should not differ in every operation if not really necessary. We ensure organ transplantations with simple methods which do not constitute a fatal risk for patients. We try to be loyal to the normal anatomy. Avoiding from complex processes, we try to operate the surgical processes as simply as possible. Because of this, our rates of “re-exploration”, which means another operation after the transplantation, are quite low.
Prepared by the Medical Editorial Board. Our health library contents have been prepared for informational purposes only and with the scientific content on the registration date. For all your questions, concerns, diagnosis or treatment about your health, please consult your doctor or health institution.
