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Q.

What surgery options do I have for Hepatitis C?

Related Topics: Hepatitis C, Surgery
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A.

If chronic hepatitis C damages your liver so severely that it no longer works well (end-stage liver failure), you may need a liver transplant to extend your life. Liver transplants are not common.

Surgery Choices

A liver transplant is the only surgical treatment that can help people with end-stage liver failure.

What To Think About

Liver transplantation is a risky, expensive procedure. And donor organs are hard to come by. Most of the time, only people who are in good health (other than having liver disease) are considered for a transplant. You will not be considered if you are using alcohol or drugs or have certain mental health problems.

After a liver transplant, you will need lifelong follow-up care by a specialist. You also will need to take immunosuppressant medicine to keep your body from rejecting the new liver. This medicine may cause other problems.

Hepatitis C almost always infects the newly transplanted liver. Recurring liver disease after a transplant can be a serious problem and may cause the new organ to fail. But most patients do very well after a liver transplant and are able to live normal lives.

This answer should not be considered medical advice...down arrowThis answer should not be considered medical advice and should not take the place of a doctor’s visit. Please see the bottom of the page for more information or visit our Terms and Conditions.up arrow

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Read the Original Article: Hepatitis C-Surgery
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