Our Health Library information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Please be advised that this information is made available to assist our patients to learn more about their health. Our providers may not see and/or treat all topics found herein.

Liver transplant

A liver transplant is a surgical procedure that removes a severely diseased liver and replaces it with a healthy liver from an organ donor.

Conditions that can destroy the liver include long-term alcohol use, viral hepatitis, liver cancer, and other diseases. These include genetic diseases or diseases of the bile ducts that carry bile away from the liver.

After receiving a transplant, a person will need to take medicines the rest of their life to suppress the immune system and prevent rejection of the new organ.

Not everyone is a candidate for liver transplant. The person must be in good health apart from the liver disease, be free from drugs and alcohol, and be young enough for the possibility of a long life when healthy. The person must also be free from significant psychological disorders, such as severe depression.