Liver Disease and Life After A Liver Transplant: Expert Q&A

What are the most common liver diseases affecting Americans and when could they lead to a liver transplant? What's life like after a liver transplant? We spoke with transplant experts Michael Charlton, MD, and Talia Baker, MD. Click "Show More" to view a full table of contents of the topics discussed.

Table of Contents:
0:00:00 Introduction
0:00:59 Why would I need a liver transplant?
0:02:08 How does liver transplant work?
0:03:42 Why is the liver so important?
0:05:10 How do I know if my liver may need to be transplanted?
0:06:54 How important is diet in treating fatty liver disease?
0:07:42 What is fatty liver disease?
0:08:56 What was it like to be part of the historic triple-organ transplant team at UChicago Medicine?
0:10:55 Is hepatic encephalopathy reversed after a liver transplantation?
0:11:53 Is there a medication available for hepatic encephalopathy?
0:12:31 What are some of the risks of a liver transplant?
0:13:53 What's the prognosis for Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBS)? And does the average patient with PBC live a long life?
0:14:34 What are the most commonly seen liver diseases that lead to cirrhosis, and how could we prevent those from happening?
0:16:25 Can rejected organs still be transplanted?
0:19:50 How long does it take to have an organ transplant once a donor match has been found and vetted?
0:21:38 Why is the wait list mortality rate at UChicago Medicine far lower than the national average?
0:24:01 Is cirrhosis of the liver always caused by alcohol abuse?
0:25:05 What is cirrhosis?
0:25:20 Is there an age limit for transplant patients?
0:26:05 What makes the UChicago Medicine Transplantation Institute unique?
0:27:08 Can obese patients have an organ transplant?

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[debbieprice]

Had a transplant. You doctors are amazing!!

[phillyphreak]

Dr. is great! Had one in March. Pennsylvania hospital in Philadelphia is great!

[rebeccajohnson]

Question Dr said i had a nodule and liver was atrophied . They are planning biopsy next.

[lynnwallis]

I had a liver transplant 7 years ago, I actually had 2 the first one failed and within a couple of days I had the second transplant, I also had no liver for 24 hrs, and I had really bad delirium while being in a coma, my Transplant was done at RPA hospital in Sydney Australia.

[jamesmcadams]

Why is there all the itching especially across the shoulders?

[rebeccajohnson]

I just found out i have chirrosis thursday, after yrs of being told i had NASH. Been really in tons of pain. Gotta see specailist. Not from achohol, genetic, lost dad, 1 sis, and 1 brother, another brother has too he found out last friday.

[jessymode]

im going through this dilema with my father
he had full liver transplant now hes on meds and is so different im scared hes going to start making bad decisions hes taking 46 pills a day and a shot he dosnt live in the same city i dont know what to do

[wthomas]

What about getting a liver transplant from another live donor

[oshp]

How long can live after liver transplant?

[vj]

Can I eat processed meat after the transplant

[TM-fjtr]

I excepted a liver with HepC, so so good. Coming up on my three month check up. I encourage people to consider a HepC liver. It can save your life.

[mnba]

The doctor is clueless it doesn’t take a month or two it’s at least 6 to one year