Recently, “a woman donated her liver to save her ex-husband from liver cancer and remarried”, “three filial sons donated their liver to their cancer-stricken father” and so on, spreading positive energy while also familiarizing us with the word “liver replacement”. The term “liver transplantation” has also become familiar to us. The so-called liver exchange is a living liver transplant.
I. What is the function of the liver? Can I have a liver transplant?
Metabolic functions.
①Glucose metabolism
②Protein metabolism
③ Fat metabolism
④Vitamin metabolism
⑤ Hormone metabolism
Immune function: The liver is the largest reticuloendothelial cell phagocytic system, which is able to isolate and eliminate invading and endogenous antigens through phagocytosis.
Coagulation: Almost all coagulation factors are produced by the liver, which plays an important regulatory role in the dynamic balance of the body’s two systems of coagulation and anticoagulation. The severity of liver function destruction often parallels the degree of coagulation disorders. Clinically, it is common for some cirrhotic animals to bleed or even die as a result of liver function failure.
Other: The liver is involved in the regulation of blood volume, heat production and the regulation of water and electrolytes in the body. For example, when the liver is damaged, there is an imbalance in the regulation of sodium, potassium, iron, phosphorus and other electrolytes, and it is common for water and sodium to be retained in the body, causing edema and ascites.
Second, the liver has so many important functions, can it be replaced by others?
A healthy liver has a strong potential function and 70% of the liver is normally removed without causing liver failure. In addition, the surgeon will choose the most appropriate ratio for the transplant before surgery, and it is generally safe for the donor to have more than 30% remaining.
At the same time, the liver has a strong regenerative capacity, although it cannot heal itself in a second like Wolverine, it has been reported in the literature that living liver transplant donors have regenerated their livers between 2 weeks and 1 month after surgery, and the liver can reach about 90% of its preoperative volume 3 months after surgery. Of course, the regeneration is a proliferation of the remaining portion of the liver, not a regeneration of the resected area, so the morphology of the regenerated liver will be different from the preoperative one.
Therefore, “liver replacement” is possible.
What are the conditions for liver donation?
1. Age must be less than or equal to 50 years old. 2.
2. ABO blood type is compatible. 3.
3. normal liver shape, texture and function, no history of chronic liver disease such as hepatitis, and no fatty liver.
Sometimes, in times of extreme shortage of liver sources, it is necessary to utilize livers that do not meet the criteria, such as those of patients with mild to moderate fatty liver and those of elderly people.
4. no other diseases that may affect liver function, such as arteriosclerosis, hypertension, and no history of alcohol abuse
5. no malignant tumor, tuberculosis, no systemic infection or local septic infection, no virus and other pathogens carried, such as HIV, rabies virus, etc.
To sum up, it is possible to continue living with a part of the liver cut off. If it is good, it can gradually return to the physical condition before donation.