Liver Transplant Travel Insurance

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Liver Transplant

A liver transplant is the act of removing a damaged liver from a person and replacing it with a healthy liver from a donor.

The liver filters toxins from the blood, produces hormones and chemicals, and helps fight infection.

A liver transplant is the last recommended course of action where a liver related disease has not responded to treatment.

There are around 600 to 700 liver transplants every year in the UK.

Reasons for transplant include:

• Hepatitis C
• Primary biliary cirrhosis
• Alcohol related cirrhosis
• Cryptogenic liver disease

There are however a number of conditions which mean that a transplant would not be suitable, such as:

• Active drug abuse
• Active alcohol abuse
• Mestatised cancer outside the liver
• Septic infections
• Advanced age
• Chronic unrelated diseases

Signs of liver failure include:

• Loss of appetite
• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Jaundice
• Weight loss
• Swelling of the abdomen
• Increased sensitivity to alcohol and drugs
• Fever
• Vomiting blood

After surgery, prognosis is generally very good for transplant recipients.

However, due to the risk of rejection of the organ, the recipient will have to take immune suppressant drugs.

After a successful operation you would be fine to travel as normal.

You should however inform your GP of your plans and avoid travelling to areas of poor sanitation or high incidences of contagious disease, as the medication you are taking will have compromised your immune system to some degree.

Always carry an adequate supply of medication and ensure that medication is in hand luggage in case of delay or loss of luggage.

Useful Websites: Wikipedia-Liver Transplant -British Liver Trust - NHS Conditions- Liver Transplant - Liver Transplant Support -