Can A Person Live Without A Liver And Partial Liver Removal?

partial liver removal

If you’re wondering if a person can live without a liver, you should know that the liver is a vital organ that regulates waste levels in the blood, eliminates toxins, and stores excess energy as glycogen. Living without a liver is impossible. However, the liver is capable of regeneration. This is why even though a person cannot survive without a liver, they can survive with only a portion of it, leading many people to ask questions like can a person live without a liver or can you live with half a liver during their treatment journey. These questions are especially common among those seeking advanced liver treatment in India and understanding options like partial liver removal.      

Similarly, a living donor can donate only a portion of their liver if someone requires a transplant. After the surgery, both the donor’s and the recipient’s livers regenerate naturally. Liver problems can arise from injuries or diseases such as cirrhosis and hepatitis. In many cases, a transplant becomes necessary, though supportive care may be given temporarily. This is why people often research the best liver transplant hospital in India and compare important factors like liver transplant cost in India, especially when facing decisions involving partial liver removal.  

Continue reading to explore the liver’s functions, diseases that can affect it, and whether a person can survive without a liver helpful insights for anyone who has wondered can a person live without a liver or requires guidance on liver treatment in India

partial liver removal

The Liver’s Role and Functions

Before understanding can a person live without a liver, it is important to know the liver’s essential functions. This large, dark-red organ sits in the upper right abdomen and plays a crucial role in digestion, detoxification, and nutrient absorption. These functions also explain why patients often ask can you live with half a liver, especially when preparing for procedures like partial liver removal as part of their treatment with liver treatment in India.

What Exactly Is a Liver Transplant?

A liver transplant is a surgical procedure in which a failing liver is replaced with a healthy liver from another person. According to Dr. Vivek Vij, the best liver transplant surgeon in India, the donor may be deceased (full liver donation) or living (partial liver donation). A partial liver from a living donor can regrow to its full size in both the donor’s and the recipient’s bodies. This natural regeneration explains why many patients ask can you live with half a liver when considering care at the best liver transplant hospital in India. Before undergoing surgery, people also compare the liver transplant cost in Delhi or the overall liver transplant cost in India while selecting the right hospital.

What Diseases Can Be Cured by a Liver Transplant?

A liver transplant is usually recommended only when other treatments fail. Some conditions that may be treated include:

  • Cirrhosis: Scarring caused by alcohol misuse, viral hepatitis, or fatty liver disease.
  • Hepatitis: Viral infections such as hepatitis B and C that cause long-term liver damage.
  • Biliary atresia: A rare infant condition where bile ducts are blocked or missing.
  • Wilson’s disease: A genetic disorder that leads to copper accumulation.
  • Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC): A chronic condition damaging bile ducts.
  • Acute liver failure: Sudden liver failure caused by overdose, viral infection, or autoimmune disease.
  • Early-stage liver cancer: When confined to the liver, removing the affected part or opting for a transplant may help. 

If you have any of these conditions, consulting an experienced specialist is essential. Dr. Vivek Vij is one of the best liver transplant surgeons in Delhi and has years of experience managing complex liver disorders. 

Is It Possible to Survive Without a Liver?

Can we live without a liver? The simple answer is no. Human life is not possible without this organ. Even when the liver is functioning poorly, survival becomes difficult. How long a person can survive depends on the cause, the severity of the damage, and their overall health. Patients frequently ask can a person live without a liver or can you live with half a liver when preparing for surgery. These questions often arise during consultations at the best liver transplant hospital in India or when learning whether partial liver removal is a safe option.

Common liver conditions significantly shorten life expectancy. For instance, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease can reduce lifespan by about four years, while advanced cirrhosis may drastically limit survival without treatment.

Liver Regeneration

If the liver regenerates, can people live without a liver even for a short time? No. However, the liver is the only organ capable of remarkable self-regeneration. It can regrow even if up to 90% is removed. This is why a living donor can safely donate a portion of their liver to someone with liver failure—leading many to ask can you live with half a liver and whether partial liver removal is safe. Many patients seek guidance at a leading best liver transplant hospital in India known for advanced liver treatment in India.

During a liver transplant, the damaged organ is removed and replaced with either a full liver from a deceased donor or a partial liver from a living donor. Both the donor and recipient livers regenerate over time. Before choosing a hospital, patients often compare the liver transplant cost in India or specifically review the liver transplant cost in Delhi as part of treatment planning.

Conclusion! 

The liver is essential for survival, and living without it is not possible. While partial liver removal is safely performed due to the liver’s regenerative power, complete removal is incompatible with life. People researching whether a person can live without a liver or can live with half a liver often do so while coping with liver disease or exploring options for liver treatment in India.

Early diagnosis and timely intervention, including transplant when required, offer the best outcomes. Choosing the best liver transplant surgeon in Delhi or another experienced specialist is key. Many patients compare the liver transplant cost in India and the liver transplant cost in Delhi when selecting the right best liver transplant hospital in India.

If you are looking for the best liver transplant surgeon in India, Dr. Vivek Vij offers extensive expertise and compassionate care for individuals dealing with severe liver conditions. Contact him to learn more about treatment options and the cost of liver transplant in India.

Frequently Asked Questions: 

Q.1 Can a person survive without a liver?

Ans. No, without a liver, a person cannot survive. The liver is a crucial organ that carries out a number of crucial bodily processes; without it, the body cannot operate correctly. 

Q.2 How long can a person live without a liver? 

Ans. Without a liver, an individual cannot survive. A liver transplant may be essential to replace the diseased or severely damaged liver with a healthy one.

Q.3 Is partial liver removal possible?

Ans. Particle liver removal is possible in some circumstances, such as those involving liver cancer or liver tumours. Since the eliminated piece of liver tissue can regenerate and fill in, the liver can continue to work normally.

Q.4 What are the risks associated with liver transplant surgery?

Ans. Risks associated with liver transplant surgery include bleeding, infection, liver rejection, and adverse effects from immunosuppressive drugs used for managing rejection. However, the majority of patients who have liver transplant surgery can anticipate a successful outcome with the right medical care and monitoring.

Q.5 What is the liver transplant success rate in India?

Ans. The success rate of liver transplant surgery depends on various factors, including the patient’s overall health, the severity of liver disease, and the quality of the donor’s liver. Generally, the liver transplant success rate in India is over 80%, with most patients experiencing a significant improvement in their health and quality of life following the surgery.

Book An Appointment

Call Us Help Line Book Appt icon Book Appointment doctors icon Google map Chat Chat