Transplant Living: Organ Donation and Transplantation Information for Patients


Organ Facts Heart Lung Heart/Lung Kidney Pancreas Kidney/Pancreas Liver Intestine Diseases Polycystic kidneys Diabetes mellitus COPD Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis Cystic fibrosis Hypertension Coronary heart disease Cardiomyopathy Short gut syndrome Cirrhosis Hepatitis Living with Devices Artificial Hearts LVADS ICDs Pacemakers Hemodialysis Peritoneal Dialysis Liver Support Systems About Organ Allocation Matching Organs Waiting for an Organ Policies Getting on the List The National Waiting List People You Should Know Questions to Ask Selecting a Hospital Which Hospital Is Best For You? Other Options to Consider Financing a Transplant The Costs Social Services Funding Sources Care Following a Transplant Financial Resources Directory Financial Q & A Preparing for a Transplant Waiting for Your Transplant Emotional Aspects of Waiting Q & A		Organ Facts Liver How the Liver Works The liver is one of the largest and most complex organs in the body. It weighs about one pound in adults and is made up of a spongy mass of wedge-shaped lobes. The liver has numerous functions that are necessary for life. The liver helps process carbohydrates, fats and proteins, and stores vitamins. It processes nutrients absorbed from food in the intestines and turns them into materials that the body needs for life. For example, it makes the factors that the blood needs for clotting. It also secretes bile to help digest fats, and breaks down toxic substances in the blood such as drugs and alcohol. The liver is also responsible for the metabolism of most drugs. U.S. Liver Transplants Performed The chart below shows the number of liver transplants performed each year from January 1, 2002 - April 30, 2008. Based on current OPTN data as reported on July 18, 2008. Data subject to change based on future data submission or correction. Common Diseases That May Lead to Transplantation Primary sclerosing cholangitis Acute hepatic necrosis Cirrhosis Metabolic diseases Portal hypertension Hepatitis (viral, autoimmune and idiopapathic) Liver tumors Biliary atresia Was this information helpful? E-mail us with feedback or questions. Reference and Publication Information The United Network for Organ Sharing is committed to providing accurate and reliable information for transplant patients. To learn more about our content authorship and review process, please read about our Editorial Board. The content on this page was originally created on August 1, 2003 by the United Network for Organ Sharing and last modified on December 20, 2007. This web site is intended solely for the purpose of electronically providing the public with general health-related information and convenient access to the data resources. UNOS is not affiliated with any one product nor does UNOS assume responsibility for any error, omissions or other discrepancies.		You may also want to learn about: How to understand transplant statistics Liver Transplant Centers Liver center data reports Policies specific to the liver How a liver transplant is performed Liver support systems Cirrhosis Hepatitis