Is it possible to live without a liver? How the liver works. The influence of the etiological factor

Cirrhosis of the liver is a progressive, very serious disease that often provokes irreversible modifications of both the entire organ and its functions. Liver tissues are permanently and irreversibly replaced by fibrous blisters, which later form scars. It is impossible to cure the disease.

However, it is timely diagnosis and a professional approach that will help not only improve the quality of life, but also significantly extend it. How many live with liver cirrhosis at different stages of its development, and what therapeutic measures help stop the process of organ deformation?

Factors influencing life expectancy in liver cirrhosis

In order to say with accuracy how long you can live with cirrhosis of the liver, it is important to understand not only the degree of development of the pathology, but also to determine all concomitant chronic diseases. Often it is complex disorders throughout the body that lead to the fact that the prognosis for a patient with such a diagnosis is disappointing: in the last stages of cirrhosis, we are not talking about years, but about months.

Factors that help determine how long a person with cirrhosis can live:

stage;
effects;
etiology;
patient's age;
type of maintenance therapy;
patient compliance with dietary recommendations;
associated chronic diseases.

Complex therapy and drug treatment help only in the first stages of the development of pathology. In the later stages, it is only about improving the quality of life.

Disease stages and life expectancy

The first item that is specified by the doctor is the degree of development of cirrhosis. There are several stages in the development of the disease:

Complications shortening life expectancy

Life expectancy in cirrhosis of the liver depends not only on the degree and complexity of the disease, but also on factors such as concomitant complications. Against the background of hepatitis, complications such as:

Hepatic coma (50% of patients at various degrees of the disease);
Bleeding of the esophagus (all functions in the body are disturbed, the digestive system cannot cope with the load);
Thrombosis of the portal vein (90% of patients with a fatal outcome);
Hepatorenal syndrome (impaired functioning of the kidneys, which leads to the death of the patient);
Hepatocellular carcinoma (acute liver cancer);
Infectious complications (pneumonia, peritonitis, sepsis).

Replacement therapy for liver cirrhosis supports the functions of all human organs. This is the only way to prolong life. The question of whether it is possible to live without a liver is not worth it. Violation of the functions of the main gland of the whole organism leads to the destabilization of each organ.

Alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver: how long do they live?

Depending on the etiology of the disease, a person with cirrhosis while taking alcohol can live for a long time only if he completely excludes all alcoholic beverages from the diet. At the same time, the prognosis for the duration and quality of life for 50% of patients is comforting - 7 or more years of quality life.

In alcoholic cirrhosis, the main harm to the liver is the use of alcohol compounds, which actually destabilize the functions of the gland, the organ increases in volume, the blood is saturated with harmful components. Completely eliminating alcohol and taking substitution therapy in the department will improve the quality of life and reduce the burden on the kidneys and pancreas.

How many live with cirrhosis in old age?

If cirrhosis of the liver occurs in old age, the prognosis is poor. The protective functions of the body weaken, over the years chronic diseases of other organs accumulate, which reduce life expectancy in general. Situations are especially dangerous when the disease also develops against the background of viral hepatitis C.

There are many cases of death with this diagnosis (more than 70%). Excessive alcohol consumption, taking antibiotics also provoke complications. Cirrhosis in older women is somewhat more severe than in men. This is justified by the fact that the cells of the female gland are more sensitive to aggressive components. Cirrhosis of the liver in old age and life expectancy in this situation is up to 3 years.

Is it possible to increase life expectancy with cirrhosis of the liver?

Medicine is at that stage of development when time plays to the benefit of all patients. are being invented new drugs, innovative treatment methods are being tested. However, the first question of the patient when diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver is “How long do I have left to live, and is it possible to increase life expectancy?”.

It is important to understand the degree of localization of the disease, the dysfunction of the organ and the individual characteristics of the patient. The first stages of the development of the disease are quite optimistic for each patient. It is only important to follow the doctor's recommendations, take replacement therapy, and exclude harmful foods from the diet. How long they live with cirrhosis depends only on the patient himself.

50% of cases of diagnosing cirrhosis are due to excessive alcohol consumption. It is strictly forbidden to use even tinctures based on ethyl alcohol;
Viral hepatitis in 80% without proper therapy leads to complications in the form of cirrhosis. Therefore, after suffering viral hepatitis, it is important to take all medications to maintain liver function, to be observed by a doctor, to be diagnosed in a timely manner;
A strict diet helps to prolong life by several years. Exclude fatty, fried, spicy, fast-digesting carbohydrates, fatty meat, smoked meats from the usual diet. It is also important to reduce your salt intake. Habitual cooking with a low content of rock salt (for an adult - 1.5 grams of salt in any form per day);
Self-medication provokes not only complications, but also becomes a source of many chronic diseases. Painkillers, antibiotics, and any medications that were spontaneously prescribed can provoke a complication of the condition. Through the liver cells, not only all the blood passes, but also harmful microelements are filtered, which further disrupt the normal functioning of the liver.

Cirrhosis of the liver is a fatal disease that does not occur for no reason. When such a diagnosis is made, then, alas, it is not about prolonging life, but about improving its quality.

The human body is perfectly adapted to life in the conditions of our planet. Moreover - we could do without some important organs, the loss of which does not particularly affect the quality of life. So, a person can well afford to lose:

The new pope, Francis, 76, had part of one lung removed 40 years ago to treat an infection. In those years, this was a common practice, since antibiotics had not yet received such widespread use. In fact, a person can survive if one lung is completely removed from him, and this will not affect the duration and quality of life in any way. Only heavy physical exertion will be contraindicated.

We usually have two kidneys, but one is enough to survive. Some people are even born with one kidney, while others lose one as a result of injury or donation. But at the same time they do not have serious health problems and life expectancy. Technically, a person can live without kidneys at all, but then you will often have to resort to dialysis to cleanse the body.

The spleen filters the blood and helps the body fight infections, but is not necessary for survival at all: it can be removed, for example, due to damage, blood diseases or injuries. However, people without a spleen are more prone to infectious diseases.

Sometimes, when treating stomach cancer, the stomach is completely removed, after which the small intestine is directly connected to the esophagus. People who have gone through this have to eat intravenously for several weeks after the operation. After that, they are able to eat most foods, but in smaller quantities, and must take special nutritional supplements.

In this case, the quality of life is significantly reduced, but nevertheless, a person can live without a pancreas. The loss of this organ leads to indigestion, and besides, you will have to take enzyme preparations for the rest of your life. In addition, insulin is produced in the pancreas, and its removal leads to the development of diabetes.

Of course, the loss of part of the liver will somewhat complicate a person's life, but this is also not fatal. The liver is the only human organ capable of regeneration, so if you remove 25% of a person's liver, then most likely it will be able to "grow" to its original size. But to lose the liver completely is deadly, because the liver is the main filter of the body, and without it, you will be poisoned to death by the products of your own life.

People can lose their colon as a result of bowel cancer or Crohn's disease. A person can live without this organ, but not particularly well: he will have to constantly carry a bag outside the body, directly connected to the sphincter, in order to collect caloid masses. Sometimes such a bag can be created in the small intestine, it takes the place of the large intestine, and then you do not have to wear an external bag. It all depends on the clinic and the skill of the surgeon.

If stones appear in the gallbladder and they cannot be dissolved with the help of drugs, then the patient's gallbladder is removed. This is a common practice these days, and the operation itself is relatively safe. Unfortunately, complications are possible in the future, since bile gets direct access to the rectum and can get there at any time, which leads to indigestion and unpleasant symptoms.

This step is taken only if other methods of treatment no longer help. The thyroid gland is responsible for producing many essential hormones in the body, and after surgery, the patient is put on lifelong hormone replacement therapy.

“Everything should be fine in a person…” said the classic. Well, what if in this very person there is “not everything” ... That is, something very important is missing, for example, some organ? What does it threaten? How dire will the consequences be?

To begin with, organs can be removed for three reasons:

because they are considered "superfluous" or "dangerous";
for medical reasons - due to illness;
and, finally, a person can part with the organ voluntarily - become a donor.

"extra organs"

At the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century, after Nietzsche proclaimed his “God is dead,” man decided to retrain from a trembling creature into a creator. Dreams of creating a "new man" took possession of minds. Works such as Bulgakov's "Heart of a Dog" and Wells' "The Island of Dr. Moreau" were not isolated: in the 1920s, a story was published about an improved communist man of the future, in whom all internal organs were rationalized, and the extra ones were removed as unnecessary. But since it was not yet possible to create new people, they decided to improve the usual ones, cutting out “unnecessary” and “dangerous” organs from them. These included the appendix, tonsils, and foreskin. At one time it was considered dangerous to have a large intestine, but they were afraid to remove it.

Prophylactic removal of excess organs flourished in America in the second half of the 20th century, but gradually faded away.

It is now recognized that organs are never superfluous, for example, the appendix is a “depot” of intestinal bacteria, and the tonsils carry the function of immune protection, and without them, the risk of developing bronchitis or pneumonia increases. Currently, appendectomy and tonsillectomy are performed only for medical reasons.

For medical reasons

1. Cholecystectomy (removal of the gallbladder)

Perhaps most often, for medical reasons, the gallbladder is removed. Basically, due to the appearance of stones in it. These transactions amount to hundreds of thousands per year. The operation is relatively safe. Nowadays, as a rule, they try to carry it out by laparoscopic access, which does not leave a noticeable scar and less damaging the muscles and connective tissues of the abdomen.

The disadvantages of the operation, in addition to possible complications in the postoperative period (for example, a forgotten tampon or a damaged bile duct), include the flow of bile into the intestine when it pleases, which leads to indigestion and the occurrence of unpleasant symptoms.

Currently, gallstones in many cases are first tried to dissolve with drugs.

2. Splenectomy (removal of the spleen)

The spleen is most often removed for blood disorders or injuries. Although this organ performs an immune function and is involved in hematopoiesis, patients tolerate its absence well. The most serious consequence of splenectomy is an increased susceptibility to bacterial infections in the first years after surgery.

Previously, the spleen was considered the organ responsible for the sense of humor, but a British study conducted by scientists did not show differences in the sense of humor in people with and without a spleen.

3. Resection (removal) of the stomach

Gastric resections were performed for a long time in very large quantities for the treatment of peptic ulcer (in full accordance with the main surgical principle "no organ - no problem"), until effective secretion blockers appeared, and the fight against Helicobacter pylori began.

Currently, indications for gastrectomy are limited. No matter how much we complain about the high cost and inefficiency of current drugs, they have allowed many to save the stomach. Although a person may well live without it, food will be digested and absorbed in the intestines. Cons of life without a stomach: after surgery, anemia often develops, and gallstones appear.

4. Removal of the pancreas

And in the cut of a little-known organ - the pancreas, on the contrary, leads to a significant violation of digestion. After the operation, the patient has to constantly take enzyme preparations. In addition, insulin is produced in the pancreas, and its removal leads to the development of diabetes.

5. Removal of the thyroid gland

Sometimes a necessary operation (for example, with thyrotoxicosis) is a resection of the thyroid gland. However, due to frequent and serious complications, the thyroid gland is removed only when all other treatments fail.

After the operation, the patient is put on lifelong hormone replacement therapy.

6. Bowel removal

The human intestine is on average four to six meters long, and scientists have long asked the question - why so many? Wouldn't it be better if it was shorter and more comfortable?

Fortunately, no one has ever removed the intestines for prophylactic purposes (for example, in the treatment of dysbacteriosis), but resections of part of the intestine are carried out when, for example, intestinal obstruction occurs, with tumors. As a rule, the patient tolerates the removal of about 40% of the small intestine well, and the intestine adapts to new conditions. Resection of a larger volume leads to severe digestive disorders, the development of anemia, and constant diarrhea.

Resection of part of the colon (hemicolectomy) is also performed for serious indications (cancer, Crohn's disease). Its consequences are the formation of stones in the gallbladder, indigestion due to the destruction of the colonic flora. In addition, complications associated with the operation itself are possible.

Donation

Everyone knows about the collection of donor organs from corpses. An alternative to it is organ harvesting from living people. Such organs take root better. And the fact that such operations are carried out not urgently, but in a planned manner, also improves their prognosis.

In our country, organ retrieval is allowed only from blood relatives of the patient, while in the United States, spouses, friends, and just strangers can become donors. Contrary to popular belief, altruism is a necessary condition for transplantation from living donors to avoid organ trafficking. And although donors do not receive money and often do not even know who their organ will be transplanted to, the number of such voluntary donors is growing.

The main donor organs are kidney, liver, bone marrow. Mortality in donor operations is practically absent.

As is the case with any paired organ (for example, with the lungs), with the loss of one organ, the other organ hypertrophies and works for two. When one kidney is taken, the remaining one is enough to function, and the only risk is the risk of disease of the last kidney.

When taking a liver for transplantation, the right lobe of the liver (about 60% of the organ) is selected, while the remaining lobe of the liver regenerates, and the organ reaches preoperative dimensions. However, 14% of liver donors may experience postoperative complications.

The safest type of donation is bone marrow donation. In fact, this procedure is slightly more complicated than a regular blood draw. The donor is hospitalized for just one day, no more than 5% of the bone marrow is sucked out of the bones of the skeleton with special needles. Its loss is not felt, and its volume is fully restored within two weeks.

Alexey Podolsky

medportal.ru

LUNGS

Where are the Lungs occupy almost the entire volume of the chest - the heart is located between them and is shifted to the left side, so the volume of the left lung is approximately 10% less than the right. On average, 5-6 liters of air are placed in the lungs of an adult, but only 500 ml are needed for a calm breath.

Why do we need To inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide, speak, sing, yell, not drown in water.

Because of what they remove For example, because of a malignant tumor. And a tumor can have many reasons, because we pass all the dirt of this world through the lungs. Risk factors: smoking, poisons spilled in the city air, just a malfunction in the body. And you can also earn emphysema in hazardous work. Previously, infectious diseases were also a source of danger (a lung could easily be lost due to pneumonia), but with the advent of antibiotics, such cases have become rare.

What then After the removal of one lung, the second increases in size and tries to work for two. But under load, shortness of breath can not be avoided. The situation when you first had one lung cut out because of the dirty air, after which you lit a cigarette out of grief and you got a neoplasm in the second one, smells like kerosene. True, in this case, the doctors provide for transplantation - if you're lucky, and the desired organ will be available to you at the right time.

LIVER

Where is located Under the right lower rib. The liver is the largest human gland. She weighs 1200-1500 g.

Why is it needed The liver neutralizes toxins, removes excess hormones from the body, produces bile, participates in the metabolism of vitamins A, B, D, E, K, microelements (iron, copper, cobalt). In short, without such a useful organ, a person can live only 72 hours, and it can only be replaced with a transplant.

Because of what they remove As you already understood, the liver is not removed if it cannot be replaced with another - healthy one. Instead, the doctor may try to cut out as many of the irreparable areas as possible. There are cases when this organ completely restored its mass after 75% of its tissues were removed. It is not difficult to bring the liver to the operating table - most often a transplant is needed for patients with end-stage cirrhosis caused by alcohol abuse, as well as hepatitis B and C. Liver cancer and benign tumors are less common, but because of them, you may also need a transplant.

What's next If you successfully survive a major liver resection, consider yourself very lucky. Regeneration of the liver after the removal of a large amount of tissue takes only six months. Therefore, take the strict diet that the doctor will keep you on as an easy compromise - in comparison with a damp grave.

STOMACH

Where is Under the ribs just below the solar plexus. Most of the stomach is on the left side of your body. The volume of an empty stomach is on average 500 ml, full - 1.5 liters.

Why do we need Let's start from the beginning. When chewing, food in the mouth is processed by the enzyme amylase, which breaks down polysaccharides (such as starch). Once in the stomach, your lunch is mixed with gastric juice, which contains a lot of pepsin - an enzyme that breaks down massive protein molecules. Before carbohydrates and fats, the turn comes already in the intestines. Imagine, the stomach can be removed completely (the doctor will simply sew together the esophagus and small intestine), but without it, the task of breaking down proteins will fall entirely on the intestines.

Because of what they remove The main indication for this operation in peacetime is stomach cancer.

What then In order not to overload the intestines, you will have to sit on a strict diet and eat often, but little by little. In addition, after removing the stomach, you will suffer from reflux esophagitis - inflammation of the esophagus, which causes the contents of the small intestine to reflux into the esophagus. Especially if you begin to eat tightly - a crowded intestine will try to send excess food back into your mouth. In addition, the gastric mucosa contains a special substance - the Castle factor, which promotes hematopoiesis. Therefore, consider that anemia is already in your pocket.

EYES

Where are they located in the eye sockets. Your eye is not only an eyeball, but also an optic nerve, through which image information is transmitted to the brain. Take care of it - the optic nerve, unlike the other 11 cranial nerves (olfactory, facial, etc.), does not recover after damage.

Why do we need To look, peer, mow, pour, etc.

Because of what is removed Because of injuries and purulent inflammation. In order for dangerous microorganisms to enter the eye, it is enough to damage its upper protective shell - the cornea. The list of enemies also includes cancer and glaucoma. True, the eye is removed only at the last stage of glaucoma, when it no longer sees anything and constantly hurts.

What then If you lost both eyes, then you walk with a guide dog and learn Braille. With one eye - just lose binocular vision. Due to the fact that the pupils are located at a distance from each other and see objects from different angles, the brain can determine the size and ratio of everything that surrounds you. No eye - no such ability.

KIDNEYS

Where are located On both sides of the spine at the level of the lower back. The kidney is approximately 10-12 cm long, 5-6 cm wide and 3 cm thick and weighs 120-300 g.

Why do we need The kidneys clean the blood from the end products of nitrogen metabolism (urea), toxins and substances that for some reason ended up in your body in excess.

Because of what they remove The kidney has 3 enemies: trauma, urolithiasis, accompanied by purulent damage to the kidney, and tumors.

What's next If you lose one of your two kidneys, the remaining one will increase in size and take on a double load. If you take care of a single kidney, then it can reach the age when other organs begin to fail in you. The second option - you continue to torment the body with toxins and the second kidney can not stand it. In this case, you will go to the end of your life three times a week for hemodialysis - blood purification using a machine. By the way, not all settlements in Russia have such cars, so you may have to move.

TESTICLES

Where are they located in the scrotum. The average volume of an adult male testicle is 18 cubic meters. cm.

Why are they needed In the testicles, spermatozoa and male sex hormones are produced.

Because of what it is removed With testicular cancer, as well as with injuries, as a result of which necrosis of testicular tissues begins. You can also be castrated if you get prostate or breast cancer. The fact is that testosterone accelerates the development of these tumors, and the only way to stop the production of the male hormone in your body is to throw your testicles in the trash.

What then The testicles are a paired organ, and, depending on the cause, they can be removed either one at a time or both at once. Without one testicle, your life won't change much. As a rule, instead of the removed testicles, a silicone prosthesis is sewn into the scrotum “for beauty”, and to make children, one testicle is enough. The level of testosterone in the blood will drop, but it is easy to restore it with the help of hormonal drugs.

In the event that both testicles are cut off for a man at once, it will no longer be possible to conceive an heir. In addition, you will have to constantly drink male hormones. They are needed not only for muscle growth, but also so that the patient does not have female sexual characteristics such as a bust and rounded hips. However, if you have prostate or breast cancer, then after castration, testosterone pills will be contraindicated for you ...

EARS

Where they are Apart from the auricles, you have 2 more middle ears and 2 internal ones, which are located in the temporal bones of the skull.

Why do you need To hear. In addition, the vestibular apparatus is located in the inner ear - the receptor, thanks to which you maintain balance.

Because of what, Injuries and ear cancer are removed. Tumors affect the auricle and middle ear (the tissues of the bony labyrinth of the inner ear are resistant to malignant tumors). True, according to statistics, this cancer accounts for only 1-2% of all cases of cancer in the world.

What's next The creases and irregular shape of your auricle distort sound waves differently when their source is up, down, front or back. Therefore, without it, it will be more difficult for you to search for a mobile phone in the apartment by the sound of the call. There will be no other inconvenience. Due to cancer or purulent inflammation of the middle ear, you can lose your eardrum and become deaf on one side. But even if you become deaf on both sides, you will still receive sound information - the bones of the skull can play the role of the eardrum. For example, the completely deaf composer Ludwig van Beethoven played the piano with a cane in his teeth, the end of which rested on a musical instrument.

PROSTATE

Where is the prostate itself, you will never see until you cut your perineum from the anus to the scrotum - but you better not do it. Just imagine that it is in the middle of the small pelvis, just below the bladder. Theoretically, if you put your hand in the anus, you can feel it - this is how they do, for example, prostate massage. In general, we hope that you will not perceive this paragraph as a guide to action - read the next one better.

Why is it needed The prostate produces a secret that contains a lot of everything: vitamins, zinc ions and even citric acid. The secret of the prostate gland is a piece of sperm with which you can conceive an heir who will grow up, invent a time machine or arrange a world revolution.

Why removed Because of cancer. First, however, they are treated with radiation and chemotherapy, and if nothing comes out, a surgeon is called.

What's Next It's likely that you'll have urinary incontinence after surgery. Another piece of news is that an erection may disappear, since nerve endings are often damaged during surgery. There is something to be nervous about here.

THYROID

Where is it? Touch your fingers to the Adam's apple, and then lower them a couple of centimeters lower. Somewhere here is the thyroid gland, and also a scarf - if you wear it, of course, for some reason in the summer.

Why is it needed? It produces hormones (for example, thyroxine and triiodothyronine) and is involved in metabolism. If the thyroid starts to malfunction and produce, for example, too much thyroxine, you can get Graves' disease with a bunch of symptoms - from diarrhea to weight loss and arrhythmias. And you will become anxious and restless. In general, we have a dozen more terrible symptoms at the ready, but we will limit ourselves to those already listed so that you do not get upset.

Why is removed In case a severe stage of cancer is detected.

What then Until the end of your life you will have to take hormonal drugs. If you do not do this, you will live at most six months. Well, before your deathbed, you will have to visit an endocrinologist. Well, if the doctor is a beautiful blonde, but it may well turn out that this is a vile old woman with a Nirvana tattoo on her left buttock - then life will become truly unbearable.

BLADDER

Why is it needed? The liquid processed by the intestines (urine) enters the bladder, which is then excreted from the body through the urethra. The average bladder holds 300 grams of urine, but there are also those where, imagine, almost half a liter is placed!

Why remove In case of severe stage cancer. And at the same time they can also remove nearby organs if they are affected by metastases.

What next If the doctors decide that the situation allows, they will make a new bladder for you from a part of the rectum: urine will be excreted in the usual way, which you can gladly tell all your friends on social networks. A less pleasant option - they will make a hole in your stomach, and a small container will be placed next to it, where urine will accumulate from now on (you can pour it out whenever you want): it is clear that from now on, during wild dances on the beach, making unimaginable somersaults, you will have to be a little more carefully.

PANCREAS

Where is An interesting fact - it is in your stomach and is attached to the duodenum. Its length is from 10 to 22 centimeters.

Why you need it It secretes pancreatic juice, which enters the duodenum and helps break down everything you eat.

Why remove If you eat a lot of fatty foods and drink alcohol, pancreatitis may begin, and then cancer. Plus, problems with the pancreas very often occur along with diabetes.

What then At first, you walk with a tube inserted into the intestines, through which a nutrient solution enters the body. In about a month, you will be able to eat normally (on our planet, this is done through the mouth). Then the doctor prescribes you a very strict diet, according to which you cannot do anything spicy, fatty, alcohol, and much more. It is likely that you will suffer from diarrhea and cramps. The doctor will write you a list of medications (with hormones, enzymes and insulin) that you will need to take for the rest of your life. However, life will immediately improve if you transfer one hundred rubles to the author of this material.

SPLEEN

Where is it? You will find it on the left side of the abdomen.

Why is it needed The spleen has many useful functions, the most important of which is that it traps bacteria that are harmful to the body. If your spleen is removed, you get sick ten times more often. In addition, the spleen regulates blood clotting and is generally actively involved in the blood circulation of the body.

Why is it removed If a malignant tumor has appeared in a severe stage. Moreover, it is rather difficult to determine the disease of the spleen - it almost does not hurt. The spleen can also be injured by a very strong blow to the stomach.

What then Almost half of people with a removed spleen do not live to be 50 years old: they die from all kinds of infections, most often from pneumonia. In this case, we have nothing to console you with. True, there is an opinion that it is honorable to die young, although it is unlikely to cause you a fit of optimism.

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What determines life expectancy in cirrhosis of the liver

Every patient who has heard this terrible diagnosis is interested in how long they live with cirrhosis of the liver, whether the disease can be cured. Improving the condition is possible if detected at an early stage, following the doctor's recommendations. If the disease progresses, develops for more than a year, serious complications begin, the prognosis will always be negative.

The most common cause of the disease is alcoholic hepatitis, which provokes a chronic form of the disease. It can be cured only through an organ transplant. An alcoholic will not be able to get on the transplant list. There is a list of factors that determine how long a person will live:

Does the patient lead a healthy lifestyle?
age of the patient, young people have a higher chance of avoiding death;
general condition of a person;
the root cause of the onset of the disease (if it is hepatitis, then the treatment may well be effective);
whether there are other chronic diseases.

Impact of comorbidities on liver cirrhosis

Any concomitant pathologies (especially chronic ones) negatively affect the prognosis. The patient's condition worsens greatly, the function of the organ is performed poorly, or not performed at all. Other pathologies can aggravate the process and shorten the patient's life expectancy. Some diseases limit the possible treatment options. In any case, aminoglycosides, NSAIDs that can provoke bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract are prohibited. As complications are not uncommon:

varicose veins of the esophagus / stomach;
hepatic-renal syndrome;
hepatic encephalopathy;
peritonitis;
coagulopathy;
hepatocellular carcinoma.

How many live with cirrhosis of the liver of varying severity

The disease has several degrees with characteristic symptoms and the likelihood of successful therapy. It depends on the stage how long they live with cirrhosis of the liver. There are several main stages: compensation, subcompensation, decompensation and the last (terminal) stage. Life expectancy depends on the most important factor - at what stage the therapy was started:

First degree. The function of dead cells is taken over by intact healthy hepatocytes, the disease is not accompanied by symptoms. Life expectancy in 50% of patients is more than 7 years.
Second stage. The first signs of the disease appear, functional cells die and are depleted, the work of the organ is disrupted. The forecast of life expectancy is 5 years.
At the stage of decompensation, connective tissue grows, liver failure appears. Only 20-30% live 3 years.
The prognosis of the terminal stage is always unfavorable. Complications develop: ascites (abdominal dropsy), a person can fall into a coma, tissue decomposition occurs. Life expectancy is less than a year.

How long do people live with cirrhosis of the liver of a complicated form

Another characteristic of this disease is severe complications: ascites, liver failure, portal hypertension, encephalopathy. The mortal danger is the discovery of internal bleeding, usually in one of the sections of the gastrointestinal tract or from the veins of the esophagus. Life expectancy - 3 years in half the cases.

Ascites is considered another severe form of complication. Only 25% of people live up to 3 years, most die before that. In the case of hepatic encephalopathy, the doctor predicts an unfavorable outcome. On average, patients do not live more than a year. If you ignore the doctor's recommendations, life expectancy is sharply reduced.

How long can you live with cirrhosis of the liver of various etiologies

The disease can be caused by various reasons, this factor affects the success of treatment and how long patients live. For example, with biliary and alcoholic cirrhosis, a favorable outcome is allowed at the first stage. For this, a person must completely exclude alcohol. If the stage is 2nd or 3rd, then life expectancy will be 6 years or more.

With a biliary type of disease, the period is 5-6 years from the first appearance of signs of the disease. The most severe is the viral form of the disease. In advanced situations, combinations of alcoholic or toxic pathology with a viral one are diagnosed. This indicates an imminent death, even with the use of effective therapy. Organ transplantation can be the only salvation.

Prognosis depending on the sex and age of the person

Another factor that affects how long a person will live is gender and age. The disease is more severe in old age. The overall level of immunity and other protective mechanisms decreases, and the number of comorbidities increases. However, in some cases, the diagnosis of the disease in young people also has an unfavorable prognosis.

Studies show that cirrhosis is less severe in men than in women. For the same reason, deaths among the “weaker sex” are more common. This is due to the high sensitivity of the cells of the female body to ethanol, which begins to accumulate in large quantities due to dysfunction of the organ. However, the disease occurs against the background of alcoholism as a whole is much less common.

sovets.net

There are multiple cases that a seemingly incurable patient recovers. With well-chosen treatment, the process of dying of liver cells and replacing them with adipose tissue can be stopped. At the same time, healthy, undamaged cells will be able to perform the functions of the dead. The most difficult treatment is for those who have alcoholic cirrhosis. On average, such patients live for several years, while their condition worsens every day, manifested by changes in health status and possible bleeding. If the patients, despite the diagnosis, continue to drink, then no one can say exactly how long they will live. The last stage of the disease is the most difficult and mortality is up to 80 percent of patients already in the first three years of the disease. If we summarize all the stages of cirrhosis, then people can live with such a diagnosis for up to five years from the moment it is discovered.

Alcoholic hepatitis is practically the only alcoholic liver disease that causes cirrhosis. This form of the disease is chronic and appears about five years after the onset of chronic alcohol abuse. Alcoholic hepatitis is an inflammatory disease in which the liver is affected by toxins from alcohol and its products.

Life expectancy with cirrhosis of the liver depends on factors such as:

The age of the patient (the younger the patient, the more likely he is to recover);
The patient's lifestyle;
Causes of the disease (if this is a consequence of hepatitis, then there are enough chances to recover);
The presence of various chronic diseases (the less, the better);
The general health of the patient.

At the initial first degree, the capillaries of the organ are damaged. There are no symptoms of the disease. The second degree of the disease is characterized by the appearance of the first signs. Symptoms during it are already clearly visible, there are changes in the liver, nausea, slight malaise appear. In the third stage, the symptoms are quite pronounced, since the liver cells die off, and connective tissue forms in their place. Further, the situation becomes more complicated and the diseased organ can not cope with its functions.

How many live with cirrhosis of the liver at various stages

The first stage of cirrhosis is characterized by the onset of the disease. Liver cells are still able to perform their functions. They can also replace the work of already dead cells. This stage, in which the symptoms of the disease practically do not appear, is characterized by a life expectancy of up to seven years. If you follow all the indications of a doctor, then you can extend your life up to twenty years. At this stage, the patient complains of a rare malaise, nausea, heaviness in the liver. It is necessary to protect yourself from any infectious diseases, not to allow work with pesticides, lifting of weight. This stage does not provide an opportunity to issue a disability, since the patient is able to work and can perform almost any job.

The second stage is characterized by already noticeable changes in health. Nausea appears, it is not clear from what weight loss, tangible heaviness in the stomach. This stage involves the issuance of a disability to the patient. Work should be limited in time, alternate with frequent rest, and not come into contact with harmful household chemicals. Life expectancy with cirrhosis of the liver in the second stage is up to five years.

The last, third stage of cirrhosis causes a serious state of human health. People with this diagnosis live up to a maximum of three years. The disease has a progressive form, nausea and vomiting are constantly present, severe spasms in the liver area make it impossible to work. The whole organ is sick and does not perform its basic functions. The most dangerous complication at this stage of the disease is bleeding in the esophagus and intestines. Almost forty percent of the deaths of patients at this stage die from these complications. Dropsy of the liver is also characteristic of the last disease of the third degree.

To determine the presence of this complication, you need to pay attention to the following symptoms:

The stomach increases in volume with a general decrease in the weight of the patient;
Various hernias begin to appear;
With light tapping of the abdomen, a dull sound can be heard, although in a healthy person it is sonorous.

To make a diagnosis, the doctor needs to ask the patient, find out if there are symptoms of the disease, and only then can one begin to puncture the fluid. With a quick response from the medical staff, patients with dropsy of the liver can die. You can live with this diagnosis for several years.

Another severe complication of cirrhosis, including that of an alcoholic nature, is hepatic coma. Here the course of the disease depends on the stage of the disease, but, in general, patients die within two years.

severe drowsiness;
High body temperature;
Complete disorientation in time;
Impaired coordination of movements.

With a progressive degree of the disease, the patient falls into an unconscious state, there are no emotions on the face. With a prolonged coma, a person may experience a condition that is diagnosed as death.

Alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver quite often leads to this complication.

The only way to save the patient is to transplant a healthy organ. This is a rather complicated operation, which also has all sorts of risks. But if the patient has a severe degree of cirrhosis, gastric bleeding has begun, then it is possible to prolong the life of a sick person by transplanting a healthy donor organ to him.

There are several reasons for the onset of the disease. Alcoholic cirrhosis ranks first. For chronic hepatitis B and C, a lifelong diet, medical supervision, and a complete rejection of alcohol are needed, since the alcohol factor will only complicate the course of the disease. When cirrhosis is detected, the patient should be aware that the structure of the liver is already impaired, the functions are not fully performed. Therefore, it is important to follow all the instructions, monitor the health of the organ, and at the initial stage, the possibility of recovery increases. All forces should be directed to the fight against the already existing disease. A person should not ask himself how long he can live with the disease, but what he can do to prolong life and restore liver function.

alcoholism.com

What affects life expectancy

Trying to find out how long you can live with cirrhosis of the liver, the patient must first pay attention to the stage of development of the disease. In total, doctors distinguish 3 stages:

There is also the so-called fourth stage of the disease, in which the symptoms increase, which leads to hepatic coma. Only 20% of all patients can survive a hepatic coma, since at this stage the effect is directly on the brain.

Life expectancy in cirrhosis of the liver depends on a host of factors. For example, the presence or absence of pathologies greatly affects the final prognosis of doctors. The following complications most often occur against the background of cirrhosis of the liver:

Ascites, which is characterized by fluid retention in the abdominal cavity. Approximately in half of the cases, the progress of ascites is fatal.
Portal hypertension, which causes an increase in pressure on the collar vein, which can result in its rupture.
Abdominal and anal bleeding, which in most cases is caused by portal hypertension.
Against the background of cirrhosis, a malignant tumor can develop, which significantly reduces a person's life expectancy.
Liver failure and encephalopathy significantly reduce a person's life expectancy, since the liver can no longer cope with its functions, and because of this, all body systems suffer without exception.

The liver has a lot of functions, so the death of its cells leads to a noticeable deterioration in the functioning of the kidneys, intestines and the entire gastrointestinal tract.

With such a diagnosis, the patient can live 15 years or not even a year, it all depends on his lifestyle. To delay the inevitable, it is necessary to give up alcohol, taking heavy medications, eating fatty or overly spicy foods.

The patient will have to undergo a course of medical therapy, which involves taking a large number of special medications. Only all these measures in combination can increase the life of a person who has learned about a serious illness.

Compensated stage of liver cirrhosis: approximate life expectancy

In cirrhosis of the liver, alarming symptoms do not appear immediately, therefore, at the first stage of the development of the disease, a person does not even know about the problem. The tissue structures of the organ are already being destroyed, but a sufficient amount of hepatocytes remain in the body to carry out the normal functioning of the organ.

Most often, people with this diagnosis are overtaken by the following early symptoms:

unjustified apathy, laziness;
lack of appetite and weight loss against this background;
frequent migraines;
pain in the abdomen or under the ribs on the right side;
diarrhea.

All these symptoms are so insignificant that a person easily ignores them, attributing them to fatigue, lack of sleep and other factors. However, it is at this stage that the prognosis is the most positive: with proper treatment, the patient can live for more than ten years.

It is unlikely that you will be able to live longer, because vital signs will worsen all the time. With the help of drug therapy and diet, you can only slow down the progress of the disease.

If a person does not get rid of alcohol addiction, ignores the doctor's prescriptions and dietary rules, cirrhosis will begin to progress rapidly. It is impossible to live longer than 5 years in this case.

Subcompensated stage: life expectancy forecast

Liver cirrhosis is characterized by rapid development under the influence of stimulating factors. For example, thoughtless intake of "heavy" medications, love of strong drinks and ignoring the diet lead to the fact that the compensated stage is reborn into a subcompensated one in just a couple of months.

Many patients resort to diagnosis at this stage in the development of liver cirrhosis, since it is difficult not to notice the alarming symptoms. At this stage, a person is overtaken by the following problems:

Bleeding from gums, anus and nose.
Nausea and vomiting.
Frequent diarrhea.
Jumps in blood pressure, which often cause fainting.
An increase in the size of the abdomen, and this is subject to a decrease in the total body weight.
Severe pain in the right hypochondrium.
An increase in temperature to an average of 37.5 degrees, subject to retention at the same level for several days.

At this stage of cirrhosis of the liver, a person lives no more than 5-6 years. The exact life expectancy directly depends on the number of symptoms and the unpleasant consequences of the disease. Thus, the progress of portal hypertension reduces this period by almost half. Equally sad are the results of the appearance of ascites.

How fast the progress of cirrhosis of the liver will be, the forecast of doctors cannot say. It all depends on the individual characteristics of the organism and adherence to the treatment algorithm.

At the second stage of the disease, drug treatment and diet are still relevant. However, in the most severe cases, doctors may suggest hospitalization and a partial liver transplant.

Decompensated stage and life expectancy

In such a disease at the last stage, the prognosis is very disappointing: at this stage, almost all living liver cells die, and therefore life expectancy is no more than three years. Three years is the maximum lifespan possible only with a liver transplant.

The last stage of cirrhosis is dangerous because not only the liver is affected, but also neighboring organs.

The vital potential of the body is undermined, all body systems work with difficulty, and the liver and spleen increase significantly in size. Against this background, there is a progression of ascites and portal hypertension. Doctors have to bandage some veins surgically to keep them from bursting. Often a person is concerned about abdominal bleeding, traces of blood appear in the vomit. Feces and urine become dark, again due to internal bleeding.

Transplantation of a healthy organ is also not always possible. For example, if the disease is caused by hepatitis, it is better to refuse such a treatment method. The fact is that viral cells can easily infect a healthy organ, and therefore the results of the surgical intervention will be minimal.

Cirrhosis at the last stage is extremely dangerous, and it is very difficult to say for sure how long they live with it without surgical intervention. Usually this period does not exceed 6-10 months.

There may be another complication - hepatic coma. In this case, life expectancy is reduced to six months. The organ is completely affected, it cannot function, negatively affects the entire body, including the brain. In this case, even surgical intervention may not give results.

How to live longer with such a diagnosis

Having learned everything about cirrhosis of the liver, how many people live with it and what are the stages of the development of the disease, a person usually falls into despair. The presence of several stages in the disease gives the patient the opportunity to gain time. Here are some ways to help you live a little longer than the measured time:

A complete rejection of alcohol, spicy, salty and fatty foods will significantly improve the prognosis of doctors.
It is recommended to carefully protect your body from sources of infectious diseases, since any of them will only worsen the course of the problem.
It is recommended to drink linseed oil and eat oatmeal, and together with the mucous liquid left after brewing the latter. These folk methods help cleanse the liver.
If the patient has developed ascites, he needs to consume no more than 1.5 liters of fluid per day, while switching to a diet with a minimum content of protein and salt.
It is necessary to exclude high physical exertion and emotional stress from your life, as they only contribute to the development of the problem.

These measures will help improve the prognosis by extending a person's life to 15-17 years. Such a diagnosis does not mean imminent death within a year. Some patients manage to live with cirrhosis for decades, but only under the strictest restrictions.

The liver is a powerful organ with over 500 vital functions. This 1.5 kilogram organ - the largest internal organ in the body - is located in the right upper abdomen. The liver does the following:

filters toxins from the blood
produces digestive enzymes called bile
stores vitamins and minerals
regulates hormones and immune response
helps to thicken the blood

The liver is the only organ in the body that can grow after parts of it have been removed or damaged. In fact, the liver can grow to its full size in just a few months.

Is it possible to live without a liver?

No. The liver is so important to existence that although one can live with only a part of the liver, one cannot live without the liver at all. Without liver:

blood will not clot, causing uncontrolled bleeding
toxins, chemical and digestive by-products will accumulate in the blood
decreased protection against bacterial and fungal infections
edema develops, including fatal cerebral edema

Without a liver, death will come in a matter of days.

What if the liver fails?

The liver can fail for a number of reasons.

Acute liver failure leads to rapid deterioration of the liver, often when the liver was previously perfectly healthy. However, it is extremely rare, occurring in less than 10 people per million each year. The most common reasons:

viral infections
drug toxicity, often due to paracetamol overdose

Symptoms include:

jaundice, which causes yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes
abdominal pain and swelling
nausea
mental disorientation

Another type of liver failure is known as chronic liver failure. It is caused by inflammation and scarring that occurs over months or years. This general deterioration of the liver is often due to things such as:

alcohol abuse
infections, including hepatitis A, B and C
liver cancer
genetic diseases such as Wilson's disease
non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Symptoms include:

swollen belly
jaundice
nausea
vomiting blood
easy bruising
loss of muscle mass

Not a death sentence

But liver failure is not a death sentence. Depending on the health and condition of the liver, a person may be a candidate for a liver transplant, an operation in which a diseased liver is removed and replaced with part or all of a healthy one taken from a donor.

There are two types of donor liver transplant:

Transplant from a deceased donor

This means that the liver was taken from a person who recently passed away.

Usually a person signs the donor organ card before his death. An organ can also be donated posthumously with the consent of the family. The National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases (USA) reports that most of the donor liver comes from deceased donors.

transplant from a living donor

In this process, a living donor - often a family member or close friend - agrees to donate a portion of their healthy liver. One study found that out of 6,455 liver transplants performed in 2013, only 4 percent were from living donors.

In a heterotopic transplant, the damaged liver is left in place, and a healthy liver or segment is placed next to it. Although orthotopic grafts are the most common, a heterotopic graft may be suggested if:

health is so poor that the patient cannot bear complete removal of the liver
liver disease has a genetic cause

Is it possible to live with part of the liver?

Even if the patient can only receive a portion of the liver, your doctors will make sure it is large enough to perform all the necessary functions. It is assumed that only 25-30 percent of the working liver is sufficient to maintain normal functions.

Over time, the liver will grow to about its normal size. Experts aren't sure exactly how liver regeneration occurs, but they do know that when the liver is surgically reduced in size, a cellular response is activated that causes rapid regrowth.

Partial liver transplantation from a living donor

People who receive a liver from a deceased donor usually receive a whole organ. However, the liver may be divided if it is very large or if it is shared between a child and an adult.

Those who are scheduled for a living liver donation, which often comes from a healthy relative or friend who is matched for size and blood type, receive only a piece of the liver. Some people choose this option because they don't want to risk waiting on the list for an available organ that may or may not arrive on time.

About 40-60 percent of the donor liver is removed and transplanted into the recipient.
Both the recipient and the donor will have enough liver to ensure proper functioning.
The regrowth of the liver begins almost immediately.
Within two weeks, the liver approaches its normal size.
General - or almost complete - regrowth is achieved within a year.

Although living liver donation is still rare, it still does occur.

The main advantage of living liver donation is that surgery can be scheduled when it is mutually convenient for both parties. Moreover, the liver can be donated before the recipient becomes seriously ill. This can improve survival.

be between the ages of 18 and 60
have a blood type that is compatible with the recipient
undergo extensive physical and psychological testing
have a healthy weight, as obesity is a risk factor for fatty liver disease, which damages the liver
be prepared to abstain from alcohol until recovery
to be healthy

Outcome

The liver performs vital functions. Although a person cannot live without the liver completely, he can live with only one part.

Many people can function normally with only half of their liver. The liver can grow to its full size within a few months.

If you or someone you know has liver disease and needs a transplant, donating a liver might be worth considering.

Dear friends, hello!

Today we start talking about an organ that deserves more than just admiration.

If it were my will, I would award him orders and medals "For Courage", "For Labor Merit", "For Victory", "For Endurance", "For Intransigence towards Enemies". 🙂

I would give him a certificate of honor as the best worker of the human body, because he took on so many responsibilities that all other organs combined could not fulfill.

Or rather, it's not even HE, but SHE.

This poor workaholic deserves to take off his hat to her, dedicate poems to her and erect a monument. Moreover, it is in Russia. In her very heart. Although it looks like it's already there.

Well, how? Have you guessed what will be discussed?

Today we will talk about the LIVER.

We will analyze how it works, and what functions it performs, why the liver hurts, and whether it needs to be “cleaned” periodically.

Briefly, we will consider its most common: viral hepatitis, cirrhosis of the liver, fatty hepatosis. Is it possible to suspect them in a pharmacy visitor? What are the principles of their treatment?

In this conversation, my friend and your colleague, known to you from articles on complex drugs, and, of course, from a series of articles about Anton Zatrutin, will help me.

Anton, you have the floor!

Thanks Marina!

How is the liver organized?

Let's start with some anatomy.

The liver is the largest organ in the human body. It weighs 1200-1800 grams.

The liver is a parenchymal organ, that is, it does not have cavities inside and looks like a sponge.

Pork or beef liver cut, Ali, probably everything. Remember what she looks like?

It is due to its spongy structure that the liver acts as a filter - the main "customs officer" of the human body.

It is located in the right hypochondrium, and in a healthy person it should not protrude beyond the edge of the costal arch. With some sores, the doctor palpates the liver to find out if it is enlarged, that is, if it goes beyond the edge of the costal arch.

The basis of the liver parenchyma is made up of hepatocyte cells, between which bile capillaries pass. Bile is formed in hepatocytes and enters the bile capillaries. Further along the biliary tract system, it enters the gallbladder, from where it is consumed as needed. And the need for it comes when we finish the next meal. And then the bile is thrown into the duodenum and is included in the process of digestion.

The uniqueness of the liver

The liver has a peculiar circulatory system - it is the only organ to which blood flows not through an artery, but through a vein.

Let me remind you that an artery enters each organ, through which oxygen and nutrients enter it, and a vein leaves through which the products of its vital activity are removed.

Like any other organ, the liver receives arterial blood through the hepatic artery, and venous blood is drained through the hepatic veins.

However, another vein approaches the liver - the portal vein. This vein collects blood from almost the entire gastrointestinal tract, from the lower two-thirds of the esophagus to the upper two-thirds of the rectum.

It is thanks to such a system that not a single molecule that enters the body will slip past the liver.

Now you understand why in many instructions for medicines there is a clause "use of the drug by patients with reduced liver function"?

Indeed, in this case, our "customs officer" will not be able to perform his duties with high quality, and this is fraught with serious consequences if the dosage of the drug is not adjusted.

What does the liver do?

The liver is an organ related to the digestive system, however, it affects all systems of the body.

Scientists call it "chemical laboratory". This is indeed a real factory.

In total, it performs more than 500 functions!

Here are just a few of them:

Neutralization of poisons, toxins, allergens by turning them into harmless ones.
Synthesis of many enzymes and hormones.
Synthesis of bilirubin and bile acids.
Production and secretion of bile.
Synthesis of cholesterol, lipids, phospholipids, control of lipid metabolism.
Replenishment and preservation of some (B12, A, D).
Synthesis of many proteins, in particular, proteins of the blood coagulation and anticoagulation systems.
Depot glycogen (source of glucose) and control of blood glucose levels.

Those who remember articles about antihypertensive drugs have read what role angiotensin-converting enzymes play in this group.

So, both angiotensinogen itself (the precursor of angiotensin II, which we are so eager to reduce) and the enzyme that converts it, are synthesized by the liver along with thousands of other molecules.

In childhood, it is also an organ of hematopoiesis.

In a word,

The liver is the place where many metabolic cycles of the body close.

Here the further fate of all the molecules that enter the body is decided: will they enter the bloodstream unchanged, or do they need to be turned into a different form so that they can be included in metabolic processes? Or maybe the body is not happy with such guests, and you need to get them out as soon as possible?

For this purpose, there are many capillaries and bile ducts in the liver, which I have already mentioned above. Bile, in addition to participating in the process of digestion, plays another important role - with it, the liver gets rid of some of the substances that the body does not need.

The second way of escape is to bind, neutralize and release into the bloodstream.

A distinctive feature of the liver is that most of its diseases do not have clear clinical manifestations.

Therefore, it is very difficult to recognize liver suffering. However, one cannot but rejoice that most of them are reversible in the early stages. If, of course, they are noticed in time and the necessary measures are taken.

Suffice it to recall the myth of Prometheus, whose liver was pecked every night by an eagle, and during the night it grew back.

Unfortunately, the human liver does not recover so quickly, but in the absence of repeated damage, its cells will recover within 10-14 days.

Next time we will talk about hepatoprotective drugs, but for today I have everything.

Thanks Anton!

Do you know, friends, who does the liver remind me of? A patient wife whose husband comes home from work drunk and dirty every day, and she silently feeds him, undresses him, puts him to bed, launders his clothes, irons him so that in the morning he looks like a man.

But the next day everything starts all over again.

So is the liver: just dealt with grilled chicken, fried potatoes, a bottle of beer, a cake, a citramone tablet, a bag of anti-grippin, and then this, if I may say so, Sapiens, sends a new portion of all rubbish to the “customs”.

And if we didn’t have such a “controller”, it’s hard to even imagine what would have happened to us. All toxic products that we consume (drugs, preservatives, emulsifiers, stabilizers, dyes, etc.), and which are formed during metabolism (phenol, skatole, ammonia, etc.), would enter the blood, would be carried to all organs, including the brain, and would cause terrible damage to them.

Enzymes, vitamins, hormones vital to us would not be synthesized, blood would not coagulate, vascular tone would not be regulated, all types of metabolism would be disrupted. In a word, we would be Khan.

I LOVE YOU, MY LIVER! 🙂

Why does the liver hurt?

As Anton already said, most liver diseases do not have clear clinical manifestations.

The liver cannot hurt, because it has no nerve endings.

Therefore, she often "dies" silently. And the disease can be detected quite by accident.

But there are nerve endings in the fibrous capsule of the liver that covers it from the outside. When the liver increases in size, the capsule stretches, and the person feels pain. This can be with cirrhosis, acute hepatitis, some infectious diseases, fatty liver, oncological and other sores.

And most often, pain in the right hypochondrium is a sign of problems with the gallbladder, located under the liver.

With love to you, Anton Zatrutin and Marina Kuznetsova

P.S. If you are not tired, here is a funny cartoon about hepatitis: