Liver Cirrhosis Treatment & Surgical Options | MedicineNet

Liver cirrhosis treatment avoids further damage to the liver, focusing on complications from the disease. Liver transplant surgery is an option if the condition does not improve.

Identification

• Cirrhosis is a complication of other liver diseases, which often cause injury or death to the liver cells, leading to scar tissue formation.

Causes

• According to MedicineNet.com, common causes of cirrhosis of the liver are alcohol abuse, toxic metals and autoimmune diseases in which the immune system attacks the liver.

Non-Surgical Treatment

• Non-surgical treatments include avoidance of alcohol and medications such as ibuprofen. Doctors also may suggest immune system suppression drugs and immunizing against infectious diseases.

Surgical Treatment

• There is no cure for cirrhosis of the liver. Doctors recommend liver transplant surgery if other treatment methods fail and liver function declines. Although there are risks associated with a liver transplant surgery, 80 percent of transplant patients survive for at least five years after surgery, reports MedicineNet.com.

Considerations

• Organ rejection is a risk of any transplant surgery. Not all patients are surgical candidates, and donor organ supplies are often limited, making prevention of cirrhosis and treatment of its complications critical.