It filters the blood coming from the digestive tract before releasing it to other parts of the body. The liver works in conjunction with the other main organs to digest, absorb, and process food. If the liver begins to lose its function, it is critical to seek medical attention to determine treatment options.
Knowing the purpose of liver function is important when evaluating your overall health. The liver is one of the main organs supporting our bodies healthy functions.
Dr. Ajay Sahajpal, Medical Director of the Abdominal Transplant and Hepatobiliary Program at Advocate Aurora Health encourages patients and their family members to be on the lookout for the early signs of liver disease including nausea; pain or swelling in legs, ankles and abdomen; yellowish (jaundice) skin and eyes; chronic fatigue; and diarrhea.
“If you are experiencing symptoms, please reach out to your doctor immediately or call our program team if you do not have an established primary care doctor,” Dr. Sahajpal says. “We can help you determine the appropriate next steps.”
Upon confirmation of the stage of a patient’s liver disease, a multi-disciplinary treatment plan will be prepared. The care options depend on the severity of the illness and a patient will be given information and recommendations to either heal the liver, minimize the risk of liver failure, or prepare for the life-saving measure of liver transplant.
“If a transplant is needed, our team of experts would remove the diseased liver and replace it with a healthy liver from a donor,” said Dr. Sahajpal. “Our team is honored to serve our patients and they both amaze me every day. I am proud of my team’s focus on quality patient care and all the lives we have touched over the years.”
