How long do you live with end stage cirrhosis?

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor I Vo Thi Thuy Trang - Gastroenterologist, Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Danang International Hospital. The doctor has many years of experience in the field of gastrointestinal endoscopy.

Cirrhosis is a dangerous chronic disease that, if not detected and treated promptly, can leave many dangerous complications, even death. So if you have end stage cirrhosis, how long can you live and are there any treatments that can increase the survival time for the patient?

According to biological research, the liver is the largest internal organ in the human body. Cirrhosis occurs when the liver cells are gradually replaced by scar tissue called cirrhosis, causing many serious consequences, typically the patient's liver function is reduced and even may be lost forever.
Based on the extent of damage arising in the liver, medical researchers have divided this pathology into 4 main stages: F1, F2, F3, F4. In which, F4 is the final stage of cirrhosis, causing high mortality.
When the disease is diagnosed and has progressed to the final stage of cirrhosis, it also means that the patient's liver is suffering a lot of damage, at the most severe level. At that time, most of the main functions of the liver have disappeared because the amount of scar tissue has formed a lot and occupies all the area on this part.
In particular, the prognosis for patients in this period is often not very positive. However, the prognosis of each patient will be different and depends on many factors, such as the course of treatment or the patient's ability to respond to the drug.

The symptoms of end-stage cirrhosis, along with the possible complications, best outline the severity of the disease.
Statistics show that up to 30% of cases with end-stage cirrhosis will develop bleeding complications because of varicose veins in the esophagus. Furthermore, the patient mortality rate can be as high as 55% in the first time the patient has bleeding.

The most dangerous complication of end-stage cirrhosis is liver cancer. So how long does stage 4 cirrhosis live? In some special cases, patients can undergo surgery to transplant the liver to help prolong survival for several years. But on the contrary, if no appropriate medical measures are found, the patient can only live for about 24 months. However, the fact shows that there are many cases of patients with liver cancer who died after only 6 months.
To prevent potentially dangerous complications, treatment of cirrhosis is the goal that should be a top priority. However, at present, the world has not found an absolutely effective treatment for this cirrhosis.
For end stage cirrhosis, the patient can only prolong life for 1-3 years with the support of appropriate treatment courses. But in fact, up to 50% of patients have died within less than 12 months from the time of diagnosis of cirrhosis. This depends on several important factors such as:
The overall health of the patient. Appropriate course of treatment. The severity of complications affects the health status of the patient.

Some commonly used medical methods to treat end-stage cirrhosis include:
Abdominal puncture. Use prescription medications according to the treatment regimen. Liver transplantation for patients In which, the first two therapies are often used mainly to easily control the overall progression of the disease, reduce some symptoms and possibly prevent the arising of many other complications.
As for the liver transplant option, it can directly remove the scar tissue on the patient's liver, so this is considered the most potential treatment option for patients with end-stage cirrhosis.

Medical theory shows that a successful liver transplant can prolong the patient's life up to 20 years, but about 70% of patients after a liver transplant can live more than 5 years.
But not every patient is assigned a liver transplant. To be able to have a liver transplant, you need to meet the criteria for a liver transplant, and the costs for these surgeries are also relatively high, so not everyone can afford it easily.

For patients who are suffering from cirrhosis of the liver F4, in addition to the usual treatment options, patients will be recommended to improve their body's resistance by building themselves a healthy lifestyle, such as: :
Follow a scientific and reasonable diet. Limit salt and fat consumption. Add more foods containing vitamins, fiber and antioxidants in the daily menu. Patients should regularly exercise under the supervision of a doctor. Do not perform heavy work that requires a lot of effort. Take medicine as prescribed and check regularly with your doctor. Do not use supplements, pain relievers, or herbs without your doctor's approval. How long to live with end stage cirrhosis depends on many factors. It can be said that the most important factor for successful treatment of this disease is early detection and timely treatment. Therefore, if you notice any typical symptoms of cirrhosis, you should immediately go to reputable medical facilities for the most accurate examination and diagnosis.
Currently, Vinmec International General Hospital has Hepatobiliary Screening packages, which help detect Hepatitis Virus at an early stage even when there are no symptoms. In addition, the Comprehensive Hepatobiliary Screening Package helps customers:

Assess the liver's ability to work through liver enzyme tests; Evaluation of bile function; vascular nutrition; Early screening for liver cancer; Perform tests such as Total blood cell analysis, blood clotting ability, screening for hepatitis B, C Assessment of liver and biliary status through ultrasound images and diseases that are at risk of affecting liver disease / liver disease. more severe liver disease In-depth analysis of parameters to evaluate hepatobiliary function through laboratory and subclinical tests; the risk of affecting the liver and early screening for hepatobiliary cancer