Hernia surgery with Early Cirrohsis

[hopefulgirl38]

Hi all,

I was wondering if anyone knows about having hernia surgery when you have established compensated cirrohsis - my partners hep C doc had suggested that he wait 6 months after treatment.  However, I am a little nervous with anaethetic - as it is hard on the liver.  Anyone have any expereince with this?

Thanks

[ill13632]

my AST ALT after tracheotomy surgery were 80/250 and I only have NAFLD.  was this from anesthesia?  I was weak and sickly, bedridden, dizzy for 1 month after surgery

[SusieS2010]

I have had 3 major surgeries after my cirrhosis diagnosis in 1992. I had no trouble at all. Some anesthetics are safer than others for cirrhotic patients. Make sure his surgeons are well aware of his medical history if he must go undergo surgery.

[HectorSF]

"my partners hep C doc had suggested that he wait 6 months after treatment.  However, I am a little nervous with anaethetic - as it is hard on the liver.  Anyone have any experience with this?"

Yes. Anesthesia is hard on the liver for cirrhotics. Anesthesia in fact caused my cirrhosis to decompensate. Cirrhotics are advised to avoid surgery and anesthesia if at all possible. I had cancer so I had to have 2 surgeries. I also had 3 kidney stone surgeries while having cirrhosis. Unless the hernia is causing a serious problem I would think most docs would try to avoid it as long as possible. I have a torn belly button but have been told to live with it as surgery is too risky.

From what I gather your partner is now treating for HCV and the 6 months date is when they will know if they are SVR? If the liver has progressed to cirrhosis it is not going to become healthy again in 6 months of a year. So the surgery will still impact the liver and may increase the liver damage.

I would ask for a second opinion from a hepatologist who works with patients who have cirrhosis. After surgery and anesthesia what happens is the patient will feel ill (weak, sickly) for some time after the surgery but will recover in time. In my experience the post anesthesia symptoms can last for 10 days to months. But that is just me. Everyone is different. I have also reacted poorly to other types of medicines. So I can't say for sure who your partner will be affected.

Your partner should tell the doctor who is planning the surgery that they have cirrhosis. This is very important. Also when they meet with the Anesthesiologist they must remind then also. They are different meds Anesthesiologist can use that cause less stress on the liver then the typical meds they would use on a healthy person.

So it is doable if the surgeon agrees to do it. They are the experts. I am just a patient and I am telling you my experience with cirrhosis, anesthesia and surgery. Also keep in mind the people with cirrhosis are more at risk for infections too. So any surgery on a patient with cirrhosis is riskier it would be for a healthy person.

Good luck.
Hectorsf