So my step dad has Cirrhosis although never given a stage is is towards end stage as he had symptoms and other complications from it. He’s not touched alcohol since he was initially admitted 14 months ago and is awaiting the process towards transplant.
He’s currently at his villa in Cyprus for the next 6 weeks and is planning on having a few drinks whilst out there. I’ve been try to find a UK article that discusses the effects of what that can do. Some factual evidence or article that will explain what even a couple of drinks can do. He thinks that having a few beers or wine will not cause any problems. He’s also out there with no travel insurance or even an ETHIC card.
What will happen if he does drink? Does anyone have any Uk journals or articles that has spoken of this?
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Oneill0404
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The bottom line is that he is at risk of an internal bleed due to possible portal hypertension which could be exacerbated due to changes in cabin pressure when flying.
If he drinks any alcohol or even alcohol-free beers wines or spirits he risks being excluded from the liver transplant waiting list program.
It's his choice at the end of the day, but if he's struggling now before the pre-transplant assessment then maybe mentally he's not ready for a liver transplant. If he was to drink now, then his case would most likely be rejected for now, and reviewed again in a further six months time.
What he really needs to ask himself is, is that glass of wine or bottle of beer really worth it.
Just as an afterthought, you say your step-father is currently in his villa in Cyprus. Do you happen to know if he is classed as being an expat? I ask this as new rules covering people living overseas permanently may no longer be entitled to free NHS treatment.
Thanks so much for your help. He just visits a holiday home out there but resides full time in the uk. I do what you mean is is he actually ready it’s just been that he’s been fine without it and in his mind he thinks having a few will do no harm. Hence why I’m trying to find some sort of article that discusses it through research.
Yes, very much so. The PDF link l provided in my original post uhb.nhs.... is for those people needing a liver transplant due to alcohol-abuse. All transplant centres in the UK follow the same code of practice. Please take a look at the first few pages of this document.
A lot of trust involved in transplant listing & compliance with all the medical regime is compulsory. They have psychologists & social work on the team during assessment. They pretty much know if someone is being untruthful and if these non-alcohol drinks do act as a potential trigger back to the 'real thing' then they know for sure a person is drinking due to the tests they do before, during and after transplant assessment.
Active alcohol use in someone who have alcohol related liver disease is an out and out contraindication to even getting assessed for transplant so if he is awaiting the process towards transplant he absolutely must not drink alcohol. Before someone can be assessed they have to have a minimum 6 months (proven) period of abstinence.
In black and white here is the page on the Scottish Liver Transplant Unit page re. contraindications to transplant listing:- services.nhslothian.scot/sc...
& Here is the text from the Clinical Protocols document on Exclusion Criteria.
Exclusion Criteria
Systematic recording of the above should identify patients with exclusion criteria.
Absolute contraindications include:
Active extra-hepatic sepsis, extrahepatic malignancy, active alcohol or other substance
abuse, and severe cardiac, respiratory or renal dysfunction not attributable to underlying
liver disease, hepatocellular carcinoma > 7 cm diameter, a predicted 5-year survival of
<50% post-OLT.
Relative contraindications include:
Age > 65 years, previous major upper abdominal surgery, portal vein thrombosis, diabetes
mellitus with complications, and moderate cardiac, respiratory or renal dysfunction not
related to the underlying liver disease. Previous alcohol or substance abuse and poor
social circumstances are also relative contraindications.
So leaving along the physical health aspects of him having a drink now (probably dangerous too after any length of abstinence). He is potentially going to rob himself of the chance of transplant.
As Richard says it's his choice at the end of the day.
Katie
HI Oneill0404, I can see that you have received some really useful information from other members - if you or your step father would like to talk this through then our nurse led helpline is open from Monday to Friday 10am to3pm 08006527330. To echo the other members, drinking alcohol whilst on the list for liver transplant is an absolute contraindication to transplant. Previously, potential recipients had to demonstrate six months alcohol free, however now the decision around length of abstinence is made by the clinical team.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
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