Liver transplants are for patients who have liver disease or damage who do not have any other treatment options. Patients who have less than two years of life expectancy, without the surgery, and have no other alternative medical or surgical therapy are prime candidates for a liver transplant, according to the California Pacific Medical Center. The goals of a liver transplant procedure are to improve the patient's quality of life and prolong life. However, some conditions are absolute contraindications for the procedure. Patients with these conditions should never receive a liver transplant.
HIV Infection or AIDS
Patients who have been infected with the human immunodeficiency virus, HIV, or have acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, AIDS, should not receive a liver transplant, states the University of Maryland Medical Center. These diseases severely decrease the patient's immune system and may interfere with the success of the liver transplant. Furthermore, these patients will not be able to benefit from a liver transplant due to the viral infection ravaging other parts of their bodies.
Bacterial or Fungal Infections
Bacterial or fungal infections that have spread throughout the patient's body are contraindications for a liver transplant, reports "Surgical Treatment." These infections, if uncontrolled, can decrease the patient's ability to tolerate the surgery and survive the recovery phase post-surgery. If the infection is confined to the liver, then the liver transplant can be done because the infected liver is removed and the patient is cured of the infection. However, once the infection has spread beyond the liver, then a liver transplant cannot be performed until the infection has resolved or been treated successfully.
Active Alcohol or Substance Abuse
If the patient is actively abusing alcohol or any other type of illicit substance, then a liver transplant is contraindicated, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. These patients have already damaged their own kidneys by abusing either alcohol or another drug. Therefore, they are at high risk for destroying the liver received in a transplant procedure. Patients who are using an illicit drug or alcohol should go through a rehabilitation program and remain clean for at least six months before being cleared for a liver transplant, reports the Hepatitis C Association.
Cancer
Specific types of cancer are contraindications for a liver transplant, reports the California Pacific Medical Center. Any malignant cancer, except skin cancer, that is found outside of the liver excludes a patient from receiving a liver transplant. Cancer drastically reduces the patient's chances of long-term survival after the transplant procedure. If patients undergo successful treatment for the cancer, they can become eligible for the liver transplant.
