about transplant
Each year, people with liver diseases die waiting for a transplant, and the wait time for a deceased donor liver has increased each year. Living donor liver transplant offers an alternative to waiting for a deceased donor liver. Its main benefit is timeliness because it decreases the risk of complications and death while waiting for a match.
Screening donors
If your physician determines that you'd benefit from living donor transplant, then potential donors can start their evaluation process with a living donor coordinator.
The coordinator provides information on the procedure and conducts a preliminary telephone survey to determine whether donation may be possible. Blood type and laboratory test results are obtained and, if suitable, a potential donor is invited to come to Clinic for an evaluation.
The evaluation is very thorough and includes:
Throughout the evaluation process, all potential donors' medical and personal information is protected by confidentiality laws, including decisions about whether to proceed with donation. Organ donation is an altruistic gift, and each living donor candidate is evaluated by an independent living donor advocate to ensure donor safety, informed consent, and lack of coercion. The transplant team counsels and supports recipients, potential donors and families through every phase of the process.
Living donor liver transplant for children
Adult-to-child living donor liver transplantation uses the left lateral portion of the adult donor's liver. The procedure has been proven safe and effective, and has helped reduce the number of children who die awaiting liver transplant.
The risks
Although living donor liver transplant has been proven safe and effective for both donor and recipient, it is a major operation and not without risk.
The donor is also at risk for temporary problems related to the surgical incision and the possibility of blood clots following the operation. However, the great majority of donors have recovered completely within a few months of their operations.
Screening donors
If your physician determines that you'd benefit from living donor transplant, then potential donors can start their evaluation process with a living donor coordinator.
The coordinator provides information on the procedure and conducts a preliminary telephone survey to determine whether donation may be possible. Blood type and laboratory test results are obtained and, if suitable, a potential donor is invited to come to Clinic for an evaluation.
The evaluation is very thorough and includes:
- Health evaluation. Above all, living donors must be in excellent health and in optimal medical condition for surgery.
- Social and psychological screening. Liver donor surgery involves a major operation and requires time away from work and other responsibilities. Potential donors visit with a social worker and psychiatrist to discuss the potential impact this may have.
- Anatomical assessment. The donor's liver size and unique anatomy, including placement of blood vessels and bile ducts, must be favorable for donation.
Throughout the evaluation process, all potential donors' medical and personal information is protected by confidentiality laws, including decisions about whether to proceed with donation. Organ donation is an altruistic gift, and each living donor candidate is evaluated by an independent living donor advocate to ensure donor safety, informed consent, and lack of coercion. The transplant team counsels and supports recipients, potential donors and families through every phase of the process.
Living donor liver transplant for children
Adult-to-child living donor liver transplantation uses the left lateral portion of the adult donor's liver. The procedure has been proven safe and effective, and has helped reduce the number of children who die awaiting liver transplant.
The risks
Although living donor liver transplant has been proven safe and effective for both donor and recipient, it is a major operation and not without risk.
The donor is also at risk for temporary problems related to the surgical incision and the possibility of blood clots following the operation. However, the great majority of donors have recovered completely within a few months of their operations.