Living Donor Liver Transplant Surgery

An Overview

A living liver donor transplant involves a living person donating a portion of their liver to another individual. The liver’s remarkable ability to regenerate allows both the donor’s and recipient’s liver portions to grow back to full size within a few months. This procedure is often considered when a liver transplant is urgently needed, and no suitable deceased donor organ is available.

Alternate Names

Living-donor liver regeneration

Body Location

The liver is located in the upper right part of the abdomen.

Procedure Type

Surgical, laparoscopic, or robotic

Preparation for Living Donor Liver Transplant

Preparation involves several critical steps:

  1. Donor Matching:
    Living donors are often immediate family members, such as parents or siblings, making compatibility more likely. Matching criteria include:
    • Age
    • Blood type
    • Organ size
    • Other health factors
  2. Comprehensive Health Evaluation:
    Both donor and recipient undergo detailed physical and psychological assessments to ensure fitness for surgery.
  3. Routine Investigations:
    • Blood and urine tests
    • Imaging studies
    • Heart tracing
    • Additional tests to evaluate liver function if necessary

Donor Eligibility Criteria:

  • Adults aged 21–55 for optimal liver regeneration.
  • A body mass index (BMI) of 30 or less to reduce risks.
  • Absence of medical conditions that could compromise health or surgical outcomes.

Living Liver Donor Transplant Procedure

Before the surgery, donors and recipients must fast for 10–12 hours.

Steps:

  1. The recipient’s non-functioning liver is removed.
  2. The donor’s liver portion is transplanted into the recipient.
  3. Blood vessels and bile ducts are connected to the new liver.
  4. The donor’s remaining liver and the transplanted liver in the recipient regenerate to normal size within months.

Follow-Up Care

Duration:

  • Donors: 4–5 days in the hospital.
  • Recipients: 10–15 days for health monitoring and liver function evaluation.

Recovery Tips:

  • Avoid strenuous activities or heavy lifting for 6–8 weeks to allow proper incision healing.
  • Follow all medical advice and attend follow-up visits, typically scheduled in the first week after discharge.

Success Rate:
Living liver donor transplants have a success rate of approximately 90%.

Recovery After Surgery

While this is a major procedure, donors typically recover without long-term complications. The donated liver portion regenerates to its original size in weeks.

For Recipients:
Recovery may take 3–6 months, depending on factors like age and overall health.

Guidelines:

  • Stay hydrated.
  • Consume a nutritious diet to support healing and prevent constipation.
  • Seek assistance with heavy household tasks.
  • Follow medication regimens and contact the transplant team if issues arise.

Risks of Living Donor Liver Transplant

Though generally safe, this procedure carries potential risks for both donors and recipients.

Common Risks Include:

  • Bleeding and blood clots
  • Infection
  • Nerve damage
  • Hernia at the incision site
  • Constipation
  • Damage to nearby structures like the bile duct
  • Fluid accumulation in the abdomen
  • Pneumonia
  • Bile leakage
  • Transplant rejection or failure

Living liver donor transplants offer a lifesaving solution for those with severe liver conditions. Careful preparation, skilled surgical techniques, and thorough follow-up care are essential for successful outcomes.