Living donation

Living donation may be an option for you, making it unnecessary to join the transplant waiting list and possibly reducing the time you have to wait before your transplant surgery.

Through living liver donation a person chooses to donate a portion of his or her liver to a person in need. And the benefits can be great:

• You can avoid long delays waiting on national lists, which may mean that you are in better health when the transplant is performed
• The organ being donated may be healthier than one received from a deceased donor
• The surgery can be scheduled for a time when both you and the donor are in the best condition possible
• Because living donation is often made by a family member, there is a higher likelihood for a better match

There are also several considerations for the donor:

• The liver is able to regrow (regenerate)—and regeneration starts immediately after the surgery
• The surgery to remove a portion of the liver usually lasts 2 to 3 hours, and the hospital stay will depend upon how well the donor is healing. The average hospital stay is 5 to 7 days
• The donor can expect to return to his or her normal activities within 12 weeks

Living donation carries the risks of all major surgeries, including the risk for bleeding and infection. But it is relatively safe. At the very least, the donor will experience some discomfort after the operation.

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