Live Donor Liver Transplant Surgery Benefits, Risks, Outlook Health ConditionsFeaturedBreast CancerIBD MigraineMultiple Sclerosis (MS)Rheumatoid ArthritisType 2 DiabetesSponsored TopicsArticlesAcid RefluxADHDAllergiesAlzheimer's & DementiaBipolar DisorderCancerCrohn's DiseaseChronic PainCold & FluCOPDDepressionFibromyalgiaHeart DiseaseHigh CholesterolHIVHypertensionIPFOsteoarthritisPsoriasisSkin Disorders and CareSTDsDiscoverWellness TopicsNutritionFitnessSkin CareSexual HealthWomen's HealthMental HealthSleepOriginal SeriesFresh Food FastDiagnosis DiariesYou’re Not AlonePresent TenseVideo SeriesYouth in FocusHealthy HarvestNo More SilenceFuture of HealthPlanHealth ChallengesMindful EatingSugar SavvyMove Your BodyGut HealthMood FoodsAlign Your SpineFind CarePrimary CareMental HealthOB-GYNDermatologistsNeurologistsCardiologistsOrthopedistsLifestyle QuizzesWeight ManagementAm I Depressed? A Quiz for TeensAre You a Workaholic?How Well Do You Sleep?Tools & ResourcesHealth NewsFind a DietFind Healthy SnacksDrugs A-ZHealth A-ZConnectFind Your Bezzy CommunityBreast CancerInflammatory Bowel DiseasePsoriatic ArthritisMigraineMultiple SclerosisPsoriasisFollow us on social mediaShopProducts by ConditionInsomniaStress ReliefBack PainNeck PainSleep ApneaHot SleepersAllergiesPain ReliefProduct ReviewsVitamins & SupplementsSleepMental HealthNutritionAt-Home TestingCBDMen’s HealthWomen’s HealthHealth ConditionsDiscoverPlanConnectShopSubscribe

Overview of a Living Donor Liver Transplant Procedure

Medically reviewed by Kelsey Trull, PA-C — By Kirsten Nunez on October 3, 2022

Can you get a live donor liver transplant

A liver transplant surgery is a procedure to remove your liver and replace it with a healthy liver. It’s done when your liver stops working properly due to disease or injury. Most liver transplants use a liver from a deceased person. In this case, the entire liver is removed from that person. Sometimes, though, the liver is taken from someone who is alive. If this occurs, the surgery is called a living donor liver transplant or a live donor liver transplant. In this case, the whole liver is not removed from the donor, because then they will not have a liver. Instead, only a piece of their liver is removed. Here’s what the procedure involves, who it’s good for, and the potential risks for donors and recipients.

Live donor liver transplant procedure

In general, a live donor liver transplant involves the following steps:

Before the procedure

Before the surgery, the living donor will complete various medical tests to make sure they’re a good candidate. These medical tests will also monitor the recipient’s health before the procedure. The recipient will also need to complete various medical tests. During this time, doctors will determine how much of the donor’s liver you will need. The surgery will be scheduled 4 to 6 weeks in advance.

During the procedure

There are two parts to a living donor liver transplant. The first part involves removing part of the donor’s liver, which can take 4 to 6 hours. The second part involves putting that piece of liver into the recipient, which can take 6 to 12 hours. Typically, the procedure includes the following steps:The donor is given general anesthesia and their abdomen is cleaned.The surgeon creates an incision across the donor’s abdomen.Next, they remove a portion of the liver.The surgeon closes the incision and the recipient goes to the recovery room.The recipient is given general anesthesia and their abdomen is cleaned.The surgeon creates an incision across the recipient’s abdomenThey cut the liver’s attachments and remove the damaged or injured part.Next, the surgeon attaches the recipient’s veins, arteries, and bile ducts to the donor’s liver part.The surgeon closes the incision.

After the procedure

Right after the procedure, the donor will go to the recovery room. They will stay in the hospital for about 7 days. During this time, the medical team will monitor their vital signs. The recipient will go to the intensive care unit right after the surgery. Here, they’ll be given immunosuppressants to reduce the risk of complications with the new liver. Once the recipient is stabilized, they’ll be moved to a regular room. They’ll stay in the hospital for about 2 weeks. After the procedure, the donor’s liver will grow back. The recipient’s new liver will also grow back to a standard size.

Live donor liver transplant criteria

Before a live donor liver transplant is performed, both the donor and recipient need to meet certain criteria.

Donors

A potential donor needs to complete a medical and psychological evaluation. This will be done by various medical professionals. The evaluation will ensure that the donor is healthy enough to donate a piece of liver. Potential donors need to:be 18 years or olderhave good physical and mental healthnot be involved in current drug or substance usehave a compatible blood type with the recipienthave healthy liver and kidney functionhave no history of certain health issues, including active cancerunderstand the benefits and risks of donating A live liver donor does not need to be related to the recipient.

Recipients

A live donor liver transplant is not ideal for everyone who needs a liver transplant. Good candidates for the surgery include those who:have irreversible liver disease or injuryalso qualify for a deceased donor liver transplanthave a high chance of surviving the surgery and recovery perioddo not have severe portopulmonary hypertension (pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with portal hypertension)

Benefits of a live donor liver transplant

In the United States, there’s a shortage of livers from deceased people. As a result, there are more people waiting for a transplant than there are available livers. However, a live donor liver transplant can significantly reduce the waiting time. This has several benefits:lower risk of the recipient’s liver disease getting worsefaster recovery timebetter long-term outcomes reduces liver transplant waitlist Additionally, the procedure makes it possible for living relatives to donate. They’re more likely to have a compatible blood type, so they’re often a good match.

Live donor liver transplantation vs cadaveric transplantation

Compared with a deceased donor liver transplant, a live donor surgery reduces the waiting time for a liver transplant. However, there are potential complications. Some people might be more likely to experience these complications than others. The best option depends on your specific condition and overall health status. Your medical team can determine which is the best surgery for your situation.

Effectiveness of live donor liver transplantation

When performed by an experienced surgeon, a live donor liver transplant can be highly effective. Compared with deceased donor liver transplants, live donor transplants have:a shorter hospital staylower risk of intraoperative blood transfusion (recovering blood lost during surgery and re-infusing it into the person being operated on)lower risk of post-transplant dialysis

Live donor liver transplant complications risks and side effects

A live donor live transplant presents potential risks for both the recipient and donor.

Risks to the recipient

In recipients, potential risks include:biliary complications (bile leaks and biliary strictures)bleedingblood clotsbacterial infectionretransplantationportal vein thrombosisrejection of the donated liver piecemental confusionseizures Compared with deceased donor liver transplants, the complications are less serious in live donor transplants.

Risks to the donor

About 19% of live donors experience multiple complications. Common side effects include:biliary complications (bile leaks and biliary fistulas)bacterial infectionsherniablood clotsbleedingnausea There’s a higher risk of complications when the donated piece comes from the left lobe of the liver.

Live donor liver transplant cost

The cost of a live donor liver transplant depends on many factors, including your:ageregionhospitalhealth status In 2017, the average cost of a liver transplant was $463,000. This does not include physician costs. Health insurance typically pays for a liver transplant. That’s because it’s a medically necessary procedure.

Live donor liver transplant recovery

After the surgeon removes a piece of the liver, the donor may expect to fully recover in 3 to 6 weeks. The recipient may expect to recover in 3 to 6 months. During this time, recipients need to take medications to prevent complications and support their new liver. They’ll also need to regularly visit the doctor, who will monitor their health and progress.

Live donor liver transplant survival rate and outlook

According to the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network, the national survival rate for living donor transplants from 2008 to 2015 was:88% 1 year after the surgery82% 3 years after the surgery77.3% 5 years after the surgery

Frequently asked questions about live donor liver transplantation

Here are common FAQs about live liver donor transplants:

What is living donor liver transplantation

A living donor liver transplantation is when you get a portion of your liver from a living person. The piece of liver is removed from the person, then implanted into your body.

How long have living donor liver transplant surgeries been performed

Living donor transplant surgeries have been performed since the 1980s. They were created because of the liver shortage for children under age 2. The surgery is now available for both children and adults.

How can I become a living liver donor

To become a living liver donor, you’ll need to apply at a transplant center. You can apply online on the center’s website. After you apply, a medical team will perform a comprehensive evaluation to determine if you’re a good candidate.

Can you donate part of your liver to someone you don t know

You can donate a part of your liver to someone you don’t know. This is called a non-directed donation.

Takeaway

A liver transplant is a surgery to replace your liver with a healthy one. If the piece of liver comes from a living person, it’s called a live donor liver transplant. This type of procedure can shorten the waiting time for a liver transplant. It also has a faster recovery time and better outlook than deceased donor liver transplants. As with all surgeries, the donor and recipient need to meet certain requirements. A team of doctors can determine the best candidates for the procedure. Last medically reviewed on October 3, 2022

How we vetted this article

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.An introduction for donors and recipients. (2022).
liverfoundation.org/liver-diseases/treatment/living-donor-liver-transplant-information-center/an-introduction-for-donors-and-recipients/FAQs: What you should know about living donor transplants. (n.d.).
columbiasurgery.org/liver/living-donor-liver-transplantation-faqsHumar A, et al. (2019). Adult living donor versus deceased donor liver transplant (LDLT Versus DDLT).
journals.lww.com/annalsofsurgery/Abstract/2019/09000/Adult_Living_Donor_Versus_Deceased_Donor_Liver.6.aspxIvanics T, et al. (2021). An international evaluation of trends and outcomes of living donor liver transplantation: United States, United Kingdom, and Canada.
hpbonline.org/article/S1365-182X(21)00236-7/fulltextKim PTW, et al. (2016). Living donor liver transplantation in the USA.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4824744/Lee JG, et al. (2017). Donor safety in living donor liver transplantation: The Korean organ transplantation registry study.
aasldpubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/lt.24778Liver transplant. (n.d.).
niddk.nih.gov/health-information/liver-disease/liver-transplantLiving donor liver transplant: Bypassing the waiting list improves survival. (n.d.).
umms.org/ummc/pros/physician-briefs/transplant/liver-transplant/living-donor-liver-transplant-bypassing-waiting-listMahmud N. (2020). Selection for liver transplantation: Indications and evaluation.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7302921/Miller CM, et al. (2017). The International Liver Transplantation Society living donor liver transplant recipient guideline.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5642345/Simoes P, et al. (2015). Spectrum of biliary complications following live donor liver transplantation.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4506943/Web AN, et al. (2021). The actual operative costs of liver transplantation and normothermic machine perfusion in a Canadian setting.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8160033/Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. Current Version Oct 3, 2022 By Kirsten Nunez Edited By Roman Gokhman Medically Reviewed By Kelsey Trull, PA-C Copy Edited By Chris Doka Share this articleMedically reviewed by Kelsey Trull, PA-C — By Kirsten Nunez on October 3, 2022

Read this next

What Is Gamma Knife Surgery?Medically reviewed by Seunggu Han, M.D. Gamma Knife surgery is an effective treatment option for people with certain brain tumors, lesions, or other conditions that originate in the brain. READ MOREHow Successful Is the Kidney Transplant Procedure?Medically reviewed by Jenneh Rishe, RN Kidney transplants have high rates of success and are the preferred treatment for people who are eligible. Here's what you need to know.READ MOREYour Guide to Bone Marrow or Peripheral Blood Stem Cell (PBSC) Donation We review the process and recovery for donating bone marrow or PBSC and answer some common questions.READ MOREWhat Are the Risks of Bone Marrow Donation?Medically reviewed by Suzanne Falck, MD Bone marrow donation can save a life. Learn all about the potential side effects — and the huge rewards — that come with registering to be a bone…READ MOREWhat Is a VATS Procedure? A VATS (video-assisted thoracic surgery) procedure is a type of minimally invasive surgical technique used to treat or diagnose several conditions…READ MOREWhy Would My Doctor Order Histopathology Testing? These reports give you the results of a biopsy. They are most frequently used in cancer diagnosis. Let's look at the details: READ MOREAbout the Process of Removing the Endotracheal Tube After Mechanical VentilationMedically reviewed by Angelica Balingit, MD Extubation refers to the removal of the endotracheal tube from your lungs. It's done when mechanical ventilation is no longer needed because you can…READ MOREWhat Does a High A/G Ratio Test Result Mean?Medically reviewed by Meredith Goodwin, MD, FAAFP An albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio test measures the two main proteins in your blood. Low or high results can indicate certain health conditions.READ MOREHow Global Shortages Are Delaying Routine CT Scans The shortage of two common fluids used in contrast imaging is causing delays in some routine tests such as CT scans.READ MORE*clone Market VIP* The 11 Best Mattresses for Lower Back Pain in 2022Medically reviewed by Gregory Minnis, DPT These 11 picks are some of the best mattresses for lower back pain. Offering medium-firm support, they’ll help keep you aligned and rested.READ MORE