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Donor

What is a living-donor transplant? Top
Surgeons take part of a healthy liver from one person and put it into someone whose liver is damaged by disease. It's different from a traditional liver transplant, which uses all or part of a liver from someone who has died (deceased donation). The liver is an amazing organ, because a small slice of it can grow back into full size.  
   
Who can be the donor for transplantation?  

There are two sources: cadaveric and living donors.

  • Cadaveric donors are individuals whose organs have been made available after brain death. As few cadaveric donations take place in Pakistan, living related liver transplantation is the only feasible option in our country.
  • For living related transplants, a relative (usually parents, siblings or children) with a compatible blood type donates a portion of their liver to the patient. Fortunately, the liver of the donor is able to grow back to full size in 812 weeks.

You need to be between 18 and 60 and in good health. You can't have long-term problems like liver disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, or heart trouble.

  
   
How is the donor tested? Top
Living liver donors should be healthy adults, with a near normal body mass index (not obese) who have the ability to understand the procedure. You can't be a donor if you've got an infection like hepatitis. An ultrasound, CT, or MRI takes pictures of your liver to see if it's the right size and shape. The donor should have no medical, emotional, or psychological condition that could potentially increase the risk of this surgery.  
   
What are the risks to the donor?  
Giving away part of your liver is safe, but like any major surgery, there's a risk of bleeding, blood clots, infections, allergic reactions, and damage to nearby organs. There's also a chance you could get a hernia or leaking of digestive fluid - called bile - from your liver. It's rare, but sometimes the surgery can damage your liver so that it stops working. If that happens, you might need your own liver transplant.  
   
What happens during donor surgery? Top
You and the person you're donating to will be in nearby operating rooms. Your surgeon will make a cut in your belly and divide your liver into two pieces. The other person will get about half. Your surgeon may also remove your gallbladder, which is connected to the liver. After the procedure, the surgeon will close the opening and you'll go to a recovery room.  
   
How long will the operation take?  
A typical liver transplant can last from 8-12 hours. The surgery for the donor lasts approximately 5-6 hours.  
   
Who pays for the surgery?  
If you donate your liver, the person getting it should pay for your surgery and any care you need afterward. You won't get money for donating your liver - that's illegal.  
   
What is recovery like? Top
For donors or those getting a liver, it usually takes about 6 to 8 weeks. You won't be able to work during this time. You'll have some pain, but your doctor will give you medicine to control it. Be careful not to lift anything heavy for about the first 3 months. Whether you donate or receive a liver, your new organ will start to grow right after the surgery. Within 2 months, it should almost be back to its normal size.  
   
What happens after surgery?  
Whether you donate or receive a liver, you'll see your doctor for regular checkups during the first month after the operation. Then you'll have appointments about once every 3 months, and after that once a year. Go back to your activities slowly, as you feel ready. Ask your doctor which medicines are safe for you to take.  
   
Why is living-donor liver transplantation desirable?  
Living donor liver transplantation has two major advantages over deceased-donor transplantation. First, there is an improved survival rate for the adult transplant recipients who received living-donor livers over deceased-donor livers.  
   
What is involved in the donor evaluation process? Top
A living-donor candidate must complete the evaluation process at Transplant Centre to determine if they can safely donate.  
   
What is the average hospital stay for a donor?  
Most donors are hospitalised for 7-10 days after surgery.  
   
How long before the liver donor is fully recovered?  
Every donor's recovery time is different. Typically, donors spend three weeks recuperating after surgery.  
   
How does donation affect the donor's ability to work?  
The recovery time for this type of surgery varies, but most donors are advised that they will require up to 6-8 weeks for complete recovery of normal health and activity.  
   
Will I need to take any medication after donating? Top
You will need to take some painkillers immediately after the operation and during the recovery period. However, you should not need any long-term medication as a result of liver donation.  
   
Read our Guidelines for Donations