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Who is Considered for a Living Donor Liver Transplant?

The number of people waiting for a new liver exceeds the number of livers that are available. More than 10 years ago, surgeons discovered a feasible alternative: using a portion of a liver from a healthy, living donor. To qualify as a candidate, specific criteria must be met.

  1. Who Can Donate

    • Living liver donors are usually a relative of the patient requiring the transplant surgery. Parents, siblings, cousins and children or even friends can all consider being a candidate.

    Requirements

    • Candidates wishing to provide a liver donation should be between 21 and 50 years old. Being in good health and understanding the possible risks and complications are also essential. According to the Mayo Clinic, the blood type of the living donor and the recipient do not need to be identical; however, the blood types must be compatible.

    Being Accepted As a Donor

    • While the requirements are not as stringent as other procedures, such as bone-marrow donation, donors should expect to undergo a thorough medical evaluation by the liver-transplant team. The process usually takes several weeks to allow the transplant team to determine that the donor is healthy and able to withstand surgery. This also allows the donor proper time to thoroughly consider the decision.

    Who Can Receive A Living Donor Transplant

    • To receive a living donor transplantation, you must be on the national waiting list, be otherwise healthy and have the financial “go-ahead” from your insurance company.

    Transplant Surgery

    • Surgery usually takes between four and six hours and removes approximately 60 percent of the donor’s liver. While the donor’s liver portion is being removed, the recipient is having his diseased liver removed and the new liver portion inserted.

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