Benefits and risks of living donor liver transplant - AILBS

A living donor liver transplant is a life-saving operation that allows a healthy volunteer to help someone they care about or any stranger too. You can take a piece of your healthy liver and donate it to someone in need. Both your piece and the transplanted piece will grow back to full size.

What do you understand about living donor liver transplants?

 

Most organ donations for organ transplants come from deceased donors. However, the liver is a unique organ. It is the only organ present in the human body that can regenerate itself and grow from a small piece back to its full size. It means that a living donor can volunteer to divide their healthy liver and give one piece to someone else in need. After the transplant, both pieces of the donor's liver will grow back to full size in six to eight weeks. The liver transplant success rate in India is high and many people undergo it.





What are the benefits of a living donor liver transplant?

 

Mentioned below are some of the major benefits people get by living donor liver transplants.

 

Providing the Gift of Life

 

By becoming a live donor, you shorten the time a recipient spends on the liver transplant waiting list. You also increase the likelihood of successful transplantation because survival rates are higher when the liver transplant comes from a live donor. Additionally, you help another wait-listed patient because your donation vacates the recipient’s spot on the list for the next person when a deceased liver becomes available.


Liver Regeneration

 

The liver is the only solid internal organ capable of full regeneration. It means the remaining portion of the liver will grow back after surgery. As little as 30 percent of your liver can regrow to its original volume. After you donate, your liver function returns to normal in 2 to 4 weeks, and your liver slowly regrows to nearly its full original volume in about a year.


Low Financial Burden

 The entire donation process is typically paid for by the recipient’s insurance company. It involves all pre-transplant evaluations, surgery, in-hospital recovery and follow-up care. Some qualifying donors can obtain financial assistance from different Assistance Centres to help pay for eligible transportation, food and lodging expenses related to the live donor evaluation, surgery and follow-up appointments. The live donor financial coordinator can provide further information during the donor evaluation.


 

What are the risks associated with living donor liver transplants?

Mentioned below are some of the major risks associated with living donor liver transplants.

 

Time Commitment and Personal Risk

 

Donating a portion of your liver is an invasive surgery. It takes time and effort to recover. The pre-transplant evaluation is a necessary process that takes you away from other activities. Your hospital stay lasts from four to seven days, but you may not be able to return to work for 6 to 10 weeks after hospital discharge.

 

Pain

 

Pain is usual after surgery. You will feel discomfort while your incision heals despite your pain medications. You may have fatigue as you recover, but most patients report feeling completely normal after two to three months.


Lifestyle Changes

 

In preparation for liver donation, you may need to make some modifications to your lifestyle. These changes include avoiding recreational drugs, tobacco and alcohol. You cannot drink alcohol for a full year after surgery to allow your liver to recover. You will also be required to visit the hospital and lab repeatedly. You will gradually be able to return to your normal activities as you recover. The doctors recommend not participating in contact sports for at least 10 to 12 weeks after surgery.

 

The bottom line

 

The liver transplant success rate for living donors is around 90%, which is slightly higher than the rate for liver transplants overall (85%). Success means the recipient’s body accepted the liver, the liver was functional, both liver pieces regenerated to full size and both parties recovered from the surgery. It is essential to visit a good transplant centre with experienced doctors. The happiness of having saved someone they love and care about is the greatest benefit of a living donor. Post-transplant both donors and recipients should take good care of their health, avoid unnecessary medications, alcohol, tobacco and maintain a very healthy diet. Explore the website to know more.


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