how to donate living liver?

Common types of living liver donations include: Direct – You name the specific person to receive a part of your liver for transplant, usually a family member or close friend Paired– You give part of your liver to a compatible recipient, and your chosen recipient gets a compatible donation from another person

Full Answer

What are the criteria for donating a liver?

A surgeon removes a part of the donor’s liver, typically the right half. This donated segment of the liver is then immediately placed in the recipient in the next operating room. Many liver transplant surgeries are done laparoscopically, leaving only small incision scars.

What are the risks of donating a liver?

May 31, 2017 · A living liver donation surgery involves removing part of a person’s healthy liver — as much as 60 percent — and using this partial liver to replace the recipient’s diseased liver. In the weeks to come, both the donor and recipient sections will grow to the size of normal livers.

How much money can I get for my liver donation?

Living liver donors donate part of their liver to someone with liver failure. Liver failure may be caused by a number of conditions, including liver cancer, hepatitis or cirrhosis. Donating part of your liver is possible because the liver – unlike other organs – …

Can you donate a liver and still live?

American Transplant Foundation: "About Living Donation," "Living Donor Liver Transplants." United Network for Organ Sharing: "Living Donation: Information you need to know."

Can you be alive to donate a liver?

Living Donor Liver Transplant A small percentage of liver transplants are completed each year using a portion of a healthy liver from a living donor. Living donation is possible because the liver is the only organ that can regenerate itself.

Does donating part of your liver shorten your life?

Whether you're giving away part of your liver or getting a new one, life often goes back to normal a few months after surgery. By the time you hit the 3-month mark, your liver will probably reach its normal size and you'll be back to your regular routine.Dec 3, 2019

Is living liver donation painful?

You will have less pain as each day goes by, but most of our donors have a significant amount of discomfort for two to four weeks after surgery. Most pain medications make you drowsy, can affect your breathing and may cause nausea or constipation.

What are the risks of donating liver?

Risks Associated with Liver DonationPossible allergic reaction to anesthesia.Pain and discomfort.Nausea.Wound infection.Bleeding that may require transfusion.Blood clots.Pneumonia.Bile leakage, bile duct problems.More items...

Can a female donate a liver to a male?

Overall, data collected from transplants performed around the world showed that gender didn't seem to matter. But when the authors isolated the data from North America, they found female-donated livers that were transplanted into male patients were less likely to succeed than male-donated livers.Nov 6, 2002

What disqualifies you from a liver transplant?

acute rejection. the return of liver disease. cancer. medical complications, such as high blood pressure, infection, diabetes, and high cholesterol.

How successful are living donor liver transplants?

Improved Outcomes: Recipients of living donor livers have an average 5 percent better long-term survival rate than recipients of deceased donor livers.

Can you drink alcohol after donating a liver?

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.

Can O positive donate liver to anyone?

If you have Type O blood, you are a "universal donor" and can donate to anyone (although Type O liver recipients can only get organs from people who are also Type O).Sep 29, 2021

How long is liver donation surgery?

Liver transplants usually take six to 12 hours. During the operation, surgeons will remove your liver and replace it with the donor liver. Because a transplant operation is a major procedure, surgeons will need to place several tubes in your body.Mar 30, 2021

How do I prepare to be a liver donor?

Criteria for live donation of a liver:Must be in good physical and mental health.Must be between the ages of 18 and 60.Must have a body mass index (BMI) that is less than 35.Must have a compatible blood type with the recipient.Must be free from the following:

What is the cost of liver?

The cost of a liver transplant can range anywhere between 20 - 25 lakhs. This includes the pre-transplant evaluation, the surgery itself and the post-surgery recovery period. There are certain factors that affect the cost of an organ transplant.

How long can you live without a liver?

Your liver can keep working even if part of it is damaged or removed. But if it starts to shut down completely—a condition known as liver failure—you can survive for only a day or 2 unless you get emergency treatment.

How long do you live after a liver transplant?

On average, most people who receive LT live for more than 10 years. Many may live for up to 20 years or more after the transplant. A study says 90% of people with transplant survive for at least 1 year, and 70% of people may live for at least 5 years after transplant.Mar 2, 2021

How much liver tissue is removed for a living donor?

A living liver donation surgery involves removing part of a person’s healthy liver — as much as 60 percent — and using this partial liver to replace the recipient’s diseased liver. In the weeks to come, both the donor and recipient sections will grow to the size of normal livers.

What is a living donation?

Living donations save time: Living donation is intended to help a sick patient avoid the wait time for a deceased donor. That can mean an individual receives lifesaving intervention before his or her condition (typically end-stage liver failure, liver cancer or other rare and metabolic diseases) worsens.

How many people are waiting for a new liver?

Still, demand far exceeds supply: More than 14,000 people in the United States are waiting for a new liver, according to the United Network for Organ Sharing. Livers are the second most-needed organ after kidneys.

How long does it take for a kidney donor to recover?

Recovery time is significant: A living donor who gives a kidney might be hospitalized for a few days and spend four to six weeks healing. Those who offer part of their liver, however, can expect to double that length of time.

Do liver donors know their recipient?

Most donors know their recipient: Because of the size and scope of the operation — plus the speed a decision to donate might require — a living liver donor typically has close ties to the recipient. Still, both sides must undergo a range of compatibility tests.

How long does it take for a liver to grow back after a liver transplant?

It takes about six months for your liver to fully grow back after a living liver donation surgery. Our ultimate goal is to make sure you’re just as healthy after your living donation surgery as you were before your surgery.

How long do you stay in the hospital after a liver transplant?

Most living liver donors stay in the hospital for five to 10 days. The transplant team will also ask you to stay close to Salt Lake City (within two hours driving distance) until your surgeon decides you’re healthy enough to return home.

What tests are done for liver transplant?

Some of the testing you will have includes blood tests, urine tests, imaging exams of your liver, and cancer screening.

How long does it take for a liver transplant to regrow?

After donating part of your liver, your liver will regrow and work normally again within just a few months. Most people who need a liver transplant spend months or years waiting for an organ donation from a deceased donor.

Can you talk to another liver donor?

Our living donor program can arrange for you to speak to another donor who has donated a portion of their liver. If you’re nervous or don’t know what to expect, talking to another living liver donor can help you feel more confident about your decision.

Is it safe to donate a liver?

1. Living liver donation is safe. Your liver is an incredible organ. It actually regrows to its original size within six months of a living liver donation surgery. Like any surgery, the procedure does have some risks. But overall, living liver donation is safe. Our team will always act in your best interests and safety as a donor.

What are the requirements to be a donor?

If you want to be a donor, your liver, kidneys, and thyroid need to be working right. Transplant centers also want to know that you don't have medical problems like these: 1 Liver disease, including hepatitis 2 Diabetes (or a strong family history of the disease) 3 Heart, kidney, or lung disease 4 Gastrointestinal disease, autoimmune disorders, neurologic disease, and certain blood disorders 5 HIV/AIDS 6 Cancer (or once had some types of cancer) 7 High blood pressure that's not under control 8 Current or long-term infections, including hepatitis C 9 Use of alcohol or recreational drugs, including marijuana

How old do you have to be to get a transplant?

Most transplant centers want you to be between 18 and 60 years old, although the exact age range varies. The reason is that older donors tend to have more complications than younger ones. Transplant centers also consider children and teens to be too young to give the proper consent.

How long before surgery can you quit smoking?

Quitting tobacco 1-2 months before surgery can help lower the odds of complications. Quitting smoking even right before surgery can increase the amount of oxygen in your body. After 24 hours without smoking, nicotine and carbon monoxide are already gradually broken down in the blood.

Can you donate liver to someone on the waiting list?

If you're a blood relative, it's more likely that your blood type will be a good match for the person getting part of your liver. Some transplant centers, though, let you donate part of your liver to someone you don't know who's on the organ transplant waiting list.

Is it illegal to sell organs?

It's illegal for anyone to force you to do it. It's also against the law to sell organs. Transplant centers always make sure that their donors are doing this of their own free will, and you'll need to sign a consent form. You have the right to back out at any time.

How long does it take to recover from a liver transplant?

Typically, a liver donor spends approximately seven days in the hospital, and will have an additional six to eight weeks of recovery time.

How long does it take for a liver to regenerate after surgery?

Your liver will begin to regenerate immediately after surgery and will be back to normal size in six to eight weeks. Your recovery after discharge will be closely monitored with routine clinic visits and laboratory tests. If you are interested in becoming a living donor, call 410-614-2989 or download our living donor candidate packet.

How long after discharge can you drive?

You are instructed not to drive while on sedating medications, which are used at least two to three weeks after discharge. You are encouraged to walk several times a day.

Is it safe to donate a liver?

Risks Associated with Liver Donation. Even though live liver donation is considered a very safe operation, it involves major surgery and is associated with complications, which may include: Possible allergic reaction to anesthesia. Pain and discomfort. Nausea.

What is a living donor liver?

Living-donor liver transplant offers an alternative to waiting for a deceased-donor liver. Having a living liver donor also allows the recipient to avoid some possible health complications while waiting for a transplant. People who have a living-donor liver transplant seem to have fewer medical problems after the procedure than those who receive ...

Where do they remove the liver from a donor?

During the procedure. On the day of the transplant, surgeons will remove a portion of the donor liver for transplant through an incision in the abdomen. The specific part of the liver donated depends on the size of the donor liver and the needs of the recipient.

How long does it take for a liver transplant to grow back?

During living-donor liver donation, surgeons remove a portion of the donor liver and place it into the recipient. Within a couple of months after living-donor liver surgery, the donor's liver typically grows back to its normal size, volume and capacity.

How long does it take to recover from a liver transplant?

If you're a liver donor, it also takes time to recover. "Donors are hospitalized for about a week after the surgery and may take about 2 to 3 months to fully recover," Te says. Whether you're a donor or the person getting the liver, you'll need to avoid alcohol, recreational drugs, and contact sports after the transplant.

How many people are on the waiting list for a liver transplant?

In the U.S., there are more than 17,500 people on a waiting list for a new liver. There aren't enough livers to go around from donors who die. If you become a living donor, you help free up a liver for someone else on the waiting list. And a successful transplant gives the person who gets your new liver more years of life.

Does insurance cover liver transplants?

Normally, the health insurance of the person who is getting a new liver covers the expense of the donor, including pre-transplant evaluations, surgery, in-hospital recovery, and follow-up care. If you're the donor, though, you or your insurance company may have to pay for pain medications, post-surgery care, and any travel costs for getting to ...

Can you lose your liver if you donate it?

If you're going to be a donor, you may worry that removing part of your liver will hurt your health. But you can lose up to 75% of it, and it will grow back to its original size quickly -- and work just fine when it does.

Talking to People About Living Donation

It feels uncomfortable to ask someone to donate an organ to help your child. However, it helps if you shift your thinking from asking for an organ to sharing your situation with friends and family.

Who to Ask

You probably have people you feel more comfortable talking to about your situation than others. You may even know of close friends who would likely be willing to donate part of their liver.