A living liver transplant is a surgical procedure where a portion of a healthy person's liver is removed and transplanted into someone with a diseased liver. The liver is unique in that it can regenerate, meaning both the donor’s and recipient's livers can grow back to their normal size after the surgery.
Our Liver Transplant Program connects surgeons and patients with complex conditions needing organ transplants. AHN surgeons are experts in their field and have years of experience in performing living donor liver transplants. Their focus is on providing tailored treatment plans and exceptional care for all patients.
Living liver donation surgery requires comprehensive pre-transplant screening and planning protocols as well as precise coordination by the transplant team at the time of surgery. Surgeons begin by removing part of a person’s healthy liver — up to 70% — and using the removed partial liver to replace the recipient’s diseased liver. The procedures occur at the same time. In the following few weeks, the livers of both the donor and recipient will regrow to the size of normal livers. This surgery differs from deceased liver transplants using the organ of a donor who has just passed away.
There are several reasons why someone might receive a living donor liver transplant instead of a deceased donor transplant:
Our care teams carefully evaluate your condition and circumstances before deciding if liver transplantation is right for you. Our surgeons perform liver transplant surgeries to successfully treat several conditions that may lead to liver failure, including:
We are one of the few medical centers around the country that perform living donor liver transplants. This highly sophisticated procedure provides an additional lifesaving option for some patients with end-stage liver disease. Based at Allegheny General Hospital, our dedicated Liver Transplant Program team offers comprehensive liver transplant care that’s personalized to your needs. Our multidisciplinary specialists work together to make lifesaving liver transplants possible for as many patients as possible.
Highlights of our program include:
A living liver transplant follows many of the same steps as a deceased liver transplant, except where the organ comes from.
Our goal at AHN is to make the benefits of a liver transplant a reality for as many people as possible. That means we consider transplantation for people with complex medical circumstances when other centers won’t pursue transplant. Our surgeons’ medical expertise, along with thorough health evaluations, help us deliver excellent results to to patients with even the most advanced disease.
To be a candidate for a living liver transplant, you will often need a referral. This can either be your primary care physician or gastroenterologist, or you can call for a referral yourself into the Liver Transplant Program.
A liver transplant evaluation is a comprehensive process that is critical to a successful procedure. To ensure you are a good candidate, you will undergo a complete review of your medical history, and you will have a physical examination. This review and exam will help identify any potential health issues that may prevent a successful transfer. There are often liver-specific tests that are performed to measure enzymes, proteins, and the liver’s function.
Once all the tests and exams are performed, your care team will discuss and review the considerations for transplant candidacy. To be determined as a good candidate for liver transplant, your care team will also review:
The patient identifies potential living donors, often family members or close friends. The transplant center assesses these individuals to determine their suitability. Once a suitable donor is identified, the recipient undergoes further testing to assess their overall health and ensure compatibility with the donor.
On transplant day, your AHN care team will be with you each step of the way. First, you will undergo surgical preparation and have a discussion with your surgical team about the procedure. Anesthesia will be administered, and your surgical team will prepare. The surgeon makes a large incision in the abdomen, typically a long incision across the upper abdomen with an upward extension in the middle. The exact type and size of the incision depend on the anatomy and the portion of the liver being removed. AHN surgeons are highly trained and experienced in living donor liver transplant surgery.
The surgery, given its complexity and significance, typically lasts six to eight hours. During the surgery, the surgeon carefully dissects and removes the diseased liver and transplants the right, sometimes left, lobe of the donor liver. The surgeon very carefully identifies and preserves important blood vessels and bile ducts.
A thorough medical and psychological evaluation is conducted to ensure the donor is healthy and a good match for the recipient. As with any major surgery, there are risks involved, and those are discussed, in depth, with the donor. After all medical, psychological, and necessary evaluations are completed, the donor preps for surgery using the detailed instructions provided to them by the AHN team. The donor undergoes surgery to remove a portion of their liver, typically the right or left lobe, depending on the recipient's needs.
Recovering from a living donor liver transplant is an involved experience for both the donor and the recipient, and the hospital environment plays a vital role in ensuring a successful outcome for both parties. The immediate postoperative period requires specialized medical attention to monitor vital functions, manage pain, and prevent complications. A dedicated hospital setting provides a comprehensive care team — including surgeons, nurses, and specialists — focused on addressing the physical, emotional, and psychological needs of both the donor and recipient, fostering optimal healing and rehabilitation.
Following donation surgery, the donor typically stays in the hospital for four to five days, focusing on pain management and wound healing. Full recovery generally takes a couple of months, gradually returning to normal activities. The remarkable thing about the liver is its ability to regenerate; the donor's remaining liver portion will regrow to nearly its original size within a relatively short time frame. Regular follow-up appointments are essential to monitor liver function and overall health.
The recipient's recovery involves a longer hospital stay, initially focused on ensuring the new liver portion functions properly. Immunosuppressant medications are crucial to prevent rejection of the transplanted liver and are taken for life. As the transplanted liver portion regenerates and the recipient's body adjusts, they'll gradually regain strength and energy. Consistent monitoring and adherence to the medical team's instructions are key for a successful long-term outcome, as well as maintaining the health of the new liver.
A living donor liver transplant is a lifesaving medical procedure that requires both the donor and recipient to understand the intricate nature of this surgery. It is an involved process that will, understandably, bring about many questions. Your AHN surgical and transplant team will be with you every step of the way to help you understand everything, but to provide a place to start, we’ve provided answers to frequently asked questions. These can help guide your conversations.
A living donor liver transplant is a surgery where a portion of a healthy person's liver is removed and transplanted into someone whose liver is failing. The amazing thing about the liver is that it can regrow. Both the donor's remaining liver and the transplanted portion in the recipient will regenerate to near their original sizes over time. This allows people with liver disease to receive a lifesaving transplant sooner, as they don't have to wait as long for a deceased donor liver to become available.
As the donor, you can expect to stay in the hospital for about a week after surgery. Full recovery, where you're back to your normal activities, usually takes a couple of months. During this time, you'll have regular check-ups to monitor your liver function and your overall healing.
As the recipient, recovery is longer and more involved. You'll likely be in the hospital for a few weeks. When you return home, you'll need to take medications to prevent your body from rejecting the new liver. Full recovery can take several months, and you'll need lifelong follow-up care. AHN has the support programs and additional care necessary to help you recover and adjust to life post-transplant.
As with any major surgery, there are risks involved for both the donor and the recipient. AHN’s transplant team, surgeons, doctors, nurses, and care team will work to minimize the risks that they can, but it’s important to understand the whole scope of the procedure. Some risks include:
The transplant team will discuss all the potential risks and benefits with both the donor and recipient in detail.
Living donor liver transplants have very good success rates. They can often provide better outcomes compared to deceased donor transplants because the liver is usually healthier and the waiting time is shorter. Success rates vary depending on the recipient's overall health and the specific liver disease, but in general, the survival rates for both donors and recipients are high. The transplant team will be able to provide you with more specific information based on your individual circumstances.
There are several factors that would prevent someone from being a living liver donor:
The transplant team will conduct a thorough medical and psychological evaluation to determine if someone is a suitable donor.
Call 412-359-5017 or request an appointment to learn more about AHN liver transplant services.
