What is the Process of Liver Donation?

The process of liver donation involves surgically removing a portion of a healthy person's liver and transplanting it into someone with liver failure or severe liver disease. This can be done either through a living donor transplant or a deceased donor transplant.

Living Donor Liver Donation Process:

Here's a breakdown of the living donor liver donation process:

1. Initial Evaluation and Screening:

   • Potential donors undergo thorough medical and psychological evaluations. This includes blood tests, imaging studies (CT scans, MRIs), and a complete physical exam. The goal is to ensure they are healthy enough to donate and that their remaining liver will function adequately.
   • The compatibility of the donor's blood type and liver size with the recipient is also assessed.

2. Psychological Evaluation:

   • Donors also undergo psychological assessments to ensure they understand the risks and benefits of donation, are making an informed decision freely, and have a strong support system.

3. Surgical Planning:

   • If the donor is deemed suitable, the surgical team plans the procedure using detailed imaging to determine the optimal portion of the liver to remove. Typically, the right lobe is removed, as it is larger, but this is assessed on a case-by-case basis.

4. Donor Surgery:

   • The donor surgery is a major operation, typically lasting several hours.
   • Surgeons carefully remove the planned portion of the donor's liver.
   • The incision is usually made across the upper abdomen.

5. Recipient Surgery (Occurs Simultaneously):

   • While the donor surgery is underway, the recipient is also prepared for surgery. The recipient's diseased liver is removed.

6. Transplantation:

   • The donated portion of the liver is carefully implanted into the recipient.
   • The surgeons connect the blood vessels and bile ducts to ensure proper function.

7. Post-Operative Care (Donor):

   • The donor typically spends several days in the hospital.
   • Pain management is a key focus.
   • The donor's liver will regenerate and return to its normal size within a few months. Follow-up appointments are crucial to monitor their recovery.

8. Post-Operative Care (Recipient):

   • The recipient also requires close monitoring in the hospital.
   • Immunosuppressant medications are administered to prevent the body from rejecting the new liver.
   • Regular follow-up appointments and blood tests are essential to monitor liver function and prevent complications.

Deceased Donor Liver Donation Process:

1. Organ Procurement:

   • When a person dies and is a registered organ donor (or their family consents to donation), their liver may be recovered if it is healthy and suitable for transplant.

2. Matching:

   • The donor liver is matched to a recipient on the waiting list based on factors such as blood type, body size, and the severity of the recipient's liver disease (using the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score).

3. Transportation:

   • The liver is carefully transported to the transplant center where the recipient is waiting. Time is of the essence, as the liver must be transplanted within a certain timeframe to remain viable.

4. Recipient Surgery:

   • The recipient's diseased liver is removed.

5. Transplantation:

   • The deceased donor liver is implanted into the recipient, and blood vessels and bile ducts are connected.

6. Post-Operative Care (Recipient):

   • The recipient receives immunosuppressant medications to prevent rejection and requires close monitoring to ensure proper liver function. Long-term follow-up care is crucial.

In summary, liver donation involves a careful evaluation process, a complex surgical procedure, and diligent post-operative care for both the donor (in living donation) and the recipient to ensure the best possible outcome.