Living donor liver transplantation can be an alternative to deceased donor liver transplantation

A living donor liver transplant may be an option to any person who is presently on the liver transplant waiting list. Living donor liver transplantation offers immediate organ availability and is a planned operation, which can avoid the progression of the recipient's disease and its life threatening complications, such as ascites and encephalopathy and patients diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Living donor liver transplantation requires an operation to remove a portion of a healthy person's liver and put it into a person who has a sick liver.

Living donor liver transplant benefits include:

  • A living donor liver is the best quality liver
  • A living donor transplant will eliminate the long wait time on the national deceased donor waiting list
  • Living donation maximizes the chance for a recipient to receive a transplant before a recipient’s condition dramatically worsens
  • The surgery can be timed for optimal health of the recipient and for donor convenience

Living donor eligibility criteria for liver transplant

Living donor liver transplantation—medically known as a hepatectomy—requires an operation to remove a portion of a healthy person's liver and put it into a person who has a sick liver. The liver has a right and left side that functions as a unit, although it can be separated in surgery. During a hepatectomy, the liver is divided, and either the right or left side is removed and donated for transplant. Within approximately six to eight weeks, both half-livers (of the liver donor and the liver recipient) will grow to full size.

The liver transplant team is extremely careful in selecting living donors. Potential liver donors must meet the following criteria:

  • Be in excellent medical and psychosocial health
  • Be between the ages of 18 and 60
  • Cannot have uncontrolled high blood pressure, liver disease, diabetes or heart disease
  • Be a compatible blood type with the recipient

How do I approach the conversation about needing a liver transplant with friends and family?

Asking someone to consider being a living liver donor can be a sensitive discussion. To help you get started, we have developed a letter that you can share that explains your need and a video to help you learn how to spread your message.

To assist you with this process, we have developed a sample letter that you may give to your potential donors that gently explains your needs and how they may help.  The letter reinforces that this is truly their individualized decision and does not compromise your relationship regardless of their response.

Download sample letter

Contact us

Dallas: 214.820.4438

Frequently asked questions

Living donor liver transplantation can be an alternative to deceased donor liver transplantation for some patients on the waiting list. The ideal candidates are patients who foresee a long wait on the deceased transplant list and experience complications of liver disease, such as ascites and encephalopathy and patients diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma.