Liver Transplant (Living Related Donor) at MedAssist

A liver transplant is a surgical procedure that replaces a liver that is diseased or no longer functions properly with a liver from a deceased donor or a portion of a healthy liver from a living donor. The living donor can be:

• Someone who is emotionally related to the recipient such as a good friend, a significant other, or a spouse.

• A family member of the recipient, such as a parent, adult child, brother, or sister.

• Other biologically related relatives, such as an aunt, uncle, or cousin.

• A person who has heard about the transplant candidate’s need.

• Altruistic donation or non-directed living-donor. This means that the donor does not know or name the recipient of the donated liver. The match is based on blood type compatibility and medical need. The donor may choose not to know the recipient or may meet if both agree.

When the living donor is a family member, it is called a living related donor liver transplant. 

Living related donor liver transplant is usually used as an alternative to waiting for a deceased donor liver or an altruistic donation to become available. A liver transplant from a living donor is possible because the human liver can regenerate and return to its normal size, capacity, and volume within a couple of months after surgical removal of part of the organ. The transplanted liver portion in the recipient will grow and restore normal liver function as well.

Not everyone can be a living related donor. The donor has to be healthy and able to safely undergo major surgery. In addition, the donor’s blood type, age, and organ size are critical considerations in determining whether the recipient and the donor are a match. Extensive health and psychological evaluation are required to make sure that the donor and the recipient are a match, as well as to assess the donor’s mental and physical health.