Pros & Cons
Elective Basis
The most important advantage to living-donor liver transplant is the ability to schedule the surgery on an elective basis. T his allows the transplant team, along with the family, to decide on the optimum time for the procedure without the uncertainty of the waiting list. The recipients are usually healthier and stronger at the time of transplant as well.
Shorter Hospital Stays; Less Rejection
Living-donor recipients have shorter hospital stays and may have fewer episodes of rejection.
It is Major Surgery
On the other hand, the family must endure two procedures rather than one. The living-donor operation, while very safe, is a major surgery with significant risks. These risks include bleeding (the most common), infection, bile leak, gastric motility problems and digestion problems.
Typical Donor Hospital Discharge & Return to Work Status
Most donors are discharged from the hospital within three days and back to work within six to eight weeks.