A typical liver donation operation lasts between 5 to 8 hours. The recipient operation lasts anywhere between 6 to 18 hours depending on the complexity of the case. Usually both operations occur at the same time.

After the operation pain will be controlled with good anesthesia and usually most if not all patients experience very little or no pain.Donors are allowed to walk after the 3rd post-operative day. They are given a blood thinning agent to prevent clots in the leg from reaching the lungs. Most patients can start eating by the 3rd day after the operation. Most patients are discharged from hospital between the 7th to 10th day. Donors need to rest at home for at least a month. They will be followed up regularly in the clinic after discharge.

All patients will stay in the Intensive care unit for a few days before going to the ward. Patients may need to stay in the hospital up to a month. Both the donor and the recipient will have 24 hour access to the transplant team even on discharge should the need ari

The biggest risks are rejection and infection. Rejection occurs when the body’s immune system attacks the new liver as an unwanted foreign substance, just as it would attack a virus. To prevent rejection, transplant recipients must take drugs to suppress the immune system. However because the immune system is weakened, it is harder for liver transplant patients to fight other kinds of infections. Most infections can be treated with other drugs. Many liver transplant patients have at least one episode of rejection or infection that requires readmission to hospital for treatment. After the first year, routine follow-up consists of annual checkup at the transplant hospital.

These are caused by drugs used to treat or prevent rejection. These side effects can include fluid retention, raised blood pressure,headaches diarrhea, nausea and joint pain.

Following a liver transplant, you will need to be monitored closely. Enough Immunosuppression is needed to keep the body from rejecting the liver, but too much Immunosuppression can lead to serious infections. You are most at risk for rejection and infection in the first 90 after transplant. Because you will require higher doses of immunosuppressive medications in the first 3 months, you are also at a higher risk for infection during that period of time. The amount of medication you take will be reduced gradually during the first year post-transplant. You will need to have lab work done twice weekly for the first 2 to 3 months. After 3 months, your lab schedule will be reduced so that at 1 year post-transplant you will need labs done monthly. Your labs can be done at a hospital close to your home.

We will have you return to Transplant Clinic 1-2 weeks after you are discharged from the hospital. Then we will ask that you return every 3 months for the first year. In some cases, you may be required to come more frequently. After the first year, your follow-up appointments need to be annually. We will also ask that you see your referring doctor within 2 weeks of your discharge from the hospital. He or she will remain very important in your follow-up care.

The outlook for patients is often expressed as a five-year survival rate. This refers to the patients who are alive 5 years after their transplant. The 5- year survival rate for liver transplant patients is about 85%.

Most patients return to a normal or near normal lifestyle 6 months to a year after transplant. Transplant recipients should avoid exposure to people with infections. Maintaining a balanced diet, getting regular exercise and staying on prescribed medications are important.

Because of the unique ability for the liver to regenerate (grow back), it will return to its original size in approximately 12 weeks. The transplant team will recommend to you that you avoid alcoholic beverages for the first several months up to a year, following liver donation surgery. After recovery, which is typically 6 to 8 weeks, you can work, drive, exercise and participate in sports as usual. You can continue all types of occupations, including military duty. There is also no evidence to suggest that female donors suffer any effect on their ability to become pregnant or bear children.

The costs of the evaluation and surgery for donors are covered by the recipient's insurance company. Costs that are not covered include, but are not limited to, loss of salary due to time off from work, hotel and transportation costs, and personal expenses. Donors should explore their employer’s sick leave policy, since they will not be able to return to work for approximately six to eight weeks. If you have financial concerns you should discuss these issues with the Transplant Team prior to donation. It is the responsibility of the potential donor to make the Transplant Program aware of any financial concerns prior to the surgery date.

It is common and expected for donors to experience some mild pain and discomfort after the surgery, which may persist for several weeks. Pain medications will be made available to you during your hospitalization to keep you as comfortable as possible. Pain medication does not always take away all of the pain, but you should feel comfortable. It is important to let your doctors and nurses know if your pain is not well-controlled or is worsening over time. You will be given a prescription for pain medication to take by mouth once you are discharged from the hospital as well.