Risks of Donor Operation

Although living liver donation surgery is relatively safe, the operation does involve certain risks. Unlike living kidney donation, in which death related to the operation is rare, there have been at least three deaths reported after living liver donation as of December 1999. Currently, the chance of death from this surgery is about 1 out of every 500 liver donors. This is a major operation and it should be discussed thoroughly with your family and Family Physician as well as with the Transplant Team.

Below is a list of possible problems and risks associated with liver donation surgery.

Minor Problems:

1. Nausea and vomiting for several days after the surgery
2. Pain at the incision site
3. Allergic reactions
4. Minor bleeding at the incision
5. Abnormal scar formation
6. Temporary jaundice, which is a yellow color to the eyes and skin
7. Delay in return of intestinal function (about 1 out of 10 cases)

Major Problems:

• Bile duct problems

1. Leaking bile (about 1 out of 10 cases) usually stops by itself, but sometimes additional medical attention or even surgery is needed to control the bile leak
   
   
2. Bile stricture (narrowed bile duct, about 1 out of 100 cases), can occur quite some time after the operation; may need a tube placed in the duct to keep it open or another surgery to correct the problem

• Serious bleeding requiring blood transfusion
  
  
• Liver failure (about 1 out of 1000 cases), if your remaining liver does not grow enough after surgery

Other risks related to having any major operation:

• Infection at the surgical site
• Hernia at the surgical incision
• Fluid buildup in the chest
• Bowel obstruction
• Blood clot

All of the risks will be explained to you in greater detail at the time of your visit with the liver transplant surgeon so that you can make an informed decision regarding donation.