The living donor experience: Donor health assessment and outcomes after living donor liver transplantation

Abstract

Despite the increasing use of living donor liver transplantation, little is known about donor needs, concerns, and experiences. The goal of this study is to assess morbidity associated with living donation from a donor perspective, functional status after donation, and overall satisfaction with the donation process. We surveyed all living donors (LDs) from our center. Demographics, perioperative experience, and satisfaction with donation were assessed. The Medical Outcomes Study 12-Item Short-Form Survey (SF-12), a well-validated tool, measured overall health-related quality of life. Of 27 subjects eligible for the study, 27 subjects (100%) participated. Forty percent reported an event they deemed an immediate complication, of which 60% were recorded in the medical record. Complications requiring readmission were reported by 22%.

Donor quality of life before and after adult-to-adult right liver live donor liver transplantation

“…22,24 In this series, donors were asked if they would donate again if it were necessary, and 4 (13.3%) expressed that they would not because of the suffering and difficulties they had experienced. This percentage is higher than that in live donor kidney transplantation (4%), 17 and it could be explained by the more major extent of the operation.…”

“…19 In ALDLT, with few exceptions, 20,21 published donor HRQL studies are retrospective and not longitudinal. [22][23][24][25][26] The aim of this study was to prospectively and longitudinally quantify HRQL issues of live liver donors in ALDLT. Attempts were also made to identify donors who were negatively affected and the risk factors accounting for such outcomes.…”

Adult living donor liver transplantation: Perspectives from 100 liver transplant surgeons

“…8 A complication rate of 22% requiring readmission was reported in a single-center experience. 6 Interestingly, donors reported 40% more complications than were documented in the medical record. 6 Estimates of the risk of donor mortality have ranged from 0.2% to 0.5% 8 to 0.3% to 0.9%.…”

“…6 Interestingly, donors reported 40% more complications than were documented in the medical record. 6 Estimates of the risk of donor mortality have ranged from 0.2% to 0.5% 8 to 0.3% to 0.9%. 9 The risk to healthy donors has prompted criticism that LDLT is being embraced too rapidly and has led to ethical and professional concerns.…”

“…4,5 Nearly all donors questioned have endorsed living donation and stated that they would donate again, regardless of their complications. [4][5][6] The lay public in the United States also seems to favor the idea of LDLT. In a recent survey, members of the general public suggested that they would be willing to take a substantial amount of risk in donating to a loved one, and that they would donate even if the recipient had a limited chance of survival.…”