The MedStar Georgetown Transplant Institute is one of the leading
transplant centers in the United States in terms of volumes and outcomes. In the
field of liver transplantation, we are one of the largest centers in the region.
So, we are highly experienced, and our transplant team is really second to none.
All our patients are cared for by a thoroughly qualified multidisciplinary
team that covers absolutely everything you need as an organ donor. Your team
will include the hepatologist, a surgeon, a nurse coordinator, a social worker, a
donor advocate, and a psychiatrist. Each one is committed to guiding and
supporting you through the entire transplant process.
So a living donor gives just a portion of their liver to someone in need of a
transplant. The recipient's entire diseased liver is removed and is
replaced by a piece from the donor. The liver is the only organ in our bodies
that regenerates. The donated organ grows back to nearly full size. The donor's
liver also grows back to near full size within about eight weeks. With over
fourteen thousand people waiting for a liver transplant in the United States,
there are not enough deceased donor livers for all the patients waiting for
a life-saving organ. Unfortunately, 30% of the people on the
waiting list either become too sick to receive the transplant or pass away. So,
receiving a liver from a living donor is a real game changer and a wonderful
option for some recipients. Whereas a recipient could wait months or years for
a deceased donor liver, recipients with a living donor have a much shorter wait
time. A shorter wait time means less time for the recipient to become more sick
and develop life-threatening complications. So timing is key. You have
to keep in mind that there is a window of opportunity. Once a recipient is
eligible for a living donor transplant, they can start sharing their story and
the option of receiving a transplant from a living donor from their family
members and friends. A donor must voluntarily come forward before the
recipient becomes too sick for living donor transplant. And there are many
advantages to receiving a living donor transplant over a deceased donor
transplant. Since living donors are healthy people who have undergone
extensive medical evaluation, the quality of the liver is likely better. Because
the donors and recipients surgery happen at the same time, the period of time that
the liver is outside the body and without blood supply is a few minutes
instead of hours.
There are requirements for the person donating a portion of their liver. The
donor goes through a process of evaluation and testing in order to
qualify. The donor must have a compatible or identical blood type, be in good
physical and mental health, be at least 18 years old, and younger than 56 years
old, understand the risk and benefits of donation and the alternative treatments
available to the recipient, and be willing to donate voluntarily free of
coercion. And it's important to know that there is ZERO medical cost for the donor.
The recipient's insurance pays for all the living donor's medical expenses. Many
of the risks involved with donating a liver are the same as with any major
surgery. Most liver donors do not experience any complications. The
complications that might occur are usually minor. More serious complications
include bleeding, blood clots in the legs or lungs, infections, or heart problems.
Risks that are more specific to liver surgery are bile leaks or permanent
liver failure requiring a liver transplant.
And although rare, the mortality rate of living liver donors is about 0.2% or two
deaths out of 1,000 donors. If you're considering donating a portion of your
liver, remember our number one priority is your
safety. We'll discuss these risks in depth during evaluation. At any point
during evaluation and even up until the day of surgery, the donor may decide not
to proceed with donation. This decision will be respected by the living donor
team.
After surgery, the donor will be in the hospital for four to seven days. This is
a major abdominal surgery, so the team will have to work to keep pain levels
down. And most donors are pain free within three weeks. You can expect to
return to daily activities after four weeks and return to work between six
weeks and three months. The Transplant Institute is committed to guiding and
supporting our patients and their loved ones throughout the entire transplant
process. As a social worker and donor advocate, my role is to promote your best
interests, advocate for your rights, and assist you during the evaluation, surgery,
and post donation follow-up period. I work solely with living donors and
coordinate with the transplant team as we do everything we can to ensure the
best possible care for our patients.
Thank you for taking the time to watch this. We feel it's important for you to
have the essential information that you need. When liver transplant is necessary,
we offer the absolute best procedures and care for both the donor and
recipient.