Table 1.

Key findings on donor outcomes in the short term (approximately first year) after living liver donation

Medical outcomes

≈0.15–0.50% estimated risk of donor mortality, with the highest risk in the first 60–90 days (6,9,18) ≈15–25% risk, on average, of complications (3,19), but risk is higher (≈40%) after adult-to-adult (primarily right lobe) LDLT (9,20) ≈1% risk of near-miss events (i.e. potentially life-threatening events that have no long-term sequelae) (19) Early postoperative laboratory abnormalities in liver function and other values normalize within the first year postdonation, with the exception of low platelet counts (9) Regeneration of the liver remnant is initially rapid and is almost complete by 1 year postdonation (21)

Psychosocial outcomes

Most donors (>90%) express no regret at having donated (1,5,8) Generic, non-donation-specific health-related quality of life (HRQOL) levels meet or exceed that of the general population (5) Donation-specific measures of psychosocial well-being indicate that significant percentages of donors report at least some difficulties (1,5,8), including the following: Up to one third of donors report lingering physical symptoms Approximately one quarter report clinically significant symptoms of depression or anxiety that may have been provoked or exacerbated by donation Most donors report that their relationship with the transplant recipient is unchanged or improved postdonation, but up to one quarter report strained family, social, or work relationships At least one quarter to one third report significant financial burdens associated with donation including, for example, lost wages and unreimbursed expenses

LDLT, living donor liver transplantation.