The success of liver transplantation has resulted in a dramatic increase in the number of patients who are now being considered for this operation. Unfortunately, that has not been met with a dramatic increase in the number of cadaver donors available for transplantation. As a matter of fact, the number of cadaver donors available each year has risen only slightly, which has resulted in higher discrepancy between the number of patients waiting, and the number getting transplanted. In 2007, there are 17,440 patients waiting for a liver transplant in the United States.
Due to the ongoing and increasing shortage of cadaver livers, transplant centers around the world, including the University of Maryland Medical Center, have adopted living donation as a partial solution to this shortage. As a result, the number of adult living donor liver transplants performed is increasing. Many people are now opting to give the gift of life by donating a portion of their liver to a relative, friend or co-worker.
If you are considering living donation as an option, there are many issues to consider. This Web site is designed to help the donor, the donor's family and the recipient understand what living donor liver transplantation involves.
Get answers to your living liver donor transplant questions by e-mailing Dr. Philosophe.
Reasons for Liver Transplantation
Living Liver Donor Inpatient Hospitalization
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