Being a Liver Donor Involves a Major Operation

Being the Organ Donor for Liver Transplant Surgery

Oct 16, 2009 Emily Rogers

It's important that a liver donor not only physically prepares for the liver transplant surgery, yet also becomes mentally and emotionally prepared, as well.

Living organ donors are sometimes thought of as the most selfless people the world could ever know. However, a liver transplant surgery is a major operation, which does not come without risk. This is why it is so important that the liver donor is 100% sure of their decision to go through with the liver transplant surgery. It’s not just being physically prepared, it’s very important to be mentally and emotionally prepared as well.

Live Liver Donor

In order for someone to become a liver donor, that person must be put through a series of tests, in order to be approved for the liver transplant surgery. It’s crucial that the donor is 100% sure about giving this gift. As long as the person is a proper match and is completely confident in their decision to go through with the surgery, the individual will be able to move forward with the liver transplant surgery. Reasons why individuals may not be approved to be a liver donor:

If the person is under age 18, or over age 55
Mental illness
Bad health
Smoker
Alcoholic
Pregnant
Over weight
Doesn’t have after care plans

Live liver donors are hospitalized for a week after their operation is complete. The liver donor will have to endure a major operation, with some risks involved. According to the Mayo Clinic’s transplant team, it is estimated that a liver donor has a 0.5 to 1 percent chance of death. However, many patients have recovered successfully and have enjoyed the tremendous fulfillment from giving the “gift of life.”

The live liver donor’s liver will quickly regenerate back to its original size within a few weeks after their operation. As for the recipient, the transplanted liver will also regenerate to a normal size.

What Does the Liver Do?

First off, the liver is the largest organ inside the human body. The liver is positioned on the right side of the abdomen, tucked behind the lower ribs and below the lungs. The liver is in charge of over 400 functions throughout each day in order to sustain the body’s health. Some of the major functions of the liver include:

Converting food into nutrients ( producing bile to help break down fats)
Sorting fats, vitamins, sugars and iron
Creating the proteins needed for normal blood clotting
Removing chemicals such as alcohol, drugs and other harmful toxins

Reasons For a Liver Transplant Surgery

There are an array of diseases that can cause immense damage to the liver. When the liver is damaged, this will prevent it from being able to function, which will cause major health issues. If the damage is severe, liver transplant surgery will be needed in order to save the individual's life.

Preparing to Be a Liver Donor

It’s common for a liver donor to become so wrapped up with the physical and medical aspects of preparing to be a liver donor, that the person does not take time to mentally prepare for the surgery. The process of becoming a liver donor can bring many mixed emotions. Many liver donors worry about the outcome of both the recipients’ and their own lives. It’s a major surgery and in some cases, it’s the liver donor’s first surgery. It is essential that the liver donor takes time to prepare for the before and after process of the liver transplant surgery, as it may be a long and some what painful recovery.

Being a live liver donor is the greatest gift to give to a person in need of liver transplant surgery. It’s vital that the liver donor is not being pressured into the surgery and feels completely confident of their decision. Offering to be the live liver donor of liver transplant surgery is a huge decision to make. It’s important that the liver donor takes time to think about each risk involved and not only become physically prepared, but mentally and emotionally prepared, as well.

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