Can you get a liver transplant from a relative?

If a liver transplant candidate is eligible to receive from a living donor, then a family member, relative or close friend can be considered for donation. There are several requirements to becoming a living donor. If you meet the criteria below and are interested in living donor liver transplant, call 410-614-2989.

Is it easy to find a liver donor?

But finding a living donor may be difficult. Living liver donors go through extensive evaluation to ensure they are a match with the organ recipient and to assess their physical and mental health. The surgery also carries significant risks for the donor.

How long can you wait for a liver transplant?

Waiting for a liver The average waiting time for a liver transplant is 145 days for adults and 72 days for children. While you’re on the waiting list, you will need to keep yourself as healthy as possible and be prepared for the transplant centre to contact you at any moment, day or night.

Can you donate a liver to a family member?

Who can donate? Most often living liver donors are a close relative of the recipient, such as a family member, partner or good friend. However, people who do not know anyone with liver disease, but who wish to donate, can also provide part of their liver for someone on the transplant list.

What are the odds of getting a liver transplant?

The chance to be transplanted at two years from listing was 65\% and the risk of death was 17\%. Patients with metabolic liver disease had the highest chance of undergoing liver transplantation.

What is a high risk liver donor?

Organ donors who recently injected drugs, as well those who were incarcerated or had sex for drugs or money, are among a growing group of people classified as being at “increased risk” of an infectious disease such as hepatitis C or HIV.

How do I find a living donor for a liver transplant?

Take Action

1. Call your transplant center.
2. Ask transplant professionals to help you learn about living donor transplantation.
3. Involve your family and friends right away, and at every step of the way.
4. Share your story by talking about your need, everywhere possible.
5. Grow your support team using social media or other methods.

Can a person live without liver?

The liver performs essential, life-sustaining functions. While you can’t live without a liver completely, you can live with only part of one. Many people can function well with just under half of their liver. Your liver can also grow back to full size within a matter of months.

Do you need the same blood type for a liver transplant?

Your Blood Type Is a Good Match You don’t have to have the exact blood type as the person who needs a new liver, but you need to be what’s called “compatible.” This can be figured out with a simple blood test.

Can you get a liver transplant from a family member?

At UCSF Medical Center, most transplanted organs come from deceased donors. However, we perform an increasing number of liver transplants using portions of livers donated by a living relative or friend. Living donor liver transplants are possible because the liver has the unique ability to regenerate itself.

Can I donate part of my liver to someone else?

If you’re a blood relative, it’s more likely that your blood type will be a good match for the person getting part of your liver. Some transplant centers, though, let you donate part of your liver to someone you don’t know who’s on the organ transplant waiting list.

What are my options for a liver transplant?

Another option is to receive a piece of liver from a living donor, called a living donor transplant. Living donor transplants carry risks for both the donor and the recipient, and not everyone is a candidate.

How do living donor liver transplants work?

Living donor liver transplants are possible because the liver has the unique ability to regenerate itself. In the procedure, the surgical team removes the diseased liver from the recipient, then transplants a portion of the donor’s liver in its place.