Liver Transplantation
About Liver Transplantation
Liver Transplant Options
Living Liver Donor Transplantation
- Why Living Donor?
- Becoming A Living Donor
- Prepping for Donation and Surgery
- Life after surgery
- Frequently Asked Questions
Liver Transplant Process & What to Expect
Liver Transplantation Patient Stories
Walter Payton Liver Center
Patient & Family Support
Request More Information
Contact Us
Why Living Donor?
A liver transplantation is the best treatment for patients with end-stage liver disease. There currently are only enough organs from deceased donors available for about one-third of the roughly 17,000 individuals on the national United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) liver transplant waiting list.
Unfortunately, about 20% of patients die each year while waiting for donation. This lack of donors has caused medical professionals to explore other solutions to terminal cases of liver failure, such as living donor liver transplantation (LDLT).
Timing in liver transplantation is important. Once a patient has progressed into a terminal stage of liver disease, there is less of a chance for an easy recovery once the donor organ becomes available.
Living Donor Transplant Information
UI Health has one of the most experienced living donor liver transplant programs in the country. Here, the Liver Transplant team introduced the living donor transplantation process and answers common questions about the procedure and care:
The following websites may also be helpful regarding general information on living donation and liver transplantation:
If at any time during the process of evaluation, donation, or even post donation, you have concerns or complaints, you may report these to UNOS, the private, nonprofit organization that manages the nation’s organ transplant system. You also can contact UNOS at 888.894.6361.
