Living donor liver transplant process
At the Penn Transplant Institute, the goal of the living donor evaluation process is to protect the donor’s health, safety, and well-being. Potential donors undergo extensive testing to make sure it’s safe for them to become a living donor.
The donation journey takes place in these steps:
To begin the referral process, please complete the registration form. Once we receive your form, you’ll receive an email confirmation with a link to continue the online medical screening questionnaire. Once the questionnaire has been fully completed, we’ll contact you within one week.
You’ll have consultations with your dedicated donor team. They’ll order medical tests and exams and talk to you about your emotional health and reasons for wanting to donate your liver. You’ll also meet with your independent donor advocate. The evaluation process may take a few months because we want to ensure you’re healthy enough for liver donation and it’s the right choice for you.
During your preoperative visit, your team explains the organ donation procedure and what to expect after liver transplant surgery. You, the recipient, and the transplant teams will select a date for surgery. Prior to surgery, you’ll donate blood to be used during the procedure, if needed.
The surgery takes six to eight hours, and you’ll stay in the hospital for about five days. Most donors can return to work six to eight weeks after surgery.
Your first follow-up visit will take place one week after you leave the hospital, and you’ll have two more visits within the first month. After that, we’ll see you three months, six months, one year, and two years after surgery.
We’re always available to answer your questions as you recover and heal. We also provide free support groups for donors that you can attend online any time.