The Operation

Where does the transplant occur?

• All adult liver transplants are performed at the USC University Hospital.

• Pediatric liver transplants are performed in conjunction with Children's Hospital Los Angeles.

When does the transplant occur?

• The transplant is scheduled at a mutually convenient time for the donor and recipient. In the case of the latter, the team members will decide the optimal time based on condition of the recipient and control of complications. For example, if the recipient develops a sudden fever, the procedure will be delayed until the cause is found and potential infection controlled.

• The advantage of LDLT is that the procedure can be timed in such a way as to perform the procedure on both the donor and recipient when both are in the best possible condition.

How is the operation performed?

• After all of the medical issues have been settled and the donor-recipient match-up is completed, a date is selected for the operation.

• Two teams perform the donor and recipient operations simultaneously.

• As the diseased liver is removed from the recipient by one team, approximately half of the donor's normal liver is removed by the other team.

• Once the donor operation is completed, both surgical teams complete the transplant by attaching the half-liver into the recipient.

• The donor operation usually takes about 5 hours and the recipient operation about 10 hours.

• Both half-livers (of donor and recipient) grow to be full sized in 6-8 weeks.

What is the post-operative period like for the donor?

• Prior to the transplant procedure, the donor will receive a detailed description of the procedure and will have an opportunity to discuss the potential risks or side effects of the operation.

• The donor is usually in the intensive care unit for about 24 hours and in the hospital for 5-7 days. Most patients are up and out of bed (with assistance) by the second or third postoperative day. It is usually necessary to stay off work and usual home activities for a month full time and 2 to 4 weeks part time, depending on the rapidity of the recovery.

Related links:

• World's first adult-to-adult LDLT without blood transfusion
• Pediatric Liver Transplant