Risks of living liver donation

All operations carry some risk. Donating part of your liver is no different, so it's important you are aware of the potential risks associated with the surgery when making your decision.

The risks below give estimates for how often they can happen in any given surgery, but your individual risk may be different. This is why a living donor coordinator will guide you through an assessment process to make sure you are healthy enough to donate.

It is possible to live a long and healthy life after liver donation, but this does not protect you from other medical problems that you would have developed in any case.

What are the biggest risks I should be aware of?

Most complications are minor, such as infections (e.g. chest, wound or urine) and rarely, bleeding, bile leaks or blood clots. These are covered in more detail below.

There is a small risk of death for the donor, which is dependant on how much of your liver you donate. This is estimated at 1 person in every 200 (for right lobe donation) or 1 in 500 (for left lobe donation).

There is also the risk of the liver transplant procedure failing and this may cause emotional distress if things do not work out as expected.

Is there a risk of developing liver failure?

There is a minimal risk, 1 in 1000, of getting acute liver failure within the first 3 months after donation, which is reversible. Usually, your liver will return to normal function by 3 months. Following healthy living advice and attending an annual health review is recommended to ensure that you remain well and any health issues are picked up early.

What other risks do I need to be aware of?

Clots (venous thromboembolism (VTE)), which can occur in the legs, arms (deep vein thrombosis) or in the lungs (pulmonary embolism), particularly when people are lying still or not moving around, can cause life threatening problems. You will need blood thinning injections under the skin for several weeks whilst you get back to normal, which you can give to yourself at home.

Bleeding, infection and bile leaks from where the liver surface has been cut can happen in any liver surgery, approximately 1 in every 10 donors, but everything is done to prevent these from happening after donation. We also screen living donors carefully to minimise the risk of heart attacks or other complications happening during or after surgery.

It is important that you speak to your living donor coordinator at any time during your assessment or after surgery if you develop any new symptoms or illnesses that may put you at risk. For example, chest pain, shortness of breath and swollen or painful legs/arms.

Become a living liver donor