Donor outcomes in anonymous live liver donation

Area of Science:

• Transplantation Medicine
• Organ Donation
• Surgical Outcomes

Background:

• Liver transplant waiting lists face high mortality rates (5%-25%).
• Anonymous live liver donation (A-LLD) addresses this gap by utilizing altruistic, unrelated donors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report the characteristics, motivations, and outcomes of 50 anonymous live liver donors.
• To assess the feasibility and success of A-LLD in improving organ availability.

Main Methods:

• Screening of donors for physical, mental, social, and financial health.
• Analysis of demographics, surgical outcomes, and donor motivations via qualitative interviews and validated questionnaires.
• Assessment of personality traits and psychological impact on donors.

Main Results:

• 50 A-LLD transplants performed (2005-2017) with excellent outcomes.
• Donors often educated, middle-class, with prior altruism; motivations included saving lives and reciprocity.
• High recipient survival rates (91% adults, 97% children) and no donor regret reported.

Conclusions:

• A-LLD is a viable strategy with excellent outcomes, supported by rigorous protocols.
• This approach has significant potential to decrease the disparity between organ demand and availability for liver transplantation.
• The study highlights key facilitators and donor characteristics for successful A-LLD programs.