What are the advantages of an living donor liver transplant?
The greatest advantage of an Living Donor Liver Transplant (LDLT) is that it avoids the waiting time for a cadaver transplant. Currently, the organ shortage is severe. There are not enough cadaver livers for all of the patients who need one. Over 15,000 people are now waiting for liver transplants in the United States, but only 4,500 transplants are performed every year. Roughly 20% of patients will die of their liver disease before having the chance to undergo a transplant. For those who do end up receiving a cadaver transplant, the average waiting time is 1 to 2 years (from the day they are first placed on the waiting list). With an LDLT, this waiting time can be bypassed, allowing the transplant to be performed before the recipient’s health deteriorates further – sometimes to the point where he or she is no longer able to undergo a transplant. If the transplant is performed before the recipient’s health deteriorates, he or she is better able to tolerate the surgery and recovers more
