You can't donate part of your liver mo... - British Liver Trust

British Liver Trust

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You can't donate part of your liver more than once, apparently.

β€’16 Replies

As some of you may know, when someone donates part of their liver, the other part grows back to its original size within a year. If like me you were wondering whether the regenerated part can be donated again, it can't. I found this a very interesting watch.

youtu.be/rOv7Sr3X-eo

16 Replies
β€’

Hi KLDN,

Thank you for this video. I was unaware that once cut the liver could not be donated again.

Again, thank you.

Mary

Porphyriamaniac profile image
Porphyriamaniac

A man after my own heart πŸ˜‰...questioning the questions nobody else ever seems to question. To be honest the answer is what I would have imagined but still... 😁 xxx

β€’ in reply toPorphyriamaniac

Thamk you the info, so nice of you to share it with us . Take care Lynne

β€’ in reply toPorphyriamaniac

Someone's got to ask the big questions in life 😘

β€’ in reply to

That's very true!!

Millie09 profile image
Millie09

Oh how im glad im.not the only one who lies in bed with insomnia having similar thoughts. πŸ™„πŸ€”.. lol.

Thanks for sharing the post KLND,

what i don't understand is how do they attach part of the donor liver? And is it only certain people who can receive these types of transplants..say like myself. 10 yrs with cirrhosis now, compensated, feel relatively well apart from certain affects of liver disease. On no transplant list as yet. πŸ™. If one of my family wanted to donate part of their own liver to me , would this be feasible? Or because im full blown cirrhotic chronic liver disease i would need a full transplant if ever i needed one. ..

β€’ in reply toMillie09

I have no idea what the answers to any of your questions are Linda. I'm guessing you could still receive a live donor liver seeing that both the remaining and donated part grow back to full size. Whether you're eligible or that's feasible, it's for a transplant team to decide.

Hope you're getting nice weather where you are. In the South East it's been glorious for the past couple of days 🌞😎

Millie09 profile image
Millie09β€’ in reply to

Hi KLND, i was just curious lol, i will ask my hepatologist in a couple of weeks, i know things can change with this disease but it was just one of my many thoughts. 😁

Oh the weather here in west Midlands is beautiful πŸ˜ŽπŸ˜…. thing is i start itching haha. Better than the cold anyway. Enjoy Your day.

AyrshireK profile image
AyrshireKβ€’ in reply toMillie09

With regards to live donation (or split liver ) it depends on your body size mainly - if you are deemed a small adult then you might be able to accept a split liver or live liver donation - this suitability gets assessed during your tranplant assessment. It also depends on your 'plumbing' so to speak as during surgery they have to construct the pipe work to connect with your own when split is involved whereas with a straight forward full liver donation it comes with the necessary pipes to reattach to your own (very simple terms). The still remove your old liver and then have to insert the new portion but with the newly constructed pipework - there are more potential issues with a split liver.

Some people who are larger built, too poorly or who have had a previous transplant will always require a full transplant.

Live donation isn't a short cut to transplant, you still have to be listed on the normal transplant list as surgeons would always prefer you to receive a cadaveric liver rather than start serious surgery on a healthy individual and potentially put their lives in danger.

When my hubby was listed he was told he could take a live, a split, a brain deceased donation or a cardiac deceased donation. He's only 5 ft 5.

Katie

Millie09 profile image
Millie09β€’ in reply toAyrshireK

Thank you katie.

Oh so the split liver is not attached then to your own liver, i always thought it was and just grew..

Well im 5ft 3.and 9st so i think im about normal size, i never knew it was not a long term transplant

Very interesting

As always thank you Katie. Hope hubby is ok .

Linda. 😊

AyrshireK profile image
AyrshireKβ€’ in reply toMillie09

No, the split liver replaces your own liver just the same as a full liver does.

You may have mis-interpreted what I said. The split liver transplant is just another way of getting your transplant - not a temporary fix, it is meant to be the replacement for your dodgy liver.

Katie

Millie09 profile image
Millie09β€’ in reply toAyrshireK

Silly me ! .. i understand now Katie.

Me and my fog head .πŸ™„. So it's classed aa a live donor liver as opposed to cardio or brain stem death. Thank you for clearing that up . Linda .😊

AyrshireK profile image
AyrshireKβ€’ in reply toMillie09

4 types of donation - live is from a live donor

- split is from a deceased donor - these are generally the best quality donated livers and they can be split in two with one part being given to a small adult recipient and the other part going to a child recipient.

- cardiac deceased donor

- brain stem deceased donor (best liver to get as blood is still circulating through the liver right up to the liver being taken).

Katie

β€’ in reply toMillie09

Ah that sucks... πŸ˜” Is your itching from the liver disease? I also felt ok when my liver was compensated but had many days feeling a little off. Luckily once it changed to decompensated, I was listed for a transplant within a couple months then surgery was carried out just 5 weeks later.

I've always loved the sun! β˜€οΈ Have to keep applying sunscreen now due to the increased skin cancer risk from post tx medications but it's a small price to pay for being alive and healthy again 😊.

Millie09 profile image
Millie09β€’ in reply to

Yes its liver related. πŸ™„. I do have powder to apply given to me from my hepatologist thanks to jojo who told me about it .

Don't get me wrong, i do have all the symptoms that goes with it .insomnia, lethargy and now nausea., like yourself KLDN feeling much ok but with side effects.

Well ! I tbuk think sunscreen is a very good price to pay. πŸ˜ŠπŸ˜‰. You keep enjoying this weather. 😎😎... while it lasts lol.

Lindar1961 profile image
Lindar1961

Thanks for the information. Your words and everyone’s replies have educated me on liver transplants.

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