Long-Term Impact of Live Liver Donation: A Self Report of the Donation Experience.

Outcomes for adult-to-adult living liver donors are largely based on short-term data drawn from single center studies. The aim of this study was to determine how living liver donation impacts self-reported Quality-of-Life up to 6 years post-donation in a sample of NYS residents.

METHODS: NYS transplant programs are state-mandated to track living liver donors as part of a quality assurance and patient safety effort. Donor-reported Quality-of-Life within one year of donation and longitudinal data over a 10-year period were analyzed. Self-report surveys include domains: (1) employment, (2) finances, (3) health/life insurance, (4) activities of daily living, (5) physical/emotional health, (6) donor experience, (7) relationships, and (8) living liver donor opinions.

RESULTS: 220 living liver donors in NYS (2004-2013), completed a survey over the 10-year period with many donors completing surveys at several points in time. Overall, long-term living liver donors remain as comfortable about living liver donation as they were during the first year after donation (95%). The majority of living liver donors reported feeling as well as before living liver donation (72%). At 1 year after donation, 60% of subjects self-reported medical problems and 30% reported emotional issues but the majority reported that they would willingly donate again.

CONCLUSION: Living liver donors remain satisfied with their decision to donate over time. A minority of living liver donors report long-term medical and emotional issues. Conclusions provide information for educational interventions to improve informed choice to those considering donation. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.