Liver Donor Evaluation

Living donation is completely voluntary and patient information is kept confidential. All potential liver donors must go through the evaluation process. Our living liver donor team will guide donors and recipients through the process. The first step in becoming a living donor is to call the living donation team at 913-588-6183.

Living liver donor screening will include:

• Phone interview
• Recipient candidacy interview
• Health history questionnaire
• Review of medical records
• Donor and recipient matching

Living donor candidates will complete on-site evaluations including consultations, testing and procedures to assess their physical and mental health prior to determining their candidacy for donation. Consultations may include the following specialties:

• Independent living donor advocate
• Hepatology
• Surgery
• Nursing
• Pharmacy
• Social work
• Nutrition
• Finance
• Cardiology
• Infectious disease
• Psychology or psychiatry

Testing may include blood tests, imaging studies and cardiac and pulmonary function testing.

Additionally, living donors will need to have completed routine screening such as colonoscopy, mammogram, Pap smear and prostate testing.

Evaluation of test results and consultation findings are reviewed by the living donor selection committee and decisions are made collaboratively. The decision of the committee will be communicated directly to the potential living donor.

Once the selection committee approves the living donation, that donor may request to schedule surgery in coordination with the recipient. Presurgical testing and the donation and transplant surgeries will be scheduled and communicated to the donor and recipient. The surgeries will occur simultaneously, minimizing the time the liver is without blood supply.

Recovery times for living liver donors vary. They typically remain in the hospital for 4-7 days. Following release from the hospital, living donors are followed closely by transplant surgery, transplant hepatology and transplant nursing teams. Living donors will be seen at 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 months postsurgery. Additional follow-up needs are determined based on individual recovery needs.