Donor outcomes in anonymous live liver donation

Goldaracena, Nicolas; Jung, Judy; Aravinthan, Aloysious D.; Abbey, Susan E.; Krause, Sandra; Pritlove, Cheryl; Lynch, Joanna; Wright, Linda; Selzner, Nazia; Stunguris, Jennifer; Grieg, Paul; Ghanekar, Anand; McGilvray, Ian; Sapisochin, Gonzalo; Lee, Vicky; Levy, Gary; Cattral, Mark; Grant, David

Abstract

Background
Death rates on liver transplant waiting lists range from 5%-25%. Herein, we report a unique experience with 50 anonymous persons who volunteered to address this gap by offering to donate part of their liver to a recipient with whom they had no biological connection or prior relationship (A-LLD).

Methods
Candidates were screened to confirm excellent physical, mental, social, and financial health. Demographics and surgical outcomes were analyzed. Qualitative interviews after donation examined motivation and experiences. Validated self-reported questionnaires assessed personality traits and psychological impact.

Results
50 A-LLD liver transplants (LT) were performed between 2005 and 2017. Most donors had a university education, a middle-class income, and a history of prior altruism. Half were women. Median age was 38.5 years (range 20-59 yrs.). Thirty-three (70%) learned about this opportunity through public or social media. Saving a life, helping others, generativity, and reciprocity for past generosity were motivators. Social, financial, healthcare, and legal supports in Canada were identified as facilitators. A-LLD identified most with the personality traits of agreeableness and conscientiousness. The median hospital stay was six days. There was one Dindo-Clavien Grade 3 complication that completely resolved. One-year recipient survival was 91% in 22 adults and 97% in 28 children. No A-LLD reported regretting their decision.

Conclusions
This is the first and only report of the motivations and facilitators of A-LLD in a large cohort. With rigorous protocols, outcomes are excellent. A-LLD has significant potential to reduce the gap between transplant organ demand and availability.

Citation

Goldaracena, N., Jung, J., Aravinthan, A. D., Abbey, S. E., Krause, S., Pritlove, C., …Grant, D. (2019). Donor outcomes in anonymous live liver donation. Journal of Hepatology, 71(5), 951-959. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhep.2019.06.027

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 20, 2019
• Online Publication Date: Jul 4, 2019
• Publication Date: Nov 1, 2019
• Deposit Date: Jun 26, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 5, 2020
• Journal: Journal of Hepatology
• Print ISSN: 0168-8278
• Electronic ISSN: 1600-0641
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 71
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 951-959
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhep.2019.06.027
• Keywords: Anonymous living donation, Living liver donation, Live donor liver transplantation.
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/2231108
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016882781930399X