Early and late complications in the right-lobe adult living donor

Abstract

Key points 1. Reported complication rates for right-lobe liver donors vary widely, but are estimated to be approximately 35%, with a surgical mortality rate of approximately 0.3%. 2. Biliary complications, including leak, biloma, or stricture, are the most commonly reported morbidity in right-lobe living donors. 3. Other significant donor morbidity includes portal vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolus, bowel obstruction, bleeding requiring reoperation or transfusion, and incisional hernia. 4. These data underscore the reality that living donation is associated with a small, but real, possibility of death and potentially significant morbidity, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive database to precisely define true living donor morbidity and mortality.