Liver Transplant

Types

• Deceased donor whole liver transplant — Surgeons replace a diseased liver with a whole, healthy liver from a recently deceased donor. This is the most common type of liver transplant.
• Split-liver transplant — Surgeons divide the liver from a deceased donor into two sections for transplantation. This can be used to provide new livers to two people.
• Living donor liver transplant — Surgeons remove the entire diseased liver and replace it with a portion of a living donor's healthy liver. In both donor and recipient, the livers regrow to the right size for their bodies in a matter of weeks. Mayo Clinic has one of the largest living liver donor programs in the United States and, thus, Mayo surgeons have extensive experience in the techniques required for living donor transplant.
• Domino liver transplant — Approximately two to three times per year, Mayo Clinic surgeons perform a domino liver transplant. In this situation, the liver from a transplant recipient with a condition called familial amyloidosis is placed into a second person with liver disease who is awaiting transplantation. Typically, these livers are used for patients over age 60 who, because of their specific circumstances, would benefit from a timely transplant. (Example.)