What kind of complications might a live donor experience after the donation surgery?

Question

What kind of complications might a live donor experience after the donation surgery?

Answer 1

I am getting part of my brothers liver.. his only complication is how we knew it was he that would save me.  Family is the one thing that will always be there.  Oh and I guess as will I, we will not feel so good...small price.

Answer 2

Depends on the kind of surgery, but there are actuallyt quitre a few possible complications.  Possible does not mean likely though, and transplant doctors will NOT operate on and remove organs from a live donor who is at a high risk for complication.

You can get an infection and die from having a tooth pulled.  There is inherent risk in every surgicasl procedure; the risks to a live donor have to be small for the surgeon to agree to do the surgery.

Complications from surgery include, most commonly, bleeding and infection.  There is also risk of problems related to anesthesia, possibility of stroke, and others specifically related to the particular organ being removed.

Live organ donation is fairly limited,  mostly to kidney and liver lobe donations; both are considered major surgery, but again, the risks to the donor are usually quite small.  Marrow donors face much less in the way of complication, as that type of doantion does not employ opening internal body cavities.  

All of the donor surgeries involve some discomfort for the donor after surgery.  The amount of post op pain depends on the surgery, and on the patient's pain tolerance.  Pain medication is provided, and "down time" afterwards is usually less than six weeks; just a day or two for marrow donors.