Not Everyone Can Become a Living Liver Donor

Maybe you can. You can save a life. Your liver can grow back. And you’ll be part of a cherished community of donors for life.

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Why Liver Donors Are Urgently Needed, Now

The shortage of liver donors in the United States is so severe that many patients die waiting. More than 15,000 patients are on the waiting list for liver transplants. In the greater Philadelphia region, more than 700 people are waiting.

Even though organ donation procedures have improved significantly, and more patients around Philadelphia are receiving livers, it still isn't enough.

Living donor transplants are helping resolve that shortage and saving lives. They have a remarkable advantage: Unlike most organs, the liver can regenerate. So the donor's remaining liver grows back to its original size within weeks.

Of course, expertise is key. Penn Medicine has performed at least 10 times more live donor liver transplants than other Philadelphia transplant teams. We're also one of the largest and most experienced liver transplant programs in the nation.

Living Donor 5 Bar Designation Liver Transplant graphic5-Bar Designation

The Scientific Registry for Transplant Recipients (SRTR) is a national database of transplant statistics with a quality ranking system that scores a transplant center’s survival outcomes and time to transplant.

A 5-bar designation is the highest possible ranking, indicating a transplant program exceeds expectations. Our Living Donor Liver Transplant program is the only program of its kind in the region to receive a 5-bar designation from SRTR.

In This Section

The Living Donor Liver Transplant Process

Understand the treatments and procedures associated with a living donor liver transplant and learn how our transplant team of surgeons, nurses and staff help you through the process.

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to frequently asked questions about living donor liver transplants.

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