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Parental live liver donation: psychosocial considerations in the decision to donate. Curr Opin Organ Transplant 2015 Apr;20(2):140-5

Date

04/10/2015

Pubmed ID

25856176

DOI

10.1097/MOT.0000000000000169

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-84938825755 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   6 Citations

Abstract

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Live donor liver transplantation is a treatment option for patients in need of orthotopic liver transplantation to mitigate the organ shortage from deceased donors. The long-term outcomes for pediatric recipients from live liver donors are excellent, and parents commonly are the ones seeking donation to save their child from irreversible liver failure. Although live donors go through a careful medical and psychosocial evaluation to ensure the benefits of donation outweigh the risks, parental live liver donation poses unique challenges due to the biological and emotional relationships with the child. This article highlights specific psychosocial considerations for parental live liver donors.

RECENT FINDINGS: There is limited research regarding the psychosocial evaluation and outcomes for live liver donors. Some literature suggests the need for standard criteria regarding the psychosocial evaluation of donors because of the risks. However, there are positive benefits with donation, such as improved emotional quality of life for adult to pediatric donors, and the possible benefits should be considered.

SUMMARY: Live liver donation is an appealing alternative treatment option, particularly in the pediatric population, in which outcomes are generally positive and medical risk to donor is less than adult-to-adult donation. For parental donors, special consideration should be given to the informed consent and the decision-making process, psychological health, and presence of substance use when weighing the risk versus protective factors for donors.

Author List

Kruper A, Zanowski SC

Authors

Abbey R. Kruper PsyD Associate Professor in the Obstetrics and Gynecology department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Stephanie Chadsey Zanowski PhD Director, Associate Professor in the Surgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin




MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Decision Making
Humans
Informed Consent
Liver Transplantation
Living Donors
Parents
Quality of Life