Living-related liver transplantation from the view of the donor: a 1-year follow-up survey.
BACKGROUND
In the past, follow-up surveys for living-related liver transplantation (LRLT) mainly focused on the medical outcome of recipients and donors. In this survey the prevalence of personal, familial, or economic problems of the donors and changes of quality of life after donation were studied.


METHODS
Questionnaires were sent to 24 donors after right hepatectomy for LRLT (response 92%). The modified EUROTOLD (European Multicenter Study of Transplantation Using Living Donors) questionnaire was used to inquire about the decision-making process, family problems, and economic problems related to the donation. Global quality of life was measured with the SF-36 Health Survey.


RESULTS
For most donors the decision to donate was easy or not very difficult (21/22) and was made spontaneously (17/22). The amount of information about the risks of LRLT was limited at the time of decision but increased remarkably immediately before the operation. In 28%, family conflicts occurred (5/22). Retrospectively, all but two donors (91%) would donate again. On average, donors started working after 9 (+/-3.7) weeks and felt fully recovered after 13 (+/-7.3) weeks. Adverse financial affects were experienced by 41% of the donors (9/22) because of the donation, and four of those received a compensation. Importantly, quality of life did not differ between donors and nondonors.


CONCLUSIONS
Donors viewed LRLT positively. Quality of life after donation did not change. However, donors had a prolonged period of physical rehabilitation, and 41% experienced financial disadvantages.
Karliova
Marc
M
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45122 Essen, Germany.
Malagó
Massimo
M
Valentin-Gamazo
Camino
C
Reimer
Jens
J
Treichel
Ulrich
U
Franke
Gabriele H
GH
Nadalin
Silvio
S
Frilling
Andrea
A
Gerken
Guido
G
Broelsch
Christoph Erich
CE
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D003625:Data Collection; D003657:Decision Making; D004651:Employment; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000523:psychology*; D019520:Living Donors / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012923:Social Class