[Liver transplantation from a living donor].
Recently the first three liver transplantations from living donors were performed in The Netherlands. The motivations to proceed with this new procedure were threefold; the existing shortage of post-mortem organ donors, the successful transplants reported in the literature and the supposedly better organ quality and favourable-logistics of the procedure. This new procedure is in line with a recent advisory report on organ donation from the National Health Council of The Netherlands. As long as there is a shortage of post-mortem donors, living donation is a necessary treatment for patients with otherwise fatal liver insufficiency. However this should not keep public and governmental organisations from its continuing efforts to promote post-mortem donation. These should also include a discussion regarding changes to the organ donation law.
Slooff
M J H
MJ
Academisch Ziekenhuis Groningen, afd. Chirurgie, sectie Hepatopancreaticobiliaire Chirurgie en Levertransplantatie, Postbus 30-001, 9700 ROB Groningen.
Kazemier
G
G
D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods*; D019520:Living Donors / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D009426:Netherlands; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014850:Waiting Lists