Living-donor liver transplantation

The condition

A liver transplant is an option for people with end‑stage liver failure (for example because of liver disease or infection) and some types of primary liver cancer.

Organs for transplant usually come from donors who have recently died, but there aren't enough organs available. A living donor is usually a blood relative (for example, a parent, brother or sister) but could also be a spouse, partner or volunteer. The donor could also be someone they have never met and who is not known to them (called non‑directed altruistic donation).

NICE has looked at using living-donor liver transplantation as another treatment option.

NHS Choices may be a good place to find out more.