How many liver transplants per year

In , about 7, liver transplants were performed in the United States. Of these, almost were performed in patients 17 years of age and younger. For adults in the United States, the most common reasons for needing a liver transplant in were 1. Biliary atresia is the most common reason children need a liver transplant.

Doctors may consider a liver transplant to treat rare disorders such as urea cycle disorders and familial hypercholesterolemia. People may also need a liver transplant due to acute liver failure. Acute liver failure is an uncommon condition most often caused by taking too much acetaminophen.

Most livers for transplants come from people who have just died, called deceased donors. Adults typically receive the entire liver from a deceased donor. The larger part may go to an adult, and the smaller part may go to a smaller adult or child.

Sometimes a healthy living person will donate part of his or her liver, most often to a family member who is recommended for a liver transplant.

On average, roughly 15, Americans are estimated to be on the waiting list for a liver donor each year. While the number of people needing a liver transplant is increasing, the number of new donor livers available is decreasing.

The number of people who have died while waiting for a donor liver or have been taken off the waiting list because they have become too sick to undergo the treatment has also increased by 30 percent in the last decade.

Liver transplants typically involve the surgical removal of any diseased, dead, or injured liver tissue, including removal of the entire organ. Segmental liver transplants allow the use of live donors and for two people to receive transplants from one donor liver. However, this procedure is higher risk due to more frequent complications.

In , 96 percent of liver transplants used deceased donor livers, while just 4 percent used segments from a living donor. As more people become aware of segmental liver transplant surgery, it may occur more frequently and become safer.

A liver transplant is a major surgery that comes with several risks and potential complications, ranging in severity and including:. Immediately after surgery, most people will stay in the intensive care unit ICU for a day or two. They will remain on a ventilator to help them breathe and be closely monitored to ensure the new liver is working properly.

They will also be given immunosuppressant anti-rejection medications to help prevent their body from destroying the donor liver. People who have an organ transplant must take immunosuppressant drugs for the rest of their lives. When the person is ready, doctors will move them from the ICU to a regular room in the hospital. After the surgery, a person who has had a liver transplant will need to spend around 2 weeks in the hospital before going home.

Many people require 2 or 3 months before they feel well enough to return to everyday activities. Also, it can take years for the full effect of the surgery to be realized.

Most people who have donor livers will also need to make certain lifestyle changes to keep their new liver healthy. Infection and organ rejection can lead to sepsis, multiple organ failure, and death. Therefore, it is essential that people with donor livers know how to recognize the signs of these potential complications.

They should always seek medical attention as soon as possible to prevent further complications. Liver transplants are reasonably safe procedures with good survival rates. This is called alcoholic liver…. Learn the specific drugs, their uses, risks, and more. New treatments over the past few years mean that Hep C today is much more manageable than it was in the past. Learn about new treatments and costs.

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Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. The Facts About Liver Transplant. Medically reviewed by Daniel Murrell, M. Liver transplant survival statistics. Why liver transplants are done. Waiting for a liver transplant.

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