Living Donor Transplant
Living donor liver transplantation in Dubai
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When liver failure becomes life-threatening, time is critical. Living donor liver transplantation in Dubai offers a hopeful, life-saving alternative to long waiting lists for deceased donor organs. Through this advanced procedure, a healthy individual donates a portion of their liver to someone in urgent need, giving them a second chance at life. This type of transplant is especially beneficial in regions where deceased donor organs are limited.
At King’s Liver Transplant Center of Excellence we are proud to be at the forefront of living donor liver transplant procedures, offering compassionate care and medical excellence for both adults and children. With our global heritage and deep clinical expertise, we lead the way in liver transplant innovation in the UAE.
What is a Living Donor Liver Transplant?
A living donor liver transplant surgery is a procedure in which a portion of a healthy living donor’s liver is removed and transplanted into a patient suffering from liver failure. Because the liver has the unique ability to regenerate , both the donor’s and recipient’s livers can regrow to full size within a few weeks.
Living Donor Liver Transplant is suitable for a wide range of patients—from infants with congenital liver disease to adults with chronic liver conditions.
Why Choose King’s for Living Donor Liver Transplantation?
For many patients, living donor liver transplantation in Dubai offers substantial benefits over traditional deceased donor transplants:
- Reduced Waiting Time: The transplant is scheduled as soon as a donor is found, bypassing long organ waitlists.
- Better Timing: Elective scheduling allows for optimal health management before surgery.
- Improved Compatibility: When a family member donates, closer genetic match often leads to fewer rejection risks.
- Higher Success Rates: Especially in well-equipped centres like King’s that offers 95% success rates, living donor transplants show excellent long-term outcomes.
Who Can Become a Living Donor?
Potential living liver donors are usually relatives or close friends, but altruistic donors can also step forward. Donors must meet specific medical and psychological criteria:
- Aged 18 to 55
- In excellent physical and mental health
- No significant medical issues such as diabetes or liver disease
- Compatible blood type with the recipient
Every donor undergoes a thorough evaluation to ensure their safety and suitability for the procedure.
Liver Transplant Services
- Liver Transplantation
- Paediatric Liver Transplant
- Living Donor Transplant
- Split Cadaveric Liver Transplants
- Reduced-Size Liver Transplants
- Monsosegment liver transplant
- Auxiliary liver transplantation
- Minimally Invasive and Microsurgical Procedures
- Hepaticobiliary surgery
- Cadaver liver transplants(deceased doner liver transplants)
Is Donor Safety Guaranteed?
At King’s Liver Transplant Center of Excellence, donor safety is paramount. The surgery is performed using advanced techniques, with the least possible trauma to the donor. Our approach includes:
- Comprehensive health assessments
- Use of minimally invasive techniques where applicable
- Continuous care before, during, and after surgery
- Long-term follow-up and support
Donors typically resume normal activities within 6 to 12 weeks and enjoy full liver function thanks to natural regeneration.
When is Living Donor Liver Transplantation Recommended?
This type of transplant is considered for patients suffering from:
- End-stage liver disease (cirrhosis)
- Acute liver failure
- Liver cancers within transplant criteria
- Genetic or metabolic liver disorders
- Congenital conditions in children (e.g., biliary atresia)
In both adults and children, a timely transplant can dramatically improve survival and quality of life.
The Patient Journey: From Assessment to Recovery
- Recipient Evaluation: Our transplant specialists assess the medical urgency, underlying condition, and eligibility for transplant.
- Donor Matching: Potential donors undergo extensive evaluations to ensure compatibility and health safety.
- Surgery Day: Both donor and recipient undergo surgery on the same day. The donor’s left lobe (for adults) or left lateral segment (for children) is typically used.
- Post-Surgical Monitoring: The recipient is cared for in a specialized ICU, followed by weeks of monitored recovery.
- Long-Term Care: Ongoing follow-up ensures graft success, medication management, and return to normal activities.
King's Liver Transplant Center of Excellence: Leaders in Living Donor Liver Transplantation
As one of the most advanced transplant centres in the region, King’s Liver Transplant Center delivers globally benchmarked outcomes in living donor liver transplantation in Dubai. We combine the expertise of internationally trained transplant surgeons, hepatologists, and intensivists with state-of-the-art facilities and a compassionate approach to care.
Our hospital is directly affiliated with King’s College Hospital London—home to one of the world’s most respected liver programs. This partnership ensures our team in Dubai is guided by the same protocols, technologies, and standards as those used in the UK.
We are the first hospital in Dubai licensed to perform liver transplants and offer dedicated transplant theatres, liver ICUs, paediatric and adult liver teams, and 24/7 support from a multidisciplinary unit.
Whether you are an adult patient with end-stage liver disease or a parent of a child facing liver failure, our centre offers a safe, expert-guided path to transplant and recovery.
Frequently Treated Conditions
In Adults:
- Alcoholic liver disease
- Hepatitis B and C-related liver damage
- Metabolic liver diseases (e.g., hemochromatosis)
- Hepatocellular carcinoma (early-stage)
In Children:
- Biliary atresia
- Genetic metabolic disorders
- Acute liver failure from infections
- Congenital hepatic fibrosis
Giving the Gift of Life Starts Here
Living donor liver transplant is more than a medical procedure—it’s an act of selflessness and love that saves lives. At King’s Liver Transplant Center we are proud to offer this life-saving opportunity to both adult and paediatric patients in need.
With world-class surgeons, personalized care, and outstanding results, we are here to guide you through this transformative journey.
Connect with our transplant team today to learn more about living donor liver transplantation in Dubai.
FAQs About Living Donor Liver Transplants
Most healthy adults aged 18 to 55 can be considered. Compatibility and comprehensive testing are required.
No. Liver regenerates fully. With proper follow-up, donors lead completely normal lives.
Recipients typically stay in the hospital for 2 to 4 weeks, with full recovery taking a few months.
Yes. Living donor transplants often show faster recovery, lower rejection risk, and long-term success.
Contact our transplant team. We offer step-by-step guidance, from evaluation to surgery and beyond.
A living liver donor is a healthy adult (usually 18–60 years old) with a compatible blood type and no serious medical issues. Donors must have good liver health, a healthy BMI, and willingly consent to donate. At King’s Transplant Centre in Dubai, all donors undergo detailed medical and psychological screening.
The process includes donor and recipient evaluation, compatibility testing, multidisciplinary approval, and scheduled surgery. The donor’s liver portion is removed and transplanted into the recipient on the same day. Both are closely monitored after surgery in a specialized transplant unit.
Risks include bleeding, bile leak, infection, or temporary fatigue. Severe complications are very rare. With experienced surgeons and modern facilities like those at King’s Transplant Centre, donor safety is a top priority.
Living donor transplantation offers shorter waiting times, better graft quality, and improved survival rates since the surgery is planned in advance and the donor liver is healthy.
Recipients may experience rejection, infection, or bile duct issues, but these are manageable with close monitoring and medication. Experienced transplant teams ensure early detection and treatment.
The liver begins regenerating immediately and usually returns to its original size within 6–12 weeks after surgery.
Most donors stay in the hospital for about a week and return to normal activities within 6–8 weeks, depending on their recovery progress.
Yes. Living donor transplants are especially effective for children, as a small liver segment from an adult donor can safely replace a child’s diseased liver.
The risk is extremely low because donors are screened for all major infections, including HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C, before approval.
Success rates are high — over 85–90% which means the recipient’s body has accepted the transplanted liver; it is functional and has successfully regenerated. At King’s Transplant Centre Dubai, outcomes are excellent and comparable to leading international programs.
Interested donors can contact a transplant coordinator at King’s Transplant Centre for initial screening and evaluation. The team will guide you through each step of the donation process.
A living donor transplant is scheduled, uses a portion of a healthy liver, and offers faster access compared to waiting for a deceased donor. It generally results in quicker recovery and better outcomes for the recipient.
