Long-Term Health-Related Quality Of Life In Living Liver Donors: Asouth Asian Experience

AimThe aim of this study was to evaluate long-term health-related quality of life (HRQOL), changes in lifestyle, and complications in living liver donors at a single transplant center from southern India.MethodsA total of 64 consecutive living liver donors from 2008 to 2011 were evaluated; 46 of 64 donors completed the short form 36 (SF-36) via telephonic interviews or clinic consultations. Mean follow-up was 48months (range: 37-84months).ResultsThere was no mortality in the donors evaluated. Overall morbidity was 23%, which included wound infections (4.3%), incisional hernia (2.1%), biliary leak (4.3%), and nonspecific complaints regarding the incision site (15.2%). All 46 donors who completed the SF-36 had no change in career path or predonation lifestyle. A total of 40 of 46 (87%) donors had no limitations, decrements, or disability in any domain, while six of 46 (13%) had these in some domains of which general health (GH) was most severely affected.ConclusionsLiving donor hepatectomy is safe with acceptable morbidity and excellent long-term HRQOL with no change in career path or significant alteration of lifestyle for donors.