Liver Transplants
More than 15,000 people in the U.S. await life-saving liver transplants.
About the Liver
The liver is the largest organ in the body, responsible for hundreds of crucial functions such as the breakdown of harmful substances in our blood and the production of bile that aids in digestion.
Liver failure can be caused from viral infections, genetic disorders or even alcoholism. These liver diseases lead to cirrhosis, which creates scar tissue that blocks the flow of blood and thus impedes its functions.
Transplants
Most liver transplants involve transplanting the entire liver, where the diseased liver is removed and replaced with a healthy one. But it is possible to transplant part of a liver, as the organ can regenerate itself within the body. This is how it is possible for people to be living liver donors, as both the transplanted lobe and the donor’s lobe will grow in their respective bodies.
- The average patient must wait 11 months for a liver transplant.
- A liver donated by an adult can often be split and transplanted into two people.
| Liver Transplant Stats | |
| National Waiting List as of 2/2010 | 15,754 |
| Regional Waiting List as of 2/2010 | 940 |
| 2009 US Transplants | 5,316 |
| 2009 Regional Transplants | 637 |
Find Related Info
Liver Transplant
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The Interactive Body
Explore the Interactive Body to learn about organs and tissues needed for others awaiting transplants.
