Dr. Sapisochin on the Benefits of Living Donor Transplant in HCC

Gonzalo Sapisochin, MD, assistant professor, Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, discusses the benefits of living donor liver transplantation in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Typically, the best results are achieved when a liver graft is obtained from a living donor because these individuals tend to be fit and healthy, says Sapisochin.

Additionally, living donor transplant can reduce the wait time for individuals on the liver transplant list, explains Sapisochin. Living donation also reduces the risk of a patient becoming ineligible for transplant while they are awaiting a liver from a deceased donor, says Sapisochin.

The health and safety of the living donor is critical during the operation. As such, these procedures should be done in programs that perform a large number of living donations to minimize the risk of donor complications, concludes Sapisochin.