A living-donor liver transplant is a major surgery — which is why both the living donor and the transplant recipient need care partners.

But helping people before and after surgery can be challenging. Being a care partner requires many new responsibilities. You'll also deal with the stress and emotions of your loved one’s illness while helping navigate the transplant process.

The good news is that you’re not alone. The transplant team will teach you about the transplant process and help you better understand your role as a care partner.

What Is a Living-Donor Liver Transplant?

A living-donor liver transplant is when a surgeon removes a recipient’s liver and replaces it with a portion of an adult living donor’s liver.

The living-donor liver transplant (the recipient’s surgery) generally takes 10 to 14 hours.

The living-liver donation (the donor’s surgery) generally takes 6 to 8 hours.

What Are Your Responsibilities as a Care Partner for a Liver Transplant Recipient?

As a care partner for a transplant recipient, you're your loved one’s support person and partner in their transplant journey, both before and after their transplant.

Before transplant

Before receiving a transplant, a potential recipient must undergo a transplant evaluation. This series of medical tests and exams determines if a liver transplant is an appropriate treatment for them. A liver transplant evaluation usually takes three to five days to complete.

Care partners are asked to attend all transplant evaluation appointments. During these appointments, you'll meet the transplant team and learn about:

  • The liver transplant process and its benefits and risks as a treatment option.
  • Your responsibilities as a care partner, including a post-transplant care plan following the recipient's hospital discharge.

You'll also receive information about the UPMC Living Donor Champion Program. This program provides peer support and expert guidance to those helping loved ones find an eligible living-liver donor.

After transplant

After leaving the hospital, transplant recipients generally need 24-hour assistance for at least six weeks. That's only an estimate, though — the transplant care team will tell you when it's safe to leave the recipient alone.

As their care partner, you'll have to attend follow-up appointments with the recipient. You may also need to help your loved one take their new immunosuppressant medicines consistently and correctly, as well as provide assistance with:

  • Changing their clothes.
  • Completing household chores, such as cleaning, pet care, and watering plants.
  • Cooking liver-healthy meals.
  • Exercising safely.
  • Getting in and out of bed.
  • Going to the bathroom.
  • Lifting anything heavier than 10 pounds.
  • Showering with a protective cover over their surgical incision bandage.
  • Staying hydrated.

The transplant team will discuss other tasks you may need to do for the recipient. These might include monitoring them for signs of infection, tracking their temperature, or changing their surgical incision bandage.

Remember, if you have any questions or concerns, reach out to the transplant coordinator.

What Are Your Responsibilities as a Care Partner for a Living-Liver Donor?

Care partners for living-liver donors are both a support person and a partner in their donation journey, before and after surgery.

Before donation

You can attend your friend or loved one’s living-donor evaluation appointments to provide support. These usually take one to two days.

During the appointments, you'll learn about the living donation process and its potential risks and benefits. You'll also learn about your responsibilities as a care partner and discuss how the living donor’s post-donation care plan, including housing, transportation

After donation

Living donors generally need 24-hour a day help for at least the first week after they leave the hospital. They may still need assistance after the first week, depending on how they’re healing. As they recover, you may need to help them attend follow-up appointments. You'll also have to assist them in caring for themselves, their home, and their pets — the same daily tasks caretakers do for living-liver transplant recipients.

The transplant team will tell you if there are other tasks you need to do for the living donor, such as:

  • Monitoring their incision for signs of infection.
  • Reminding them to check their temperature every day for the first week after hospital discharge.

Your living-donor coordinator is there should you have any questions or concerns.

How to Care for Yourself as a Care Partner

When you're a care partner, your focus is on caring for your loved one. But care partners need to make caring for themselves a priority, too.

Self-care looks different from person to person. In general, the goal is to acknowledge and address your own physical, social, mental, spiritual, and emotional needs. For instance, making time each day for activities that nourish your body and mind, like walking, reading, or yoga.

It's also important to find your own support network to lean on when times are tough. You also need people who will listen to you, who won't judge you or your feelings. Your network might include:

  • Behavioral health professionals.
  • Family and friends.
  • In-person and online community support groups.

It's also OK to take a break by scheduling backup care partners. Clearly communicate ahead of time what they'll need to do or watch out for, such as signs of an infection.

You can also check out these organizations for additional care partner resources: