Life-threatening complications in living liver donors

Intra-operative complications considered portal vein injury (2 donors); vena cava inferior injury (2 donors); right posterior bile duct injury (1 donor); Six donors suffered from postoperative haemorrhage from the drain, requiring surgery to stop the bleeding. Seven donors suffered from bile leakage, requiring drainage (2 donors), subsequent surgery (3 donors) or suture repair (2 donors) A respiratory arrest within 1 hour post operatively occurred in four donors, requiring re-intubation and respiratory support, extubated soon thereafter without further complication. One donor suffered progressive respiratory difficulty, was re-intubated and diagnosed with a pulmonary thromboembolism Infected biloma requiring drainage with laparotomy was seen in three donors. One donor suffered from liver abscess/necrosis requiring a segment resection with drainage. Late (> 1 months post op) severe complications requiring surgery were seen five donors. Hepatic failure was seen in four donors, leading to liver transplantation in one donor.