Donors' Quality of Life after Living Donor Liver Transplantation: Shiraz Organ Transplant Center Experience

BACKGROUND: Probable effects of living donor liver transplantation on the wellbeing of the donor and psychological difficulties are necessary to be understood. OBJECTIVE: To assess the quality of life of living donors after liver donation. METHODS: 140 living donors who underwent hepatectomy between 2012 and July 2015 were enrolled in this study. Donors were asked to complete the Short Form 36-question Health Survey (SF-36) through face to face or by telephone interview. RESULTS: The mean±SD age of donors at transplantation was 32.1±7.3 years; 83 (59.3%) of donors were female. 134 (95.7%) were married. The mean±SD BMI was 23.8±3.5 (kg/m(2)). “Mother-to-child” was the most frequent relationship (n=79, 56.4%). 22 (15.7%) complications were reported by participants. The mean±SD score of Physical Component Summary and Mental Component Summary were 48.8±14.6 and 50.1±6.9, respectively. CONCLUSION: Most living donors sustain a near average quality of life post-donation. It seems that living donation does not negatively affect the quality of life.