☆ Where does the main source of liver donor come from? There are two main sources of liver donations: Donation after the death of a citizen is currently the most important source of organs in China. Relative donations can also be used to perform organ transplants. ☆ What are the conditions that need to be met if a relative donates a liver? Firstly, the proposed donor and the patient must be immediate relatives, husband and wife or collateral relatives within three generations. Secondly, the donor must be an adult of normal capacity, in good health, free of liver disease, malignant tumors and infectious diseases, preferably of the same blood type as the recipient, and also require imaging to rule out serious vascular and bile duct variants. ☆ If there are no relatives available for liver donation, how do I obtain a liver source? How long do I usually wait for a donor? Most patients do not have a suitable relative to donate their liver and wait for a liver donated by a citizen who has passed away for transplantation. The waiting time varies depending on the severity of the disease. ☆ What is the approximate cost of a liver transplant? The current cost of a liver transplant during hospitalization is around $600,000. ☆ Do I have to take a lot of medication after I leave the hospital and what is the approximate cost for one year? Liver transplant patients are required to take immunosuppressive drugs for life after surgery to prevent rejection, and the cost is significantly lower after 1 year post-operatively. Most patients spend between 30,000 – 50,000 RMB per year, with costs varying by disease. ☆ What information do I need to bring to see you for a consultation? You need to bring liver and kidney function, coagulation, blood type, routine blood and abdominal CT or MRI test results for outpatient visits. ☆ If I need a liver transplant, approximately how long can I be hospitalized? Patients usually wait for transplantation at home, and only patients in critical condition are hospitalized to wait. Usually, we will arrange for the patient to be hospitalized as soon as the liver source is available. ☆ How long does it usually take for a liver transplant? How long does a patient have to stay in the hospital? The transplant itself takes only 5-8 hours, depending on the condition. Post-operative hospitalization is required for 2-3 weeks.