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Living organ donation is a remarkable act of generosity, offering a lifeline to patients in dire need of transplants. While deceased donations are more common, living donors play a vital role in bridging the gap between organ demand and availability. But what organs can one donate while alive? We got in touch with Dr Swapnil Sharma, Consultant Liver Transplant, HPB and GI Surgeon at Wockhardt Hospitals, Mumbai Central who shares that living donors can donate several organs, each with unique considerations.

1. Liver

The liver is remarkable for its regenerative capacity, allowing living donation of a portion of the liver—typically the right or left lobe. Dr Sharma explains this option is especially significant because it provides timely transplants, often avoiding the complications linked with prolonged waiting periods. Both donor and recipient portions of the liver regenerate within months, with the donor’s liver returning to near-normal function and size.

2. Kidney

Kidney donation is the most common living organ donation. A single kidney can adequately manage all the body's requirements, making it possible for a healthy person to donate one. Living kidney donation has better success rates because the organ can be immediately transplanted, reducing ischemic injury (damage from lack of blood flow), Dr Sharma explains.

Living lung donations involve donating a single lobe from one lung. Although the lung does not regenerate like the liver, removing a single lobe allows donors to continue living a full, healthy life. “This procedure is often considered in special cases, particularly for smaller recipients like children, where a partial donation is sufficient,” Dr Sharma said.

A segment of the pancreas, usually the tail, can be donated by living donors. This is a rare procedure and is typically performed to help manage severe type 1 diabetes. While not regenerative like the liver, the pancreas has enough redundant functionality that a donor can maintain proper glucose regulation with the remaining portion.

5. Small Intestine

“Living small intestine donation is the rarest and usually involves donating a section of the bowel to pediatric patients who have lost significant intestinal function. This type of transplant is often a last resort due to the complexity and risks involved,” he said.

The primary advantage of living organ donation is timing. Dr Sharma shares that transplants can be scheduled at optimal moments, ensuring better outcomes. Living-donor organs are often in superior condition, having been taken from a healthy donor under ideal circumstances. However, each donation involves significant surgery, with associated risks like bleeding, infection, or potential long-term complications, making thorough evaluation and counselling crucial.

Living donation is a profound act of generosity, with long-term studies showing that donors generally continue to lead healthy lives post-surgery. These contributions not only save lives but also enhance the quality of life for recipients, making living organ donation an invaluable part of transplant medicine.

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