Transplant Center

The Nebraska Medical Center's Liver Transplant Program offers several types of transplant options for patients with liver failure. These options include:

Deceased Donor Liver Transplantation
A deceased donor liver transplant occurs when a patient on life support has been determined to be brain-dead. In addition, either the patient has a signed donor card or advanced directives stating his/her wishes, or their family consents to organ donation.

Living Donor Liver Transplantation
Living donor liver transplantation is an option for patients when a family member or close family friend agrees to donate part of their liver to the patient.  Living donation can only be done when the donor is in excellent health and has a liver size that allows enough liver to be removed without harming the donor and supporting the patient.

Split Liver Transplantation
A split liver transplant is a procedure in which a liver from a deceased donor can be safely divided in two sections and given to two different patients, usually one adult and one child.

Auxiliary Liver Transplantation
Auxiliary liver transplantation occurs rarely and for very specific reasons. It is done when removal of the native liver is not necessary for treatment of the liver disease or the liver is expected to recover with time and needs additional support until it does recover. It involves placing the new liver into the abdomen without removing the native liver, or removing only part of the native liver.

Donation after Cardiac Death (DCD)
Donation after cardiac death occurs when a patient, on life support with a brain injury and no chance for survival, is removed from life support and the heart stops. There is no difference in long-term survival for patients receiving a DCD donor. There is a 30 percent increased risk in bile duct complications.