Infections After Liver Donor Surgery

Infections after liver donor surgery, while relatively rare, can occur either at the site of the incision or within the abdomen itself. Pneumonia is another type of infection that some people develop because of an inability to move around. Your healthcare team takes all the steps necessary to prevent infections after liver donor surgery. Should one occur, it is often treated with antibiotics.

Infections After Liver Donor Surgery: A Summary

After liver donor surgery, less than 5 out of every 100 donors develop an infection at the incision site, which makes it difficult for the skin to heal.

About 1 in 100 develops a more serious infection in the abdomen. Both of these infections are usually treated with antibiotics.

Since discomfort at the incision site and a decreased ability to cough and move around happens after any major abdominal operation, such as liver donation, there is a chance you may develop pneumonia. Pneumonia is an infection in your lungs. The risk of developing it is higher for those who smoke. Your healthcare provider will probably have you do breathing exercises to help prevent pneumonia, but if you do become infected, you may need treatment with antibiotics.

Because you will have different tubes and lines in place during and after your surgery, there is also a risk of having other infections while you are in the hospital. This includes things like:

Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
Sinus infections
Infections where your IV lines are placed.

The members of your healthcare team will do their best to prevent all infections after liver donor surgery. If an infection does develop, your healthcare provider will talk to you about the best way to treat it.