Liver Transplant Organ Quality Decision Aid: Would you consider a less than perfect liver? (Jan-16)

Imagine that you are a patient with end-stage liver disease and you are currently on the liver transplant waiting list.

Available donor livers are limited and vary in quality. Donor characteristics such as age and cause of death can make a difference between a 20% and a 40% rate of liver transplant (graft) failure by 3-years post-transplant.

Now imagine that you and your doctor are discussing the risks and benefits of a liver transplant and whether you might consider a “less than perfect” liver (with a higher risk for graft failure).  To help you in your decision making, you are provided with a decision aid to help you to consider the level of risk you would be willing to accept from a donated liver.

On the following page, consider an image representing your (pretend!) risk of dying or becoming too sick for a liver transplant within the next 3-months if you don’t get a transplant.