Donor recovering from infection after cross-family liver transplant

A liver transplant donor is in stable condition in the intensive care unit of Queen Mary Hospital following an operation to clean up an infection that developed a week after the transplant.

So Po-chun donated part of her liver last Tuesday in the city's first case of cross-family liver transplants. She gave part of her liver to a stranger, a Mr Ma, while Mr Ma's wife donated part of her liver to Ms So's brother-in-law.

On Monday there was no hint of any complication as Ms Ma came out to talk to the media with the three other patients about the special transplant. But the next day, she had to have a second operation to clean up an infection to her surgical wound, a hospital spokeswoman said. She denied media reports that the woman would need a liver transplant, adding that the infection was 'a normal complication'.

Henry Chan Lik-yuen, director of Chinese University's Centre for Liver Health, said the risk of complications for liver transplant donors was about 5 to 10 per cent.

'These complications are usually not serious, including bile leak, bleeding, wound infection or a gaping wound which requires closing up,' Professor Chan said. 'The liver volume and function usually returns to normal within six months.'

There have been very few donor deaths due to severe bleeding or liver failure, he said.