98% Survival: Why Korean Living Donor Liver Transplantation is the Glo

1. Unrivaled Volume and Success Rates: The Global Benchmark

The sheer number of procedures and the survival statistics speak for themselves, setting the global standard for Living Donor Liver Transplant (LDLT).

① World's Highest Surgical Volume

Record-Breaking Procedures: Major Korean hospitals, including Asan Medical Center (AMC), hold the world record for cumulative LDLT procedures. A single institution has achieved over 9,000 liver transplant surgeries (predominantly LDLT). This massive clinical volume translates directly into unparalleled surgical expertise.

② Superior Survival Outcomes

Success Rate Exceeding the West: The average Korean LDLT success rate consistently surpasses 90%.
Long-Term Survival: Leading centers report astounding results, including 1-year survival rates of 97–98% and 10-year survival rates reaching 89%. These figures are significantly higher than those reported by prominent liver transplant centers in the United States and Europe.

2. Leading the Way in Complex Surgical Innovation

Korean medical teams have pioneered high-difficulty surgical techniques, making transplantation possible for patients previously considered untreatable.

① Mastering High-Difficulty LDLT Techniques

2-to-1 Liver Transplant: When one donor's partial liver is insufficient for the recipient, Korean specialists successfully perform the highly complex 2-to-1 LDLT, utilizing parts of the liver from two separate living donors.
ABO-Incompatible Transplants (ABOi): Historically impossible, South Korea has become the world leader in successfully performing the highest number of blood type incompatible liver transplants between donors and recipients. This significantly expands the pool of potential living donors.

② Prioritizing Donor Safety and Recovery

Minimally Invasive Surgery: To ensure the safety and faster recovery of the donor, advanced techniques like laparoscopic minimally invasive hepatectomy are routinely performed. This reduces recovery time and improves cosmetic satisfaction.

3. The Power of Experience: Why Korean Expertise is Unmatched

The excellence in Korean LDLT is rooted in decades of intensive clinical practice driven by necessity.

Vast Clinical Experience: Due to a high prevalence of Hepatitis B (Hep B) in the past, South Korea accumulated extensive experience managing severe liver diseases, liver cancer, and resulting end-stage conditions. This has created a massive reservoir of surgical knowledge and advanced know-how.
Globally Recognized Surgeons: World-renowned authorities, such as Professor Sung-Gyu Lee (Asan Medical Center), have elevated the status of Korean medical technology. Medical professionals from around the globe frequently visit Korea to receive training and adopt these advanced LDLT techniques.

4. Conclusion: Your Best Chance for Long-Term Survival

For global patients facing the challenging reality of end-stage liver failure, South Korea offers more than just treatment—it offers the highest probability of long-term survival through a Living Donor Liver Transplant.

The combination of record-breaking surgical volume, superior survival rates, and pioneering high-difficulty techniques solidify South Korea's position as the best choice for your life-saving procedure.

Are you ready to explore your treatment options with a leading Korean liver transplant center? Contact us today for a consultation.

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