What is the survival rate for liver transplant recipients?

The 5-year survival rate for all liver transplant recipients is 72 percent, according to Mayo Clinic. For patients whose transplant comes from a living donor, the rate is 78 percent. This discrepancy exists because the transplant process with a living donor typically has a shorter wait time.

Liver transplants are used when other treatments are unsuccessful for end-stage liver failure, Mayo Clinic explains. This condition has several possible causes, including cancer, cirrhosis, cystic fibrosis, damage to the bile ducts and excessive amounts of iron. Liver transplants are also used in some cases of Wilson's disease, a genetic disorder that prevents the elimination of surplus copper.