Objective To research anesthetic management, pathophysiologic variation of adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation (A-ALDLT) and to probe how to improve anesthetic quality of A-ALDLT. Methods The clinical data of 47 donors from Sep. 2005 to Jan. 2007 in West China Hospital were reviewed. Intraoperative vital signs, anesthetic management, perioperative serum levels of HGB, Alb, ALT, AST, TBIL, APTT, PT were measured, and complications were assessed. Results The physical condition of all donors were good before operations and were all in grade Ⅰaccording to ASA. Under general anesthesia of intravenous and inhalation, electrocardiogram, O2 saturation, blood pressure and body temperature were continuously monitored. A radial arterial catheter and a central venous catheter were placed. Blood lavement was utilized intraoperatively in all patients. All donors maintained stable life signs intraoperatively. The average intraoperative blood losses was (603.13±317.00) ml, and donors were transfused with autologous blood 〔(381.25±171.15) ml〕, with only 4 donors required homologous blood transfusion. HR and mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) showed no significantly variations intraoperatively (Pgt;0.05). Compared with controlled central venous pressure (CVP) before and right after hepatectomy, CVP increased significantly (P<0.05) when intubation and abdomen-closing were carried. After hepatectomy and on the first day after operation, HGB and Alb decreased significantly (P<0.05); ALT, AST and TBIL increased significantly (P<0.05). Right after hepatectomy, PT increased instantly and significantly (P<0.05); On the first day after operation, APTT began to increase significantly (P<0.05). All donors came around completely and were extubated in the liver transplantation intensive care unit on the first day after operation. There were 3 cases (6.38%) of postoperative complication, which were biliary leakage, portal vein thrombosis and serious pleural effusion. Those 3 donors were cured after treatment. Conclusion Inhalation and intravenous general anesthesia of propofol, remifen-tanil and isoflurane can maintain stable life signs and reduce liver injury. Steady anesthesia, sufficient oxygenation and effective blood protection measures, for example, by decreasing CVP to prevent bleeding and by reclaiming autologous blood to avoid transfusing homologous blood, are keys for the safety of the donor and the prevention of complications.