PITTSBURGH — Linda Marchiano, the porn queen-turned PTA member who gained fame as Linda Lovelace in "Deep Throat," underwent a 14-hour liver transplant operation today and was in critical condition, standard following the procedure.
Marchiano, 37, who lives on Long Island in New York, went into surgery about 10:30 p.m. Thursday, and the operation was completed about 12:30 p.m. today, said Tom Chakurda, a spokesman for Presbyterian-University Hospital.
Marchiano had been on a waiting list since last fall. Doctors believe her liver was damaged by hepatitis contracted through a blood transfusion following a 1970 auto accident.
Marchiano's liver problems were discovered in September while she was being evaluated for a double-mastectomy. Her breasts, she said, were damaged by silicone injections but the doctors said no mastectomies could be performed until the liver problem was corrected.