Liver retransplantation: indications and outcomes.
BACKGROUND
Liver transplantation is a life-saving therapeutic modality for patients with end-stage liver diseases. After liver transplantation, however, more than 10% patients may lose the grafts caused by a variety of reasons. This review covers the most frequent indications for liver retransplantation as well as the results and specific problems with each indication.


METHODS
Searching MEDLINE (1997-2003) for articles on liver retransplantation.


RESULTS
The most frequent indications of liver retransplantation are primary non-function, hepatic artery thrombosis, graft rejection and recurrent diseases. The results after liver retransplantation remain inferior to those after first transplantation.


CONCLUSIONS
Liver retransplantation, which is the only means of prolonging survival in those patients whose initial graft has failed, makes an important contribution to overall survival.
Wang
Zi-Fa
ZF
Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, NW607, Montefiore University Hospital, 3459 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. ziw3@pitt.edu
Liu
Chang
C
D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000601:surgery*; D006499:Hepatic Artery; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D012008:Recurrence; D012086:Reoperation; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome