Selection of patients for liver transplantation in 1997 and beyond.
Liver transplantation is now accepted as the standard surgical-medical treatment for end-stage liver disease, as well as replacement therapy for certain inborn errors of metabolism. While improvements in surgical methods and new immunosuppressive agents have improved survival, there remains a chronic shortage of available donor organs. This article offers guidelines for the physician, discussing indications for liver transplantation, controversial selection issues, contraindications, and finally, the future of liver transplantation.
Yoshida
E M
EM
British Columbia Transplant Society and the Department of Medicine, the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Lake
J R
JR
D000075202:Contraindications; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000639:trends*; D018579:Patient Selection; D015996:Survival Rate