title: [Orthotopic liver transplantation. Techniques and results].
abstract: Since 1963, orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) has developed into an established interdisciplinary therapy concept for patients with end-stage liver disease, acute irreversible liver failure, and hepatic malignancies in selected cases. In 26 centers in Germany, around 900 full-size OLTs are performed annually. The classic technique has been replaced by the "piggyback" method, which has become the standard in many centres. Improvements in surgical techniques, anaesthetic protocols, and medical management along with the introduction of new immunosuppressive regimens and early adequate therapy against infections and transplant rejection have increased patient survival. These factors have resulted in 1-year survival rates of 80-90% and led to an increase in indications for OLT. Despite decades of experience, approximately 10% of the mortality in the first 3 months still can be traced to technical complications.
authors.affiliation: Viszerale Organtransplantation, Klinik für Allgemein-, Viszeral- und Transplantationschirurgie, Universität Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 110, 69120 Heidelberg. jan.schmidt@med.uni-heidelberg.de
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mehrabi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schemmer
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Büchler
mesh_terms: D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000379:methods; D001652:Bile Ducts / Q000601:surgery; D006498:Hepatectomy / Q000379:methods; D006499:Hepatic Artery / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply; D017093:Liver Failure / Q000601:surgery*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D015996:Survival Rate; D014019:Tissue Donors; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000379:methods; D014683:Vena Cava, Superior / Q000601:surgery