Liver transplantation: from Child to MELD.
The widespread availability of transplantation in most major medical centers in the United States, together with a growing number of transplant candidates, has made it necessary for primary care providers, especially internal medicine and family practice physicians to be active in the clinical care of these patients before and after transplantation. This review provides an overview of the liver transplantation process, including indications, contraindications, time of referral to a transplant center, the current organ allocation system, and briefly touches on the expanding field of living donor liver transplantation.
Gallegos-Orozco
Juan F
JF
Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic Arizona, 13400 E. Shea Boulevard, Scottsdale, AZ 85259, USA.
Vargas
Hugo E
HE
D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000601:surgery; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D000075202:Contraindications; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery* / Q000821:virology; D008104:Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / Q000601:surgery; D008105:Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / Q000601:surgery; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D019520:Living Donors; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology; D018579:Patient Selection; D011379:Prognosis; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D040841:Resource Allocation; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement