title: The latest advances in liver transplantation at the pittsburgh transplantation institute: evolution of FK506, liver-intestinal transplantation, clinical xenotransplantation, and the induction of graft acceptance.
abstract: During the past 30 years orthotopic liver transplantation (OLTx) has become a highly successful form of therapy, and as of this writing it is being performed at more than 100 institutions in the U.S., and a similar number in Europe. This is testimony to the great advances achieved in this field since the 1960s and 1970s, when there were essentially only two places actively engaged in liver transplantation. Essential to its success have been the technical refinements introduced during the last three decades, which have allowed many surgeons around the world to be able to do the procedure safely. Liver transplantation is still considered as one of the most complex operations, and therefore the margin of error is small and attention to technical detail is crucial to a satisfactory outcome. This is magnified in importance since OLTx, unlike kidney, heart, pancreas and intestinal transplantation, lacks a back-up system, such as dialysis, ventricular assist device, insulin or total parenteral nutrition. Thus, the smallest mistake in the surgical management of the patient may prove fatal.
authors.affiliation: Pittsburgh Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and the Veterans Administration Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA.
authors.forename: I R
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Marino
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Doyle
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Abu-Elmagd
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Scotti-Foglieni
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mañez
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Tzakis
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Todo
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Fung
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Starzi