title: Adult to adult living related liver transplantation: where do we currently stand?
abstract: Adult to adult living donor liver transplantation (AALDLT) was first preformed in the United States in 1997. The procedure was rapidly integrated into clinical practice, but in 2002, possibly due to the first widely publicized donor death, the number of living liver donors plummeted. The number of donors has since reached a steady plateau far below its initial peak. In this review we evaluate the current climate of AALDLT. Specifically, we focus on several issues key to the success of AALDLT: determining the optimal indications for AALDLT, balancing graft size and donor safety, assuring adequate outflow, minimizing biliary complications, and maintaining ethical practices. We conclude by offering suggestions for the future of AALDLT in United States transplantation centers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75246, USA.
authors.forename: Erica M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Carlisle
authors.forename: Giuliano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Testa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D006801:Humans; D017093:Liver Failure / Q000628:therapy; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends*; D019520:Living Donors; D009929:Organ Size; D061214:Patient Safety; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States