title: Current developments in pediatric liver transplantation.
abstract: In 1953, the pioneer of human orthotopic liver transplantation (LT), Thomas E Starzl, was the first to attempt an orthotopic liver transplant into a 3 years old patient suffering from biliary atresia. Thus, the first LT in humans was attempted in a disease, which, up until today, remains the main indication for pediatric LT (pLT). During the last sixty years, refinements in diagnostics and surgical technique, the introduction of new immunosuppressive medications and improvements in perioperative pediatric care have established LT as routine procedure for childhood acute and chronic liver failure as well as inherited liver diseases. In contrast to adult recipients, pLT differs greatly in indications for LT, allocation practice, surgical technique, immunosuppression and post-operative life-long aftercare. Many aspects are focus of ongoing preclinical and clinical research. The present review gives an overview of current developments and the clinical outcome of pLT, with a focus on alternatives to full-size deceased-donor organ transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Christina Hackl, Hans J Schlitt, Martin Loss, Department of Surgery, University Hospital Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hackl
authors.affiliation: Christina Hackl, Hans J Schlitt, Martin Loss, Department of Surgery, University Hospital Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Hans J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Schlitt
authors.affiliation: Christina Hackl, Hans J Schlitt, Martin Loss, Department of Surgery, University Hospital Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Melter
authors.affiliation: Christina Hackl, Hans J Schlitt, Martin Loss, Department of Surgery, University Hospital Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Knoppke
authors.affiliation: Christina Hackl, Hans J Schlitt, Martin Loss, Department of Surgery, University Hospital Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Loss
keywords: Biliary atresia; Deceased organ donation; Living donor liver transplantation; Pediatric liver transplantation; Split liver transplantation