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Liver retransplantation: indications and outcomes
1Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, NW607, Montefiore University Hospital, 3459 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. ziw3@pitt.edu
Background:
Liver transplantation is a life-saving therapeutic modality for patients with end-stage liver diseases. After liver transplantation, however, more than 10% patients may lose the grafts caused by a variety of reasons. This review covers the most frequent indications for liver retransplantation as well as the results and specific problems with each indication.
Data Resources:
Searching MEDLINE (1997-2003) for articles on liver retransplantation.
Results:
The most frequent indications of liver retransplantation are primary non-function, hepatic artery thrombosis, graft rejection and recurrent diseases. The results after liver retransplantation remain inferior to those after first transplantation.
Conclusion:
Liver retransplantation, which is the only means of prolonging survival in those patients whose initial graft has failed, makes an important contribution to overall survival.