How will patients be selected for transplantation in the future?

1. The model for end-stage liver disease has become a selection tool for recipients for liver transplantation. 2. The present selection / allocation system does not recognize distinctions in "donor organ quality." 3. Many studies have shown that donor factors such as age, gender, fat content, and heart beating versus non-heart beating status influence outcome of the liver transplantation. 4. Efforts to increase organ donation are likely to provide more "expanded-criteria donors." 5. Future selection practices may attempt to match specific recipients to specific donors.