Kentucky's first liver transplant program

Forty-nine patients have been referred to our institution for evaluation of orthotopic liver transplantation since our program started in 1990. Fourteen patients have been excluded for medical or psychosocial reasons. Eleven were accepted for future transplantations and are reevaluated every 3 months. Eight patients died while waiting for a suitable donor. Sixteen patients have undergone transplantations. One patient underwent transplantation a second time for refractory rejection of the first allograft. Five patients have died after liver transplantation. Eleven recipients are alive and well. Nine of the 11 have returned to normal activity.