[Liver transplantation in adults]

Area of Science:

• Hepatology and Transplant Surgery
• Immunology and Organ Rejection
• Surgical Innovation

Context:

• Liver transplantation is a vital treatment for end-stage cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.
• Immunosuppressive therapies achieve high success rates in preventing chronic rejection and maintaining patient quality of life.
• A critical shortage of deceased brain-dead donors significantly limits transplantation availability, leading to long waiting times and mortality.

Purpose:

• To explore the challenges of liver transplantation, primarily donor organ scarcity.
• To present living donor transplantation and split liver transplantation as viable alternatives.
• To highlight the importance of donor selection and public education for organ donation.

Summary:

• Liver transplantation provides excellent long-term survival for cirrhosis and liver cancer patients.
• Living donor transplantation offers comparable survival rates to cadaveric transplantation with minimal donor risk.
• Split liver transplantation, while less common, utilizes deceased donor organs for two recipients.

Impact:

• Advances in transplantation techniques like living donor and split liver procedures are expanding access to treatment.
• Addressing organ donor shortages through innovative approaches and public awareness is crucial for improving patient outcomes.
• Continued research and cautious donor selection are essential for the success and ethical practice of liver transplantation.