[Development of living related liver transplantation]

Living related liver transplantation (LRLT) has been developed as a rescue for the ever deteriorating shortage of cadaveric donor liver, especially in Asian countries and areas where the concept of brain death has not widely been accepted. Inclusion criteria for the biologically suitable potential donor of LRLT should be strict and approved by the ethical committee of the hospital before clinical evaluation is taken. Anatomical, physiological and clinical practices have proved that donor mortality is acceptably very low. The early and middle-long term results for the recipient of LRLT is comparable with and even better than those of cadaveric liver transplantation. In mainland China, interest in LRLT is surging with the volume ever increased and donor's safety guaranteed.