[Alcohol dependence and liver transplantation: transplant coordinator's view]

Patients with alcohol-related liver failure are highly probably complicated by alcohol dependence according to the definition in WHO-ICD. Not a few such patients are introduced to liver transplant program when they are decompensated and face the need for liver replacement. Transplant team should evaluate them thoroughly also from the viewpoint of dependence medicine and multidisciplinary approach including psychiatrist is indispensable for the decision of psychosocial indication. Liver transplant therapy should never become an ultimate enabling. Four patients with alcoholic cirrhosis recently received deceased-donor liver transplantation in our program. We reviewed our role and involvement in the process from the recipient transplant coordinator's point of view.