Optimizing the Selection of Patients for Simultaneous Liver-Kidney Transplant

Simultaneous liver-kidney transplantation has increased significantly in the Model for End Stage Liver Disease era. The transplantation policy has evolved significantly since the implementation of allocation based on the Model for End Stage Liver Disease. Current policy takes into account the medical eligibility criteria for simultaneous liver-kidney transplantation listing. It also provides a safety net option and prioritizes kidney transplant after liver transplant recipients who are unlikely to recover their renal function within 60 to 365 days after liver transplant alone. This review seeks to understand the underlying challenges in carefully selecting the candidates while optimizing the patient selection.