Clinical considerations in orthotopic liver transplantation

Progress in immunosuppression, surgical techniques, and perioperative care has promoted orthotopic liver transplantation from an experimental procedure to an accepted clinical treatment. Orthotopic liver transplantation, in turn, has changed the treatment of terminal liver disease from care that is largely treatment of symptoms and support to cure, but at the price of major surgery and life-long immunosuppression. This article reviews the current status of liver transplantation as practiced at the University of Pittsburgh.