[On the innovation path of transplant surgery: reflections on the evolution of liver transplantation in China]

Organ transplantation is regarded as the pinnacle of medical achievement in the 21st century, with innovation serving as the core engine driving the advancement of transplant surgery. Taking the decades of practical exploration in organ transplantation (especially liver transplantation) in China as its main thread, this article systematically analyzes the core logic of transplant surgical innovation. This logic adheres to a three-pronged developmental pathway characterized by being clinically problem-solving oriented, patient-need centered, and critical-technology-conquering driven. By reviewing major milestones such as living donor liver transplantation, auxiliary partial orthotopic liver transplantation, combined multi-organ transplantation, and xenotransplantation, the study elucidates how surgical innovation should be grounded in resolving clinical pain points, return to medical humanism, and leverage technological iteration to foster revolutionary progress. Furthermore, the article explores the empowering role of cutting-edge technologies-including artificial intelligence, machine perfusion, and gene editing-in driving the next surgical revolution. It aims to construct a theoretical framework and provide practical insights for the future development of transplant surgery in China.