Liver transplantation: review of the literature. Part 1: Anatomic features and current concepts

The first attempted human orthotopic liver transplantation, in 1963, involved a child with biliary atresia, who died on the operating table as a result of uncontrollable coagulopathy. Improvements in immunosuppression, surgical technique, medical imaging and postoperative care, as well as more stringent patient selection, have allowed the development of liver transplantation and its universal acceptance as the treatment for a variety of liver diseases. The radiologist plays a major role in the multidisciplinary transplantation team and must be familiar with each stage of orthotopic liver transplantation and its associated complications. In the first article of this series, the author reviews the anatomic features and current concepts relevant to orthotopic liver transplantation. Future articles will discuss the vascular, biliary and medical complications of the operation.