When is a patient too well and when is a patient too sick... : Liver Transplantation (original) (raw)

Session III

1Division of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

*Address reprint requests to: University of Michigan, Department of Surgery, Division of Transplantation, 2926 Taubman Center, Box 0331, 1500 East Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0331

†Telephone: 734-936-7336; Fax: 734-998-6620

Abstract

Key Points

Liver transplantation is currently offered as a therapeutic option for patients with a wide range of end-stage liver diseases.
Conventional wisdom suggests that patients who receive a liver transplant have a greater expected lifetime when compared to comparable candidates on the waiting list.
The model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) scoring system is an excellent predictor of mortality on the waiting list and also predicts mortality after liver transplantation.
The combination of waiting list mortality risk and posttransplant mortality risk assessed by MELD and other factors can be used to estimate whether candidates are likely to derive a survival benefit from a liver transplant. (Liver Transpl 2004;10:S69-S73.)