Indications and selection of patients for liver transplantation

Successful transplantation outcomes require optimal patient selection and timing. Currently the major limitation facing liver transplantation centers is the shortage of organs. The limited availability of organs has led to long waiting periods for liver transplantation and consequently many patients become seriously ill or die while on the waiting list. This has major implications for the selection of patients, as well as the timing of transplantation and optimal use of these scarce organs. Indications and contraindications have changed slightly over the years and will be reviewed in this chapter. Timing for transplantation has changed more dramatically in recent years since major changes to organ allocation systems have been undertaken to provide clinicians with a better way to prioritize patients for liver transplantation.