Liver transplantation in the UK.

INTRODUCTION: This paper provides a review of the practice of liver transplantation with the main emphasis on UK practice and indications for transplantation. REFERRAL AND ASSESSMENT: This section reviews the process of referral and assessment of patients with liver disease with reference to UK practice. DONOR ORGANS: The practice of brainstem death and cadaveric organ donation is peculiar to individual countries and rates of donation and potential areas of improvement are addressed. OPERATIVE TECHNIQUE: The technical innovations that have led to liver transplantation becoming a semi-elective procedure are reviewed. Specific emphasis is made to the role of liver reduction and splitting and living related liver transplantation and how this impacts on UK practice are reviewed. The complications of liver transplan-tation are also reviewed with reference to our own unit. Immunosuppression:The evolution of immunosuppression and its impact on liver transplantation are reviewed with some reference to future protocols. RETRANSPLANTATION: The role of retransplantation is reviewed. OUTCOME AND SURVIVAL: The results of liver transplantation are reviewed with specific emphasis on our own experience. FUTURE: The future of liver transplantation is addressed.