[Liver transplantation in elderly patients].

Since the first liver transplantation (OLT) was performed by Starzl in 1963, this has become the standard therapy for end stage chronic liver disease and acute hepatic failure. It is also the therapy of choice in selected cases of hepatic malignancy. Due to the optimization of intra- and perioperative management, new immunosuppressant drugs and improved organ procurement, the clinical outcome in patient and graft survival has increased continuously. The shortage of donor organs has led to the development of new surgical techniques such as split- and living related transplantation. OLT should also be offered to elderly patients. Careful evaluation and patient selection results in good patient and graft survival after transplantation, which is comparable to that in with younger recipients.