Liver transplantation: the University Hospital-Children's Hospital of Western Ontario experience.

Patients who currently benefit the most from liver transplantation are those with end-stage, non-malignant liver disease. Primary biliary cirrhosis and cirrhosis from chronic active hepatitis (hepatitis B negative) have been the most common indications in our experience. Overall survival rates in excess of 70% at 1 year are now common and those patients who live the first year have a very good prospect of long-term survival. Complete rehabilitation occurs in about 80% of survivors. Patients on life support systems before transplantation and those awaiting urgent retransplantation have the highest mortality rates. Modern anesthetic and surgical techniques have made the operation much safer and more straightforward. Biliary tract complications remain common, especially in patients with a history of previous upper abdominal surgery. Cyclosporine has had a major impact, but in the context of its use in combination with other immunosuppressive agents (antilymphocyte globulin, steroids, azathioprine and OKT3).