LIVER TRANSPLANTATION: SURGICAL ASPECTS

Liver transplantation (lt) is now a well-accepted treatment method for end-stage liver diseaseand acute liver failure. it is also one of the most expensive treatments. with the advances in technicalskills, management of postoperative complications and improvements in immunosuppressivedrugs, liver transplantation is the standard treatment for many patients with chronic liverdisease. for patients who successfully undergo lt, the probability of long-term graft and recipientsurvival is generally excellent, with a high likelihood of return to a relatively normal lifestyle. indicationsfor lt have increased over the last few years and according to the european liver transplantregistry, 93 634 lt were performed in europe till 2010. until recently latvia was the lastcountry in europe, where lt was not performed. this article will review current indications, contraindications,procedure of operation and postoperative care in lt as well as give a brief insightinto the first liver transplantation done in latvia.