Liver transplantation

Abstract

Few subspecialties have undergone the dramatic improvements in survival that have occurred in pediatric liver transplantation. In the early 1980s, survival rates of 30% limited the enthusiasm for this costly and work-intense operation. The introduction of more effective immunosuppression along with refine-ments in the operative and postoperative management of infants and children has improved survival rates to greater than 90%. When compared to the universally fatal outcome these patients would experience without transplantation, it is not surprising that liver transplantation has been embraced as the preferred therapy. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.