Current Surgery Reports Challenges in Liver Allocation

AbstractPurpose of ReviewAdvances in liver transplantation have revolutionized the treatment for patients with end-stage liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma. Principles of organ allocation include ensuring equity, prioritizing the sickest, and ensuring maximal benefit to the recipient.Recent FindingsThe allocation and distribution of liver transplants have also evolved over the decades but there remain significant challenges. Current practices for allocation include the use of the MELD score to determine the priority listing, while distribution is governed by geographic acuity circles based on nautical miles from a donor hospital.SummaryChallenges in liver transplant include the availability of a scarce resource, the MELD score being an imperfect measure of acuity, and the geographic and financial burden of the transplant process. In this review, we discuss current principles of transplant and the allocation system and highlight specific challenges and pitfalls in liver transplantation.
Source: Current Surgery Reports - Category: Surgery Source Type: research