Indications for liver transplantation in pediatric patients

: Orthotopic liver transplantation has become a widely accepted therapy for children with end-stage liver disease. Several factors need to be kept in mind when advocating this procedure in pediatric patients. These include the following: (1) Liver transplantation is a high-risk procedure with a 10-15% mortality in the best of circumstances. (2) Recipients require long-term drug administration and have a potential for chronic disability. (3) The procedure is extremely expensive. (4) The long-term survival remains unknown. (5) Newer techniques and procedures need to be carefully evaluated. These factors, and the indications and contraindications for this procedure are discussed in this overview.