Liver Retransplantation: How Much Is Too Much?

Abstract

Hepatic retransplantation has been surgically challenging since the beginning of liver transplant. Outcomes have improved over time, but patient survival with retransplant continues to be significantly worse than that of primary transplant. Many studies have focused on factors to predict outcomes. Models have been developed to help predict risk, but the decision for retransplant must be a multidisciplinary transplant team decision. The question of "when is too much?" can be guided by recipient and donor factors but is an ethical decision that must be made by the liver transplant team.

Keywords: Hepatic retransplantation; Hepatitis C; Model for End-Stage Liver Disease; Primary transplant; Retransplant models.