The quality of life after liver transplantation

Abstract

The quality of life after liver transplantation ranges from poor to superior. The social and vocational outcome is dependent on the quality of homograft function and on the steroid doses necessary to maintain function. A good long-term prognosis is usually evident by 1 year postoperatively. The complete rehabilitation of so many patients has encouraged us to continue our efforts in this difficult field.

Fig. 1

Partial biliary obstruction at the cystic duct (arrow) after cholecystojejunostomy. An intrahepatic abscess developed (marked ?) as well as a subhepatic abscess (double arrow). The homograft was a second transplant, placed 23 months after the first liver graft. The biliary complication was treated by operative conversion to choledochojejunostomy.