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World J Gastroenterol. Jan 7, 2008; 14(1): 15-21
Published online Jan 7, 2008. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.15
Published online Jan 7, 2008. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.15
Historical perspective of living donor liver transplantation
See Ching Chan, Sheung Tat Fan, Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China
Correspondence to: Professor Sheung Tat Fan, Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, 102 Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China. stfan@hku.hk
Telephone: +852-28554703
Fax: +852-28184407
Received: August 21, 2007
Revised: September 28, 2007
Published online: January 7, 2008
Revised: September 28, 2007
Published online: January 7, 2008
Abstract
Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) has gone through its formative years and established as a legitimate treatment when a deceased donor liver graft is not timely or simply not available at all. Nevertheless, LDLT is characterized by its technical complexity and ethical controversy. These are the consequences of a single organ having to serve two subjects, the donor and the recipient, instantaneously. The transplant community has a common ground on assuring donor safety while achieving predictable recipient success. With this background, a reflection of the development of LDLT may be appropriate to direct future research and patient-care efforts on this life-saving treatment alternative.