Expanding indications for pediatric liver transplantation

The successful development of pediatric liver transplantation (LT) over the past four decades has dramatically changed the prognosis for children dying of acute and end-stage liver failure. Over the past two decades survival post transplantation has improved because of better preoperative management, optimal nutritional support, innovative surgical techniques, and improvements in immunosuppressive medications. The ensuing improvement in survival rate has extended the range of indications for LT in children to include transplantation for metabolic liver disease and unresectable hepatic tumors.