PULMONARY COMPLICATIONS OF LIVER-TRANSPLANTATION

With increasing numbers of patients undergoing liver transplantation f or end-stage liver disease and continued improvements in survival rate s, attention to the respiratory status of these patients has achieved even greater importance. This article discusses the preoperative pulmo nary assessment for conditions that may prohibit liver transplantation or affect outcomes, in addition to discussing the possible intraopera tive and early infectious versus noninfectious postoperative complicat ions. Also included is a discussion of the most common pulmonary compl ications that may be encountered late after liver transplantation.