THE HEPATOPULMONARY SYNDROME - EFFECT OF LIVER-TRANSPLANTATION

The role of liver transplantation as a treatment for the hepatopulmona ry syndrome (HPS) has had an evolving and controversial history. Altho ugh early experience was disappointing, more recent experience has doc umented resolution of HPS-associated hypoxemia after liver transplanta tion. This article reviews the history of liver transplantation for pa tients with the hepatopulmonary syndrome. In addition, we discuss the clinical features that have been considered to predict successful reve rsibility and the time frame over which reversal occurs. Despite this evolution of thought, many basic questions still remain.