Liver and small bowel transplantation: Therapeutic alternatives for the treatment of liver disease and intestinal failure

Intestinal transplantation is an established life-saving therapy for parent eral nutrition dependent patients suffering from severe complications of pa renteral nutrition. Improvements in outcomes over the last decade have occu rred with refinements in surgical technique, better immunosuppressive regim ens, and clinical experience. The long-term results of intestinal transplan tation are not well known and morbidity remains an important obstacle to wi der application of this procedure to patients with short bowel syndrome (SB S). This article reviews the indications for intestinal transplantation, th e evaluation of potential candidates, therapeutic considerations, postopera tive management and common complications experienced by the recipients.