Introduction

The first liver transplantation was done in 1963 by Thomas Starzl, who designed the surgical technique and currently maintains his category as pioneer and maximum authority on the subject, from the University of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, the number one research and learning center where he works. But it wasn’t until the late 80’s when it reached its greatest circulation, after the discovery of the current immunosuppressive drugs and their approval as medically therapeutic.

In Argentina it is, proportionally, the most transplanted organ: with a total of six thousand people in waiting lists for organ donation, three hundred require a liver and 50% of them achieve a transplant. Despite its surgical complexity, statistics coincide worldwide: from the total of operated people, more than 80% survive and have a good quality of life.

“Liver transplantation is done when it is the patient’s only and last resource for saving his or her life. It is not offered to patients with other possibilities because it is a scarce resource”, sustains Surgeon Oscar Imventarza, a disciple of Starzl and Chief of the liver transplant team at the Pediatric Hospital SAMIC Prof. Dr. Juan P. Garrahan, from Buenos Aires. Since its creation in 1992, the team lead by the surgeon evaluated more than 600 patients and has carried out 254 transplantations.

The main reason for the success of the transplant is due to the versatility of the liver. “We are fairly open in the acceptance of donors. On the other hand, the liver is a very noble organ and can regenerate. Generally it serves for life and only in some cases does it need to be transplanted again. In the young, it adapts to the body’s growth”, Imventarza said.

Actually, the liver adjusts to the metabolic needs of the receptor. Those who are operated on when they are two years old, have a normal sized liver by the time they are twenty.

Collaborated in this article: Dr. Oscar Imventarza

Liver transplant · Part II: which is the life expectancy and counter indications.

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