1st International Conference on Recent Advances in Anaesthesiology (INCRAA - 2009), 30 Jan – 01 Feb 2009 · Nehru Auditorium, AIIMS New Delhi

The art and science of orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) has undergone a remarkable evolution since its origin. Over 40 years, it has developed from a compassionate attempt to save lives of patients with end stage liver disease into a therapy, for which 1-year survival rates approach 90%. Significant changes have occurred including implementation of the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD). Patients who present for liver transplantation today have higher MELD scores and more advanced liver disease. They are more acutely ill and have more co-morbidities, higher perioperative risks, and a more difficult perioperative course.