Current status of living donor liver transplantation in adults

Technical refinements and successful results in living donor liver transplantation in pediatric population, as well as accelerating general donor shortage, have finally set fire to the application of this technique to adult population. Disadvantages of small-for-size grafts are now significantly mitigated by the repertoire of left lobe, right lobe and whole left liver grafts. However, considerable controversies in technical issues and indications still remain to be resolved to maximize donor and recipient safety. Mutual sharing of any negative results and consequent learning curve is indispensable, as well as continuing maximal attention to the potential and realistic risk placed on any living donor.