Intraoperative mortality during liver transplantation

We reviewed the clinical course of adult patients who died during or within 24 hours of OLT from 1981 to 1986 at the Presbyterian-University Hospital of Pittsburgh. Intraoperative mortality has decreased dramatically in recent years with better understanding and control of pathophysiological changes and improved surgical technique. Nevertheless, some mortality may be inevitable because patients of older age and a greater variety of diseases are accepted as candidates for OLT, diagnosis and proper preoperative care of patients with underlying cardiopulmonary disease are difficult, and unexpected difficulties in surgery may be encountered in some patients.