University teaching hospital, Hong Kong. The first 55 patients who received liver transplantations between 5 October 1991 and 14 June 1997. All patients received general anaesthesia with rapid sequence induction. Most adult recipients had cirrhosis from various causes, whereas biliary atresia was the most common condition in the paediatric population. All transplant recipients had acidosis, hypothermia, and hypotension during the operation.
Liver transplantation is no longer experimental.
It is the therapeutic option for patients with chronic liver failure. Good anaesthetic support is an essential element of a liver transplantation service.