Obesity and liver transplantation

World J Transplant. 2015 Sep 24;5(3):95-101. doi: 10.5500/wjt.v5.i3.95.

Abstract

The percentage of overweight and obese patients (OPs) waiting for a liver transplant continues to increase. Despite the significant advances occurred in bariatric medicine, obesity is still considered a relative contraindication to liver transplantation (LT). The main aim of this review is to appraise the literature on the outcomes of OPs undergoing LT, treatments that might reduce their weight before, during or after surgery, and discuss some of the controversies and limitations of the current knowledge with the intent of highlighting areas where future research is needed.

Keywords: Access to transplantation; Bariatric surgery; End-stage liver disease; Liver transplantation; Obesity; Weight-loss.

Publication types

  • Review