Split liver transplantation

The last decade has witnessed significant advancements in surgical techniques to address the shortage of liver grafts for transplantation. By the late 1990s, concepts such as reduced, split, and living donor transplantation emerged, pioneered by early transplant surgeons. Many centers globally refined these techniques into standardized procedures with impressive outcomes. Consequently, split liver transplantation between adults and children has become a validated surgical method, enabling the potential for 0% mortality among children on waiting lists. However, the success of these techniques relies not only on proper patient selection—both donors and recipients—but also on learning from past surgical errors. This understanding prompted the establishment of the first practical split liver transplantation course in Hamburg in March 2000, aimed at disseminating knowledge in this field. Joseph E. Murray highlighted a key distinction between scientists and surgeons: while scientists can await complete data, surgeons must act on the information at hand. This book is designed to equip surgeons interested in initiating split liver transplantation with the current data available, ensuring they can make informed decisions in their practice.