Liver and small bowel transplantation: therapeutic alternatives for the treatment of liver disease and intestinal failure.

Intestinal transplantation is an established life-saving therapy for parenteral nutrition dependent patients suffering from severe complications of parenteral nutrition. Improvements in outcomes over the last decade have occurred with refinements in surgical technique, better immunosuppressive regimens, and clinical experience. The long-term results of intestinal transplantation are not well known and morbidity remains an important obstacle to wider application of this procedure to patients with short bowel syndrome (SBS). This article reviews the indications for intestinal transplantation, the evaluation of potential candidates, therapeutic considerations, postoperative management and common complications experienced by the recipients.