[After-care in liver transplantation].

Liver transplantation is assuming an increasingly important role in present-day hepatology; it is the preferred treatment in many cases of acute or chronic liver disease. The results have shown constant improvement thanks to the introduction of standardized techniques for removal and implantation of the liver, improved immunosuppression and postoperative care. Good long-term results--a five-year survival rate in up to 70% of the cases--can only be achieved by strict self-discipline on the part of the patient and careful postoperative follow-up, with close collaboration between the general practitioner, the hepatologist and the transplant surgeon.