Intestinal failure (IF)-associated liver disease (IFALD) is widely recognized as a lethal complication of long-term parenteral nutrition. The pathophysiology of IFALD is poorly understood but appears to be multifactorial and related to the inflammatory state in the patient with IF. Visceral transplant for IFALD includes variants of intestine, liver, or combined liver-intestine allografts. Graft selection for an individual patient depends on the etiology of IF, abdominal and vascular anatomy, severity of IFALD, and potential for intestinal rehabilitation. The past decade has witnessed dramatic improvement in the management of IFALD, principally due to improved lipid emulsion formulations and the multidisciplinary care of the patient with IF. As the recognition and treatment of IFALD continue to improve, the requirement of liver-inclusive visceral grafts appears to be decreasing, representing a paradigm shift in the care of the patient with IF. This review highlights the current indications, graft selection, and outcomes of visceral transplantation for IFALD.
Keywords: clinical research/practice; intestinal (allograft) function/dysfunction; intestinal disease; intestinal failure/injury; intestine/multivisceral transplantation; liver (native) function/dysfunction; nutrition.
© 2018 The American Society of Transplantation and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons.