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The case for liver transplantation in end‐stage alcoholic liver disease
Author(s) -
BATEY ROBERT G.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
drug and alcohol review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.018
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1465-3362
pISSN - 0959-5236
DOI - 10.1080/09595239600185831
Subject(s) - contraindication , liver transplantation , alcoholic liver disease , medicine , transplantation , stage (stratigraphy) , waiting list , liver disease , disease , surgery , intensive care medicine , cirrhosis , pathology , alternative medicine , paleontology , biology
Liver transplantation is now a routine procedure and is seen as a valid treatment option for end‐stage liver disease. Alcoholism has been regarded as a relative or absolute contraindication to liver transplantation in many transplant units. Recent data document a success rate for transplantation in alcoholic patients that equals that in other patient groups. Issues relating to the ethical and scientific arguments surrounding this complex area of treatment are discussed. It is concluded that individual patients should be assessed in their own right for this treatment option. It is argued that patient groups should not be denied access to specific life‐saving treatments.