Hemostatic disorders in orthotopic and auxiliary liver transplantation : clinical and experimental studies

In patients with severe liver disease, hepatic dysfunction may deteriorate to such an extent that conservative medical treatments are no longer sufficient to maintain the, for life essential, liver functions. For these patients the transplantation of a donor liver represents the only hope for survival. Livers can be transplanted in two different manners: either in the orthotopic position after removal of the diseased native liver, or in a heterotopic position as an auxiliary liver.