2018 Volume 53 Issue 6 Pages 327-335
Patients undergoing liver transplantation (LT) are often associated with secondary sarcopenia owing to malnutrition, liver failure, and surgery. However, the impact of sarcopenia on outcomes after LT was unclear until several years ago. Therefore, we investigated the present status and significance of sarcopenia in patients undergoing LT. Based on the findings of our study, we revised our criteria for LT, considering sarcopenia and body composition, and started aggressive interventions, including perioperative nutrition therapy and rehabilitation for patients undergoing LT. As a result, the 1-year overall survival rate has dramatically improved to 98%. In this review, we introduce our efforts and innovations focusing on the significance of sarcopenia in LT.
