Predicting cardiovascular complications after liver transplantation

Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality after liver transplantation (LT) and is the leading cause of nongraft related death after liver transplant. Thus accurate risk estimation of perioperative and postoperative cardiovascular complications after liver transplant is vitally important for appropriate allocation of a scarce organ to maximize the benefit of the organ and to guide postoperative management. In the following chapter, we review the epidemiology and natural history of cardiovascular complications after LT and discuss approaches to pre- and postoperative cardiovascular risk stratification including application of surgical and general cardiovascular risk factors and models to patients with end-stage liver disease.