[Key issues and future directions in liver transplantation: from solving the shortage of donor livers to improving long-term survival of recipients].

Liver transplantation remains the only curative treatment for end-stage liver disease. After more than half a century of development, surgical techniques have become highly sophisticated, leading to continuously improving therapeutic outcomes and a substantial increase in the recipient population. However, the rising demand for transplantation has exacerbated the critical shortage of donor organs, resulting in numerous deaths among patients on the waiting list due to organ unavailability. Consequently, expanding donor liver sources, alleviating the supply-demand imbalance, and enhancing the long-term survival rates of transplant recipients have emerged as focal points in the field. This article systematically addresses these key issues by elaborating on primary strategies for resolving them, as well as discussing the current status, existing challenges, and future directions of various therapeutic approaches. It aims to provide a reference for advancing liver transplantation.