Thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA) has been used as a mode of postoperative pain relief for orthotopic liver transplants (OLT) in a selected group of patients. It is not widely practiced in view of the impaired haemostasis associated with end-stage liver disease and severe unpredictable intraoperative coagulopathy. TEA in OLT may not be the technique of choice for routine administration of postoperative analgesia, but can be considered in patients who have a normal coagulation profile preoperatively. Safe conduct of TEA in OLT involves anaesthetic expertise and stringent monitoring in the
postoperative period. This review discusses the status of thoracic epidural analgesia in patients undergoing an orthotopic liver transplant
