The hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) develops when an arterial oxygenation deficiency occurs due to intra-pulmonary vascular dilatations that are often associated with severe hepatic disease. HPS occurs in 15-20% of patients with liver cirrhosis undergoing evaluation for orthotopic liver transplantation. Recent studies support that the presence of HPS significantly increases mortality in cirrhosis, particularly in those with decompensated liver disease. [click link for full article]