The outcome of surgical intensive care unit (SICU) care after nonemergent orthotopic liver transplantation (OLTX) was evaluated in 168 consecutive patients over a 6-year period (1/90-12/95). Prospective data collected included age, first and last SICU day Simplified Acute Physiology Score and Quantitative Therapeutic Intervention System Score, SICU length of stay (LOS), and mortality. The patient population was 61 per cent male and 39 per cent female, with ages ranging from 20 to 75 years. A total of four patients died in the SICU, for a mortality of 2.4 per cent. Over the study period, SICU LOS decreased by 21 per cent, from 3.9 +/- 0.7 to 3.1 +/- 0.3 days (P < 0.05). Although no difference in admission severity of illness was observed over the study period, there was an increase in the intensity of intervention performed on admission to the SICU. Over the study period, there was no difference in severity of illness or intensity of intervention upon discharge to floor care. The decreased SICU LOS did not adversely affect patient mortality or severity of illness upon SICU discharge during the 6-year period. With intensified SICU intervention, nonemergent orthotopic liver transplantation patients can have a shorter SICU LOS without adverse effects on outcome.