National assessment of early biliary complications following liver transplantation: incidence and outcomes

Biliary Complications in Liver Transplant Recipients With a History of Bariatric Surgery

OBJECTIVES

Bariatric surgery can greatly ameliorate obesity and its associated metabolic disorders. Alteration of foregut anatomy, as is seen after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch, renders traditional access to the biliary tree difficult, if not impossible. This may complicate management of anastomotic biliary complications after liver transplant.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this single-center study, we retrospectively reviewed all adult patients with a history of any bariatric surgery who underwent liver transplant during the period January 2017 to December 2022. We obtained demographic information of donors and recipients. Outcomes of interest included the modality in which the anastomotic biliary complications were managed.

RESULTS

Of 261 patients who underwent liver transplant at our center during the study period, 9 had a history of bariatric surgery. Anastomotic biliary complications occurred in 3 of 9 patients (33%). No significant differences were shown in donor age, ischemia time, etiology of liver disease, or Model for End-Stage Liver Disease sodium score at time of transplant between the 2 groups. All anastomotic biliary complications occurred in patients with a history of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass or biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch. Interventions included advanced endoscopy, endoscopic ultrasonography, and lumen-apposing metal stent to access the remnant stomach and biliopancreatic limb (n = 2) and surgical revision following percutaneous transhepatic biliary drain placement (n = 1). At the end of the study, none experienced recurrent stricture.

CONCLUSIONS

Anastomotic biliary complications are well-described after liver transplant. A multidisciplinary approach with interventional radiology and inter-ventional gastroenterology can be beneficial to address strictures that arise in recipients with a history of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass or biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch.

Recipient-associated risk factors for post-liver transplantation biliary complications: A cohort study

INTRODUCTION

Biliary complications (BCs) are a well-documented post-liver transplantation concern with potential implications for patient survival. This study aims at identifying risk factors associated with the development of BCs in recipients after liver transplantation (LT) and exploring strategies for their management.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective analysis of 1595 adult patients (age > 18 years) who underwent LT surgery between 2019 and 2021. The study assessed the incidence of BCs in this cohort.

RESULTS

Of 1595 patients, 178 (11.1%) experienced BCs, while 1417 (88.8%) did not exhibit any signs of such complications. Patients who developed BCs were found to have a significantly lower average age (p < 0.001) and longer cold ischemic times (p < 0.001) compared to those without BCs. Variables such as sex, body mass index (BMI), model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score, primary diagnosis, type of anastomosis, hepatectomy technique, type of transplanted liver and mortality did not demonstrate statistically significant differences between the two groups (p > 0.05). Univariate logistic regression analysis revealed that a cold ischemic time exceeding 12 hours and duct-to-duct anastomosis were positive predictors for BC development (odds ratios of 6.23 [CI 4.29-9.02] and 1.47 [CI 0.94-2.30], respectively). Conversely, increasing age was associated with a protective effect against BC development, with an odds ratio of 0.64 (CI 0.46-0.89).

CONCLUSION

Our multi-variate analysis identified cold ischemia time (CIT) as the sole significant predictor of post-liver transplantation biliary complications. Additionally, this study observed that advancing patient age had a protective influence in this context. Notably, no significant disparities were detected between hepatectomy techniques and the etiology of liver disease types in the two study groups.

Transplant Candidate Outcomes After Declining a DCD Liver in the United States

BACKGROUND

In the context of the organ shortage, donation after circulatory death (DCD) provides an opportunity to expand the donor pool. Although deceased-donor liver transplantation from DCD donors has expanded, DCD livers continue to be discarded at elevated rates; the use of DCD livers from older donors, or donors with comorbidities, is controversial.

METHODS

Using US registry data from 2009 to 2020, we identified 1564 candidates on whose behalf a DCD liver offer was accepted ("acceptors") and 16 981 candidates on whose behalf the same DCD offers were declined ("decliners"). We characterized outcomes of decliners using a competing risk framework and estimated the survival benefit (adjusted hazard ratio [95% confidence interval]) of accepting DCD livers using Cox regression.

RESULTS

Within 10 y of DCD offer decline, 50.9% of candidates died or were removed from the waitlist before transplantation with any type of allograft. DCD acceptors had lower mortality compared with decliners at 10 y postoffer (35.4% versus 48.9%, P < 0.001). After adjustment for candidate covariates, DCD offer acceptance was associated with a 46% reduction in mortality (0.54 [0.49-0.61]). Acceptors of older (age ≥50), obese (body mass index ≥30), hypertensive, nonlocal, diabetic, and increased risk DCD livers had 44% (0.56 [0.42-0.73]), 40% (0.60 [0.49-0.74]), 48% (0.52 [0.41-0.66]), 46% (0.54 [0.45-0.65]), 32% (0.68 [0.43-1.05]), and 45% (0.55 [0.42-0.72]) lower mortality risk compared with DCD decliners, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

DCD offer acceptance is associated with considerable long-term survival benefits for liver transplant candidates, even with older DCD donors or donors with comorbidities. Increased recovery and utilization of DCD livers should be encouraged.

Post-transplant biliary complications using liver grafts from deceased donors older than 70 years: Retrospective case-control study

BACKGROUND

The shortage of liver grafts and subsequent waitlist mortality led us to expand the donor pool using liver grafts from older donors.

AIM

To determine the incidence, outcomes, and risk factors for biliary complications (BC) in liver transplantation (LT) using liver grafts from donors aged > 70 years.

METHODS

Between January 1994 and December 31, 2019, 297 LTs were performed using donors older than 70 years. After excluding 47 LT for several reasons, we divided 250 LTs into two groups, namely post-LT BC (n = 21) and without BC (n = 229). This retrospective case-control study compared both groups.

RESULTS

Choledocho-choledochostomy without T-tube was the most frequent technique (76.2% in the BC group vs 92.6% in the non-BC group). Twenty-one patients (8.4%) developed BC (13 anastomotic strictures, 7 biliary leakages, and 1 non-anastomotic biliary stricture). Nine patients underwent percutaneous balloon dilation and nine required a Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy because of dilation failure. The incidence of post-LT complications (graft dysfunction, rejection, renal failure, and non-BC reoperations) was similar in both groups. There were no significant differences in the patient and graft survival between the groups. Moreover, only three deaths were attributed to BC. While female donors were protective factors for BC, donor cardiac arrest was a risk factor.

CONCLUSION

The incidence of BC was relatively low on using liver grafts > 70 years. It could be managed in most cases by percutaneous dilation or Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy, without significant differences in the patient or graft survival between the groups.

Individualized Biliary Reconstruction Techniques in Liver Transplantation: Five Years' Experience of a Single Institution

BACKGROUND

To summarize the experience of individualized biliary reconstruction techniques in deceased donor liver transplantation and explore potential risk factors for biliary stricture.

METHODS

We retrospectively collected medical records of 489 patients undergoing deceased donor liver transplantation at our center between January 2016 and August 2020. According to anatomical and pathological conditions of donor and recipient biliary ducts, patients' biliary reconstruction methods were divided into six types. We summarized the experience of six different reconstruction methods and analyzed the biliary complications' rate and risk factors after liver transplantation.

RESULTS

Among 489 cases of biliary reconstruction methods during liver transplantation, there were 206 cases of type I, 98 cases of type II, 96 cases of type III, 39 cases of type IV, 34 cases of type V, and 16 cases of type VI. Biliary tract anastomotic complications occurred in 41 cases (8.4%), including 35 cases with biliary stricture (7.2%), 9 cases with biliary leakage (1.8%), 19 cases with biliary stones (3.9%), 1 case with biliary bleeding (0.2%), and 2 cases with biliary infection (0.4%). One of 41 patients died of biliary tract bleeding and one died of biliary infection. Thirty-six patients significantly improved after treatment, and 3 patients received secondary transplantation. Compared with patients without biliary stricture, a higher warm ischemic time was observed in patients with non-anastomotic stricture and more leakage of bile in patients with an anastomotic stricture.

CONCLUSION

The individualized biliary reconstruction methods are safe and feasible to decrease perioperative anastomotic biliary complications. Biliary leakage may contribute to anastomotic biliary stricture and cold ischemia time to non-anastomotic biliary stricture.

Biliary complications following split liver transplantation in adult recipients: a matched pair analysis on single-center experience

The utilization of split liver grafts can increase access to liver transplantation (LT) for adult patients, particularly when liver grafts are shared between 2 adult recipients. However, it is yet to be determined whether split liver transplantation (SLT) increases the risk of biliary complications (BCs) compared with whole liver transplantation (WLT) in adult recipients. This retrospective study enrolled 1441 adult patients who underwent deceased donor LT at a single-site between January 2004 and June 2018. Of those, 73 patients underwent SLTs. Graft type for SLT includes 27 right trisegment grafts, 16 left lobes, and 30 right lobes. A propensity score matching analysis selected 97 WLTs and 60 SLTs. Biliary leakage was more frequently seen in SLTs (13.3% vs. 0%; p <0.001), whereas the frequency of biliary anastomotic stricture was comparable between SLTs and WLTs (11.7% vs. 9.3%; p=0.63). Graft and patient survival rates of patients undergoing SLTs were comparable to those undergoing WLTs (p=0.42 and 0.57, respectively). In the analysis of the entire SLT cohort, BCs were seen in 15 patients (20.5%) including biliary leakage in 11 patients (15.1%) and biliary anastomotic stricture in 8 patients (11.0%) [both in 4 patients (5.5%)]. The survival rates of recipients who developed BCs were significantly inferior to those without BCs (p <0.01). By multivariate analysis, the split grafts without common bile duct increased the risk of BCs. In conclusion, SLT increases the risk of biliary leakage compared with WLT. Biliary leakage can still lead to fatal infection and thus should be managed appropriately in SLT.

Does an Additional Bile Duct Flush With Low-viscosity Preservation Solution Reduce Bile Duct Injury? A Single-blinded Randomized Clinical Trial

Biliary complications are a common cause of morbidity after liver transplantation and associated with bile duct injury. To reduce injury, a bile duct flush is performed with high-viscosity preservation solution. It has been suggested that an earlier additional bile duct flush with low-viscosity preservation solution may reduce bile duct injury and biliary complications. This study aimed to investigate whether an earlier additional bile duct flush would reduce bile duct injury or biliary complications.

Methods

A randomized trial was conducted using 64 liver grafts from brain dead donors. The control group received a bile duct flush with University of Wisconsin (UW) solution after donor hepatectomy. The intervention group received a bile duct flush using low-viscosity Marshall solution immediately after the onset of cold ischemia and a bile duct flush with University of Wisconsin solution after donor hepatectomy. The primary outcomes were the degree of histological bile duct injury, assessed using the bile duct injury score, and biliary complications within 24 mo of transplant.

Results

Bile duct injury scores were not different between the 2 groups. Similar rates of biliary complications occurred in the intervention group (31% [n = 9]) and controls (23% [n = 8]) (P = 0.573). No difference between groups was observed for anastomotic strictures (24% versus 20%, P = 0.766) or nonanastomotic strictures (7% versus 6%, P = 1.00).

Conclusions

This is the first randomized trial to investigate an additional bile duct flush using low-viscosity preservation solution during organ procurement. The findings from this study suggest that performing an earlier additional bile duct flush with Marshall solution does not prevent biliary complications and bile duct injury.

Assessment of serum and drain fluid bilirubin concentrations in liver transplantation patients

BACKGROUND

Bile leakage is a major complication after liver transplantation and remains as a significant source of morbidity and mortality. In 2011, the International Study Group of Liver Surgery (ISGLS) defined bile leakage as a drain/serum bilirubin ratio ≥3. However, to our knowledge there is no literature assessing serum and drain bilirubin concentrations after liver transplantation. The aim of this study was to describe the natural postoperative changes in serum and drain fluid bilirubin concentrations in patients after liver transplantation.

METHODS

We included 32 patients who underwent liver transplantation at Kobe University Hospital from January 2007 to December 2020. We enrolled 34 living donors who had no complications as the control group.

RESULTS

The recipient serum total/direct bilirubin concentration were higher compared with the donors from postoperative day (POD) 1 to 5 with a statistical difference (P < .05). The recipient drain/serum total bilirubin ratio was lower than donors on POD 3 (0.89 ± 0.07 vs 1.53 ± 0.07: P < .0001), which was also confirmed by the recipient drain/serum direct bilirubin ratio (0.64 ± 0.10 vs 1.18 ± 0.09: P < .0001). On POD 3, the drain fluid volume (647.38 ± 89.47 vs 113.43 ± 86.8 mL: P < .001) and serum total bilirubin concentration (6.73 ± 0.61 vs 1.23 ± 0.60 mg/dL: P < .001) was higher in the recipients than in donors. Categorized in 2 groups, the higher drain fluid volume and bilirubin concentration recipients showed lower drain/serum total bilirubin ratio compared with the other group (P = .03) CONCLUSION: The drain/serum bilirubin ratio in the transplanted patients could be calculated lower compared with the hepatectomy patients because of high drain fluid volume and hyperbilirubinemia. Great care should be taken when assessing the bile leakage in liver transplant recipients using the ISGLS definition.

Liver Transplantation in Sexagenarian Patients Using Grafts From Uncontrolled Circulatory Death Versus Grafts From Brain Death Donation

BACKGROUND

An increased number of older recipients underwent liver transplantation in recent years, and consequently needing to obtain more liver grafts. In order to increase this pool, in 2006, we initiated the use of livers from uncontrolled circulatory death (uDCD). We analyzed the use of uDCD livers in sexagenarian recipients and their effect on overall survival.

METHODS

A retrospective and comparative study was performed among 4 groups according to recipient age (less or greater than 60 years) and donor type (donor brain death [DBD] or uDCD): Group A: DBD livers in recipients aged <60 years (n = 169); Group B: uDCD livers in recipients aged <60 years (n = 36); Group C: DBD livers in recipients aged >60 years (n = 96); and Group D: uDCD livers in recipients aged >60 years(n = 39).

RESULTS

Intraoperative transfusion, biliary complications, primary non-function, acute rejection, chronic renal dysfunction, retransplantation, and mortality during follow-up (cardiovascular diseases in 3 patients, hepatitis C virus recurrence in 4 patients, and de novo malignancies in 3 patients) were significantly higher, and 5-year patient and graft survival was significantly lower in sexagenarian recipients. Bilirubin and packed red blood cells transfusion were risk factors for patient survival, whereas hepatocelular carcinoma, creatinine, and packed red blood cells transfusion were risk factors for patient survival. Recipient age (<60 years) was confirmed as protective factor for patient and graft survival, whereas the use of uDCD was not a risk factor for patient or graft survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Use of a uDCD liver did not demonstrate as a risk factor for patient and graft survival, and recipient age (<60 years) was a protective factor for patient and graft survival.

Post-Transplantation Cytomegalovirus Infection Interplays With the Development of Anastomotic Biliary Strictures After Liver Transplantation

Background: Anastomotic biliary stricture (ABS) remains the most frequent complication after liver transplantation (LT). This study aimed to identify new anastomotic biliary stricture risk factors, with a specific focus on postoperative events. Additionally, ABS management and impact on patient and graft survival were assessed.

Methods: All consecutive patients who underwent LT with duct-to-duct anastomosis between 2010 and 2019 were included. All patients who died within 90 days after LT due to non-ABS-related causes were excluded.

Results: Among 240 patients, 65 (27.1%) developed ABS after a median time of 142 days (range, 13–1265). Median follow-up was 49 months (7–126). Upon multivariable analysis, donor BMI (OR=0.509, p = 0.037), post-LT CMV primoinfection (OR = 5.244, p &lt; 0.001) or reactivation (OR = 2.421, p = 0.015) and the occurrence of post-LT anastomotic biliary fistula (OR = 2.691, p = 0.021) were associated with ABS. Anastomotic technical difficulty did not independently impact the risk of ABS (OR = 1.923, p = 0.051). First-line ABS treatment was systematically endoscopic (100%), and required a median of 2 (range, 1–11) procedures per patient. Repeat LT was not required in patients developing ABS. The occurrence of ABS was not associated with overall patient survival (p = 0.912) nor graft survival (p = 0.521).

Conclusion: The risk of developing ABS after LT seems driven by the occurrence of postoperative events such as CMV infection and anastomotic fistula. In this regard, the role of CMV prophylaxis warrants further investigations.

Center Variability in Acute Rejection and Biliary Complications After Pediatric Liver Transplantation

Transplant center performance and practice variation for pediatric post-liver transplantation (LT) outcomes other than survival are understudied. This was a retrospective cohort study of pediatric LT recipients who received transplants between January 1, 2006, and May 31, 2017, using United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) data that were merged with the Pediatric Health Information System database. Center effects for the acute rejection rate at 1 year after LT (AR1) using UNOS coding and the biliary complication rate at 1 year after LT (BC1) using inpatient billing claims data were estimated by center-specific rescaled odds ratios that accounted for potential differences in recipient and donor characteristics. There were 2216 pediatric LT recipients at 24 freestanding children's hospitals in the United States during the study period. The median unadjusted center rate of AR1 was 36.92% (interquartile range [IQR], 22.36%-44.52%), whereas that of BC1 was 32.29% (IQR, 26.14%-40.44%). Accounting for recipient case mix and donor factors, 5/24 centers performed better than expected with regard to AR1, whereas 3/24 centers performed worse than expected. There was less heterogeneity across the center effects for BC1 than for AR1. There was no relationship observed between the center effects for AR1 or BC1 and center volume. Beyond recipient and allograft factors, differences in transplant center management are an important driver of center AR1 performance, and less so of BC1 performance. Further research is needed to identify the sources of variability so as to implement the most effective solutions to broadly enhance outcomes for pediatric LT recipients.

Guidelines for Perioperative Care for Liver Transplantation: Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Recommendations

BACKGROUND

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) is a multimodal, evidence-based, program of care developed to minimize the response to surgical stress, associated with reduced perioperative morbidity and hospital stay. This study presents the specific ERAS Society recommendations for liver transplantation (LT) based on the best available evidence and on expert consensus.

METHODS

PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched in April 2019 for published and ongoing randomized clinical trials on LT in the last 15 y. Studies were selected by 5 independent reviewers and were eligible if focusing on each validated ERAS item in the area of adult LT. An e-Delphi method was used with an extended interdisciplinary panel of experts to validate the final recommendations.

RESULTS

Forty-three articles were included in the systematic review. A consensus was reached among experts after the second round. Patients should be screened for malnutrition and treated whenever possible. Prophylactic nasogastric intubation and prophylactic abdominal drainage may be omitted, and early extubation should be considered. Early oral intake, mobilization, and multimodal-balanced analgesia are recommended.

CONCLUSIONS

The current ERAS recommendations were elaborated based on the best available evidence and endorsed by the e-Delphi method. Nevertheless, prospective studies need to confirm the clinical use of the suggested protocol.

Safely Expanding the Liver Donor Pool by Utilization of Organs from Donation after Circulatory Death with Comparable Results to Donation After Brain Death, a Large Single-Center Experience

BACKGROUND

Use of livers donated after circulatory death (DCD) is one way to expand the donor pool. Our center has aggressively incorporated use of DCD liver grafts into practice. We examined our center and national outcomes as well as national DCD liver utilization.

METHODS

Liver transplants performed at our center and nationally from 11/2016 through 9/2020 were compared. Primary outcomes were patient and graft survival, and national DCD liver utilization.

RESULTS

For our center, DCD and donation after brain death (DBD) donors were similar except DCD donors were younger (37 vs 40 years; p < 0.05). Recipient Na-MELD (20 vs 24; p < 0.0001) and cold ischemia time (4.63 vs 5.18 h; p < 0.05) were lower in DCD recipients. There were no significant differences in 1-year patient and graft survival between DCD and DBD liver recipients locally. Nationally, there was a difference in 1-year graft survival year (89.4% vs 92.4%, p < 0.0001) but patient survival was similar between groups. The proportion of DCD livers recovered and transplanted widely varied among organ procurement organizations (OPOs) and transplant centers.

CONCLUSIONS

Similar outcomes for DCD and DBD liver recipients should encourage centers and OPOs nationwide to expand utilization of DCD livers.

Novel Composite Endpoint for Assessing Outcomes in Liver Transplantation: Arterial and Biliary Complication-Free Survival

Transplant and patient survival are the validated endpoints to assess the success of liver transplantation (LT). This study evaluates arterial and biliary complication-free survival (ABCFS) as a new metric. ABC, considered as an event, was an arterial or biliary complication of Dindo-Clavien grade ≥III complication dated at the interventional, endoscopic, or surgical treatment required to correct it. ABCFS was defined as the time from the date of LT to the dates of first ABC, death, relisting, or last follow-up (transplant survival is time from LT to repeat LT or death). Following primary whole LT (n = 532), 106 ABCs occurred and 99 (93%) occurred during the first year after LT. An ABC occurring during the first year after LT (overall rate 19%) was an independent factor associated with transplant survival (hazard ratio [HR], 3.17; P < 0.001) and patient survival (HR, 2.7; P = 0.002) in univariate and multivariate analyses. This result was confirmed after extension of the cohort to split-liver graft, donation after circulatory death, or re-LT (n = 658). Data from 2 external cohorts of primary whole LTs (n = 249 and 229, respectively) confirmed that the first-year ABC was an independent prognostic factor for transplant survival but not for patient survival. ABCFS was correlated with transplant and patient survival (ρ = 0.85 [95% CI, 0.78-0.90] and 0.81 [95% CI, 0.71-0.88], respectively). Preoperative factors known to influence 5-year transplant survival influenced ABCFS after 1 year of follow-up. The 1-year ABCFS was indicative of 5-year transplant survival. ABCFS is a reproducible metric to evaluate the results of LT after 1 year of follow-up and could serve as a new endpoint in clinical trials.

Archimedes Absorbable Internal Biliary Stent in Liver Transplants to Prevent Bile Leak

BACKGROUND

Biliary complications, especially bile leaks, are an important cause of early postoperative morbidity and, rarely, mortality after liver transplant. The risk is higher in living donor liver transplant (LDLT) compared to deceased donor liver transplant (DDLT). Attempts to reduce bile leaks have included refinements in the biliary anastomosis technique and use of various external and internal stents, with inconsistent benefits. Recent availability and successful use of the absorbable Archimedes stent has prompted its intrabiliary placement across the anastomosis.

METHODS

In this retrospective study, we analyzed the data of 20 adult patients who underwent a liver transplant with duct-to-duct biliary anastomosis using the Archimedes stent. Both DDLT and LDLT were performed using cava-preserving hepatectomy followed by standard implantation methods. Duct-to-duct biliary anastomosis was performed in all cases using interrupted sutures with extracorporeal knots over an absorbable intrabiliary stent. In addition to standard postoperative care, patients were monitored for bile leak.

RESULTS

Nine DDLTs had a single anastomosis over a 10-Fr stent. Out of 11 LDLT patients, 7 had a single anastomosis and 4 patients had 2 anastomoses, all over a 6-Fr stent. Two patients died, 1 as a result of graft primary nonfunction and another because of multidrug-resistant pneumonia. One patient had ascending cholangitis owing to stent migration in the duodenum. This episode was treated with endoscopic stent removal and appropriate antibiotics, with good recovery. None of the other patients had bile leaks, biloma, or stent-related complications.

CONCLUSIONS

Archimedes internal absorbable biliary stents can be safely used in both living and deceased donor liver transplants to prevent bile leaks.

Liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma using grafts from uncontrolled circulatory death donation

Controversy exists regarding whether the rate of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) differs when using livers from donation after controlled circulatory death (DCD) versus livers from donation after brain death (DBD). The aim of this cohort study was to analyze rates of HCC recurrence, patient survival, and graft survival after OLT for HCC, comparing recipients of DBD livers (n = 103) with recipients of uncontrolled DCD livers (uDCD; n = 41). No significant differences in tumor size, tumor number, serum alpha-fetoprotein, proportion of patients within Milan criteria, or pre-OLT bridging therapies were identified between groups, although the waitlist period was significantly shorter in the uDCD group (p = 0.040). HCC recurrence was similar between groups. Patient survival was similar between groups, but graft survival was lower in the uDCD group. Multivariate analysis identified recipient age (p = 0.031), pre-OLT bridging therapy (p = 0.024), and HCC recurrence (p = 0.048) as independent risk factors for patient survival and pre-OLT transarterial chemoembolization (p = 0.045) as the single risk factor for HCC recurrence. In conclusion, similar patient survival and lower graft survival were observed in the uDCD group. However, the use of uDCD livers appears to be justified due to a shorter waitlist time, and lower waitlist dropout and HCC recurrence rates.

Survival and prognostic factors after transplantation, resection and ablation in a national cohort of early hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

In patients with early hepatocellular cancer (HCC) and preserved liver function, the choice between transplantation, resection and ablation and which factors to consider is not obvious and guidelines differ. In this national cohort study, we aimed to compare posttreatment survival in patients fulfilling predefined criteria, and to analyse preoperative risk factors that could influence decision.

METHODS

We used data from HCC-patients registered with primary transplantation, resection or ablation 2008-2016 in the SweLiv-registry. In Child A-subgroups, 18-75 years, we compared survival after transplantation or resection, with different tumour criteria; either corresponding to our transplantation criteria (N = 257) or stricter with single tumours ≤50 mm (N = 159). A subgroup with single tumours ≤30 mm, compared all three treatments (N = 193).

RESULTS

We included 1022 HCC-patients; transplantation n = 223, resection n = 438, ablation n = 361. In the transplant criteria subgroup, differences in five-year survival, adjusted for age and gender, were not significant, with 71.2% (CI 62.3-81.3) after transplantation (n = 109) and 63.5% (CI 54.9-73.5) after resection (n = 148). Good liver function (Child 5 vs. 6, Albumin ≥36), increased the risk after transplantation, but decreased the risk after resection and ablation.

CONCLUSION

Even within Child A, detailed liver function assessment is important before treatment decision, and for stratifying survival comparisons.

Clinical usefulness of T1-weighted MR cholangiography with Gd-EOB-DTPA for the evaluation of biliary complication after liver transplantation

Backgrounds/Aims

Biliary complications continue to be the major morbidity and mortality causes following living donor liver transplantation (LT). Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) has been performed to identify the biliary leakage source. However, this can lead to retrograde cholangitis and pancreatitis, and is not sufficient to diagnose bile leakage from cuts' surface. This study aimed to describe the use of T1-Weighted Magnetic Resonance (MR) Cholangiography with Gd-EOB-DTPA (Primovist) examination for evaluating the bile duct complication following LT.

Methods

From March 2012 to December 2018, 869 adult LT were performed at the Seoul National University Hospital. Forty-three recipients had undergone MR Cholangiography with Gd-EOB-DTPA. We reviewed these cases with their clinical outcomes and described the utility of the MR cholangiography with Gd-EOB-DTPA.

Results

In radiologic examinations performed in the patients suspected of bile duct complication, 95% had bile leakage and stricture. Cut surface leakage was diagnosed in two cases, and biliary leakage from the anastomosis site was diagnosed in the others. Most patients with leakage had undergone percutaneous drainage and ERCP, which was performed to evaluate the bile secretion function of the hepatocytes. There was no contrast-enhanced bile duct image in one case with severe rejection, and it might have been related to hepatocyte secretary dysfunction.

Conclusions

T1-Weighted MR Cholangiography with Gd-EOB-DTPA 40-minute delay examination is a feasible and safe non-invasive procedure for identifying biliary leakage sites.

Diagnosis and management of benign biliary strictures post liver transplantation in adults

Benign biliary strictures after liver transplantation are common and can lead to graft dysfunction and decreased patient survival. Post-transplant strictures are classified as anastomotic or non-anastomotic which differ in response to therapy. Risk factors for biliary strictures following transplantation include impaired blood supply, surgical factors, and biliary anomalies. Patients can present with biliary obstruction but most will be asymptomatic, with only abnormal graft function. MRCP is the most sensitive noninvasive tool for diagnosing biliary complications. In most centres worldwide endoscopy is used first-line in the management of anastomotic strictures, although there is significant variation in endoscopic technique employed; including dilation, placing a single or multiple plastic stents, a fully covered metal stent and most recently using intra-ductal fully covered metal stents. With the introduction of fully covered metal stents the number of interventions patients require has reduced and overall the clinical success of the endoscopic approach has steadily improved. Percutaneous and surgical treatments are now reserved for patients in whom endoscopic management fails or who have had Roux-en-Y anastomoses. However even in these cases, combined procedures with interventional radiology, or implementation of enteroscopy and EUS-guided approaches now means very few patients ultimately require surgical revision.

Complications of liver transplant

Liver transplantation has become a definitive treatment for patients with end-stage liver disease and those meeting Milan criteria for hepatocellular carcinoma. The morbidity and mortality associated with liver transplantation continues to decrease thanks to refinements in surgical technique, immunosuppression, and imaging. In particular, imaging plays a vital role by facilitating early detection of post-operative complications and enabling prompt treatment. Post-operative complications that lead to graft failure and patient morbidity/mortality can be generally categorized as vascular, biliary, parenchymal, and malignant. Vascular complications include stenosis and thrombosis of the hepatic artery, portal vein, and inferior vena cava; hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm; arteriovenous fistula; and celiac stenosis. Biliary abnormalities include strictures, bile leak, obstruction, recurrent disease, and infection. While imaging is not primarily utilized to diagnose allograft rejection, it plays an important role in excluding mechanical causes of graft dysfunction that can mimic rejection. Ultrasound is routinely performed as the first-line imaging evaluation for the detection and follow-up of early and delayed complications. Cholangiography and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography are useful in detecting and characterizing biliary complications. Computed tomography is often used to further evaluate abnormal findings on ultrasound or for the characterization of post-operative fluid collections. The aim of this review is to discuss and illustrate the imaging findings of complications associated with liver transplantation and their role in facilitating treatment.

The real incidence of biliary tract complications after adult liver transplantation: the role of the prospective routine use of cholangiography during post-transplant follow-up

Biliary tract complications (BTCs) still burden liver transplantation (LT). The wide reporting variability highlights the absence of systematic screening. From 2000 to 2009, simultaneous liver biopsy and direct biliary visualization were prospectively performed in 242 recipients at 3 and 6 months (n = 212, 87.6%) or earlier when indicated (n = 30, 12.4%). Median follow-up was 148 (107-182) months. Seven patients (2.9%) experienced postprocedural morbidity. BTCs were initially diagnosed in 76 (31.4%) patients; 32 (42.1%) had neither clinical nor biological abnormalities. Acute cellular rejection (ACR) was present in 27 (11.2%) patients and in 6 (22.2%) BTC patients. Nine (3.7%) patients with normal initial cholangiography developed BTCs after 60 (30-135) months post-LT. BTCs directly lead to 7 (2.9%) re-transplantations and 14 (5.8%) deaths resulting in 18 (7.4%) allograft losses. Bile duct proliferation at 12-month biopsy proved an independent risk factor for graft loss (P = 0.005). Systematic biliary tract and allograft evaluation allows the incidence and extent of biliary lesions to be documented more precisely and to avoid erroneous treatment of ACR. The combination 'abnormal biliary tract-canalicular proliferation' is an indicator of worse graft outcome. BTCs are responsible for important delayed allograft and patient losses. These results underline the importance of life-long follow-up and appropriate timing for re-transplantation.

Definition and Prospective Assessment of Functional Recovery After Liver Transplantation: A New Objective Consensus-Based Metric for Safe Discharge

Standardized discharge criteria are critical to reduce premature discharge and avoid unnecessary hospital stays. No such criteria exist for patients undergoing liver transplantation (LT). To achieve a consensus-based checklist of criteria for safe patient discharge after LT, this mixed-method study included the following: a systematic literature review and expert discussion to draft a first checklist of post-LT discharge criteria, defining patient recovery and indications for hospital discharge (functional recovery); an exploratory online electronic Delphi (e-Delphi) study; a single-center pilot study to test checklist feasibility; and a final e-Delphi study with an extended interdisciplinary expert panel to validate the final checklist. The first round provided a 10-point discharge checklist with 5 patient-centered items derived from discharge criteria after liver surgery and 5 graft-centered items derived from expert discussion. The restricted panel (9 experts) e-Delphi provided 100% consensus after the second round, with slight modifications to the criteria. During the pilot study, 19 of 45 (42.2%) patients included fulfilled the complete checklist (100% of 10 items) after median (IQR) 16 (8-21) days (functional recovery) and a length of stay of 20 (9-24) days. The item with the lowest completion rate was minimum serum tacrolimus level in the target on 2 consecutive blood samples (n = 21; 47%), achieved at 13 (9-15) days. The extended panel (66 experts) e-Delphi provided 95%-98% consensus after the third round, with slight modifications of the criteria. This study provided substantial consensus on discharge criteria after LT. We anticipate that these criteria will be useful in clinical practice to guide patient discharge and increase the comparability of results between future studies.

Biliary complications in donation after circulatory death liver transplantation: the Australian National Liver Transplantation Unit's experience

BACKGROUND

Biliary complications are the most common complications of donation after circulatory death (DCD) liver transplantation and the international experience with DCD transplants suggests increased rates of biliary complications compared to donation after brain death transplants. Therefore, it is important to understand factors that are associated with the development of biliary complications within the Australian DCD context in order to inform future practice. The aim of this study is to determine the incidence of biliary complications after DCD liver transplantation at the Australian National Liver Transplantation Unit and identify factors associated with this outcome.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of all adult DCD liver transplants at the Australian National Liver Transplantation Unit from 2007 to 2015 was undertaken. The primary outcome measure was the incidence of biliary complications and was censored on 31 December 2016. Recipients were then stratified into groups based on the development of biliary complications and risk factor analysis was performed.

RESULTS

Biliary complications occurred in 35% of DCD transplants, including seven anastomotic strictures and 10 non-anastomotic strictures. Higher donor risk index scores (P = 0.03), post-transplant portal vein complications (P = 0.042) and peak gamma-glutamyl transferase levels within 7 days post-transplant (P = 0.047) were associated with biliary complications.

CONCLUSION

Findings from this study demonstrate that biliary complications remain common in DCD liver recipients. Recipients who developed a biliary complication tended to have higher donor risk index, elevated peak gamma-glutamyl transferase levels within 7 days post-transplant or a portal vein complication. The presence of any of these factors should prompt close monitoring for post-transplant biliary complications.

Biliary Internal Stents and Biliary Complications in Adult Liver Transplantation

BACKGROUND

Biliary complications in liver transplantation (LT) can cause significant morbidity or even lead to a potential graft loss and patient mortality. Oftentimes biliary internal stents (ISs) are used at the time of LT to lower the risk for or prevent these biliary complications; however, their efficacy and outcomes remain controversial.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was conducted on all of the adult patients who underwent a deceased-donor LT (DDLT) with an end-to-end choledococholedocostomy. An IS was placed across the biliary anastomosis, passing through the ampulla. We compared the demographic profiles and various outcomes between the 2 groups (no-IS group vs IS group) and examined risk factors associated with anastomotic biliary complications.

RESULTS

The study comprised 350 patients in the no-IS group and 132 patients in the IS group. Anastomotic biliary fistula (ABF) occurred in 5 (1.4%) and 1 (0.8%) patients in the no-IS group and the IS group, respectively (P = .55). Anastomotic biliary stricture (ABS) occurred in 53 (15.1%) and 18 (13.6%) patients, respectively (P = .68). No significant difference was found in the overall biliary complications between the 2 groups (P = .33). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, acute rejection was the only risk factor for ABS (P = .02). One biliary complication-induced mortality occurred in the no-IS group in which the patient died of an ABF-induced hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm rupture.

CONCLUSION

The use of biliary ISs in DDLT did not reduce the overall risk for biliary complications, but more research is needed to draw definite conclusions.

A methodological review of clinical outcomes reported in liver transplantation trials

BACKGROUND

Liver Transplantation (LT) is a life-saving treatment for end-stage liver disease, for which various outcomes are measured in randomized clinical trials (RCT). The aim of this methodological review is to evaluate and classify outcomes reported in RCT in LT.

METHODS

PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched in July 2018 for published and ongoing RCTs on LT in the last 5 years. Studies were eligible if focusing on first LT in adult patients, with interventions during the perioperative period. Data extracted concerned LT characteristics, type of intervention, methodological characteristics and outcomes assessed.

RESULTS

Of 2685 references, 55 were included with a median of 78 (40-120) patients for published trials and planned to include 117 (55-218) patients for ongoing trials. Morbidity was the most frequently used as primary outcome in 37 published (67%) and 13 ongoing trials (54%). We identified 10 different definitions for graft dysfunction, 9 for recovery outcomes and 12 different time-points for mortality. For published trials, among the 397 outcomes specified in the method section, results were reported for 283 (71%).

CONCLUSION

Outcomes reported in LT trials are very heterogeneous. A consensus approach to develop a core outcome set (COS) should be considered allowing for comparisons of results across trials.

PROSPERO

CRD42018108146.

Top Papers in Liver Transplantation 2017-2018

Organ shortage remains a major limitation in liver transplantation, and there has been a significant effort over the past decade to increase the existing deceased donor pool. Recent advances have included better selection and management of donors after circulatory arrest, application of hypothermic and normothermic perfusion, minimization of standard immunosuppression, and use of new immunosuppressive medications. Additionally, there has been renewed emphasis and understanding of liver immunology and the impact of antibody-mediated rejection. Together, these advances have allowed for expansion of the donor pool with concurrent improved patient outcomes. Furthermore, direct-acting antiviral agents for the treatment of hepatitis C virus infection has been management of this infection. These changes have affected the practice of solid organ transplantation by altering the framework by which patients with end-stage organ disease are managed and receive organ transplants. In this article, we analyze some of the top papers published in 2017-2018 dealing with these issues.

Assessment of Anastomotic Biliary Complications in Adult Patients Undergoing High-Acuity Liver Transplant

Importance

Anastomotic biliary complications (ABCs) constitute the most common technical complications in liver transplant (LT). Given the ever-increasing acuity of LT, identification of factors contributing to ABCs is essential to minimize morbidity and optimize outcomes. A detailed analysis in a patient population undergoing high-acuity LT is lacking.

Objective

To evaluate the rate of, risk factors for, and outcomes of ABCs and acuity level in LT recipients.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This retrospective cohort study included adult LT recipients from January 1, 2013, through June 30, 2016, at a single large urban transplant center. Patients were followed up for at least 12 months after LT until June 30, 2017. Of 520 consecutive adult patients undergoing LT, 509 LTs in 503 patients were included. Data were analyzed from May 1 through September 13, 2017.

Exposure

Liver transplant.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Any complications occurring at the level of the biliary reconstruction.

Results

Among the 503 transplant recipients undergoing 509 LTs included in the analysis (62.3% male; median age, 58 years [interquartile range {IQR}, 50-63 years), median follow-up was 24 months (IQR, 16-34 months). Overall patient and graft survival at 1 year were 91.1% and 90.3%, respectively. The median Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) score was 35 (IQR, 15-40) for the entire cohort. T tubes were used in 199 LTs (39.1%) during initial bile duct reconstruction. Overall incidence of ABCs included 103 LTs (20.2%). Anastomotic leak occurred in 25 LTs (4.9%) and stricture, 77 (15.1%). Exit-site leak in T tubes occurred in 36 (7.1%) and T tube obstruction in 16 (3.1%). Seventeen patients with ABCs required surgical revision of bile duct reconstruction. Multivariate analysis revealed the following 7 independent risk factors for ABCs: recipient hepatic artery thrombosis (odds ratio [OR], 12.41; 95% CI, 2.37-64.87; P = .003), second LT (OR, 4.05; 95% CI, 1.13-14.50; P = .03), recipient hepatic artery stenosis (OR, 3.81; 95% CI, 1.30-11.17; P = .02), donor hypertension (OR, 2.79; 95% CI, 1.27-6.11; P = .01), recipients with hepatocellular carcinoma (OR, 2.66; 95% CI, 1.23-5.74; P = .01), donor death due to anoxia (OR, 2.61; 95% CI, 1.13-6.03; P = .03), and use of nonabsorbable suture material for biliary reconstruction (OR, 2.45; 95% CI, 1.09-5.54; P = .03).

Conclusions and Relevance

This large, single-center series identified physiologic and anatomical independent risk factors contributing to ABCs after high-acuity LT. Careful consideration of these factors could guide perioperative management and mitigate potentially preventable ABCs.

Biliary Complications After Liver Transplantation From Uncontrolled Donors After Circulatory Death: Incidence, Management, and Outcome

The utilization of livers from donation after uncontrolled circulatory death (uDCD) increases the availability of liver grafts, but it is associated with a higher incidence of biliary complications (BCs) and lower graft survival than those organs donated after brain death. From January 2006 to December 2016, we performed 75 orthotopic liver transplantations (OLTs) using uDCD livers. To investigate the relationship of BCs with the use of uDCD OLT, we compared patients who developed BCs (23 patients) with those who did not (non-BC group, 43 patients) after excluding cases of hepatic artery thrombosis (a known cause of BC) and primary nonfunction. The groups had similar uDCD donor maintenance, donor and recipient characteristics, and perioperative morbidity/mortality rates, but we observed a higher rate of hepatocellular carcinoma and hepatitis C virus in the non-BC group. Percutaneous transhepatic biliary dilation, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography dilation, Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy (HJ), a T-tube, and retransplantation were used for BC management. In the BC group, 1-, 3-, and 5-year patient survival rates were 91.3%, 69.6%, and 65.2%, respectively, versus 77.8%, 72.9%, and 72.9%, respectively, in the non-BC group (P = 0.89). However, 1-, 3-, and 5-year graft survival rates were 78.3%, 60.9%, and 56.5%, respectively, in the BC group versus 77.8%, 72.9%, and 72.9%, respectively, in the non-BC group (P = 0.38). Multivariate analysis did not indicate independent risk factors for BC development. In conclusion, patient and graft survival rates were generally lower in patients who developed BCs but not significantly so. These complications were managed in the majority of patients through radiological dilation, endoscopic dilation, or Roux-en-Y HJ. Retransplantation is necessary in rare cases after the failure of biliary dilation or surgical procedures.

Predictors of Biliary Strictures After Liver Transplantation Among Recipients of DCD (Donation After Cardiac Death) Grafts

INTRODUCTION

Biliary strictures are a common complication among donation after cardiac death (DCD) liver transplantation (LT) recipients and may require multiple endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) procedures. We evaluated the risk factors associated with development of biliary strictures in DCD LT recipients.

METHODS

DCD LT recipients who underwent transplantation from 2012 to 2017 were divided into 2 groups: (a) those with anastomotic or non-anastomotic biliary strictures who required ERCP ("stricture group") and (b) those who did not require ERCP or had cholangiograms without evidence of biliary strictures ("non-stricture group"). Clinical data, cholangiograms and laboratory values at day 0 and day 7 after LT were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

Forty-nine of the 100 DCD LT recipients underwent ERCP. Thirty-four of these 49 LT recipients had evidence of anastomotic or non-anastomotic biliary strictures (stricture group), while the remaining 66 LT recipients comprised the non-stricture group. Donor age was significantly higher in stricture group compared to non-stricture group (49.2 ± 1.8 vs 42.8 ± 1.57 years, respectively; p = 0.01). The stricture group had a significantly higher total bilirubin at day 0 (3.5 ± 0.37 vs 2.6 ± 0.21 mg/dL; p = 0.02) and INR at day 7 (1.24 ± 0.06 vs 1.13 ± 0.01; p = 0.048) compared to the non-stricture group. Multi-variate analysis demonstrated significant association between biliary strictures and total bilirubin at day 0 of LT and age of donor.

CONCLUSION

Biliary strictures occur frequently in DCD LT recipients and may be associated with older age of donor. Hyperbilirubinemia immediately after transplant and higher INR in the first 7 days after transplant may predict subsequent development of biliary strictures.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography and percutaneous transhepatic cholangiodrainage in biliary strictures after liver transplantation: Long-term outcome predictors and influence on patient survival

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Biliary strictures are common complications after orthotopic liver transplantation. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography evolved as standard and percutaneous transhepatic cholangiodrainage as alternative therapy. This study analysed predictors of long-term success of biliary strictures after endoscopic retrograde cholangiography and/or percutaneous transhepatic cholangiodrainage and its impact on patient survival.

METHODS

All adult patients with biliary strictures receiving endoscopic retrograde cholangiography and/or percutaneous transhepatic cholangiodrainage between 2009 and 2015 at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf were retrospectively analysed. Potential predictors of long-term success (≥12 months) were identified by univariate and logistic regression analyses. Patient survival was analysed by Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test.

RESULTS

Hundred and sixteen patients were treated with endoscopic retrograde cholangiography and/or percutaneous transhepatic cholangiodrainage, including 67 patients with anastomotic strictures, 22 with nonanastomotic strictures and 27 with both stricture types. Eighty-five patients received endoscopic retrograde cholangiography, 17 percutaneous transhepatic cholangiodrainage and 14 both techniques. Long-term success was achieved in 60 patients (52%). Predictors of treatment failure were a preinterventional C-reactive protein >8 g/dL in anastomotic strictures (P = 0.039) and a body mass index ≤21 kg/m² in nonanastomotic strictures (P = 0.021). In patients who received endoscopic retrograde cholangiography only, balloon dilatation of anastomotic strictures with larger diameters favoured success (P = 0.015). Achievement of long-term success was associated with prolonged patient survival in anastomotic strictures (P = 0.036) and nonanastomotic strictures (P = 0.025), but not in combined strictures (P = 0.739).

CONCLUSION

In post-orthotopic liver transplantation biliary strictures treated by endoscopic retrograde cholangiography and/or percutaneous transhepatic cholangiodrainage, patient BMI and preinterventional C-reactive protein may influence prognosis. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography with larger balloon diameter may favour success in anastomotic strictures. Long-term success by endoscopic retrograde cholangiography and/or percutaneous transhepatic cholangiodrainage is associated with superior survival in patients with anastomotic strictures and nonanastomotic strictures only.

Enhanced Recovery in Liver Transplantation: A Feasibility Study

BACKGROUND

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) programmes after surgery are effective in reducing length of stay, functional recovery and complication rates in liver surgery (LS) with the indirect advantage of reducing hospitalisation costs. Preoperative comorbidities, challenging surgical procedures and complex post-operative management are the points that liver transplantation (LT) shares with LS. Nevertheless, there is little evidence regarding the feasibility and safety of ERAS programmes in LT.

METHODS

We designed a pilot, small-scale, feasibility study to assess the impact on hospital stay, protocol compliance and safety of an ERAS programme tailored for LT. The ERAS arm was compared with a 1:2 match paired control arm with similar characteristics. All patients with MELD <25 were included. A dedicated LT-tailored protocol was derived from publications on ERAS liver surgery.

RESULTS

Ten patients were included in the Fast-Trans arm. It was observed a 47% reduction of the total LOS, as compared to the control arm: 9.5 (9.0-10.5) days versus 18.0 (14.3-24.3) days, respectively, p <0.001. The protocol achieved 72.9% compliance. No differences were observed in terms of post-operative complications or readmission rates after discharge between the two arms. Overall, it was observed a reduction of length of stay in ICU and surgical ward in the Fast-Trans arm compared with the control arm.

CONCLUSION

Considered the main points in common between LS and LT, this small-scale study suggests that the application of an ERAS programme tailored to the LT setting is feasible. Further testing will be appropriate to generalise these findings.

Vascular and Biliary Complications Following Deceased Donor Liver Transplantation: A Meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To assess biliary and vascular complications after liver transplantations (LTs) sourced from deceased donors.

METHODS

This study reviewed potentially relevant English-language articles gathered from PubMed and Medline published from 2012 to 2017. One additional study was carried out using our institution's database for articles published from 2013 to 2017. Biliary and vascular complications from adult patients receiving their first deceased-donor LT were included. This meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager version 5.2 (Cochrane Collaboration, Copenhagen, Denmark) and the study quality was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.

RESULTS

Ten studies met our inclusion criteria. Heterogeneity in donation after cardiac death (DCD) and donation after brain death (DBD) recipients was observed and minimized after pooling a subgroup analysis. This latter analysis focused on biliary stricture, biliary leaks and stones, and vascular thrombosis and stenosis. Meta-analyses showed that patients receiving DCD organs have a greatly increased risk of biliary complications compared to those receiving DBD organs, particularly the following: biliary leaks and stones (odds ratio [OR] = 1.69, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.22-2.34); and biliary stricture (OR = 1.58, 95% CI 1.21-2.06). DCD grafts tended to be but were not significantly associated with DBD regarding vascular thrombosis (OR = 1.62, 95% CI 1.05-2.50), and the risk of vascular stenosis in DCD grafts was not statistically significant (OR = 1.25, 95% CI, .70-2.25).

CONCLUSION

DCD was associated with an increased risk of biliary complications after LT, tended to indicate an increased risk of vascular thrombosis versus, and was not associated with an increased risk of vascular stenosis compared to DBD. There was no significant difference between the grafts.

The effect of Share 35 on biliary complications: An interrupted time series analysis

The purpose of the Share 35 allocation policy was to improve liver transplant waitlist mortality, targeting high MELD waitlisted patients. However, policy changes may also have unintended consequences that must be balanced with the primary desired outcome. We performed an interrupted time series assessing the impact of Share 35 on biliary complications in a select national liver transplant population using the Vizient CDB/RM database. Liver transplants that occurred between October 2012 and September 2015 were included. There was a significant change in the incident-rate of biliary complications between Pre-Share 35 (n = 3018) and Post-Share 35 (n = 9984) cohorts over time (P = .023, r²  = .44). As a control, a subanalysis was performed throughout the same time period in Region 9 transplant centers, where a broad sharing agreement had previously been implemented. In the subanalysis, there was no change in the incident-rate of biliary complications between the two time periods. Length of stay and mean direct cost demonstrated a change after implementation of Share 35, although they did not meet statistical difference. While the target of improved waitlist mortality is of utmost importance for the equitable allocation of organs, unintended consequences of policy changes should be studied for a full assessment of a policy's impact.

Patient and Graft Survival: Biliary Complications after Liver Transplantation

BACKGROUND

Biliary complications (BCs) affect up to to 34% of liver transplant recipients and are a major source of morbidity and cost. This is a 13-year review of BCs after liver transplantation (LT) at a tertiary care center.

STUDY DESIGN

We conducted a single-center retrospective review of our prospective database to assess BCs in adult (aged 18 years or older) liver transplant recipients during a 13-year period (2002 to 2014). Biliary complications were divided into 3 subgroups: leak alone (L), stricture alone (S), and both leak and strictures (LS). Controls (no BCs) were used for comparison.

RESULTS

There were 1,041 adult LTs performed during the study period; BCs developed in 239 (23%) of these patients: 55 (23%) L, 148 (62%) S, and 36 (15%) LS. One hundred and two (43%) were early (less than 30 d). Surgical revision was required in 42 cases (17%) (30 L, 10 LS, and 2 S), while the remaining 197 (83%) were managed nonsurgically (25 L, 26 LS, and 146 S), with a mean of 4.2 interventions/patient. One-, 3-, and 5-year overall patient and graft survival was significantly reduced in patients with bile leaks (84%, 71%, and 68% and 76%, 67%, and 64%, respectively) compared with controls (90%, 84%, and 78% and 88%, 81%, and 76%, respectively [p < 0.05]). Patients with BCs had higher incidence of cholestatic liver disease, higher pre-LT bilirubin, higher use of T-tubes, higher use of donor after cardiac death grafts, and higher rates of acute rejection (p < 0.05). Patients with BCs had longer ICU and hospital stays and higher rates of 30- and 90-day readmissions (p < 0.01). Multivariate analysis identified cholestatic liver disease, Roux-en-Y anastomosis, donor risk index >2, and T-tubes as independent BC predictors.

CONCLUSIONS

Biliary complications after LT can significantly decrease patient and graft survival rates. Careful donor and recipient selection and attention to anastomotic technique can reduce BCs and improve outcomes.

Endoscopic treatment of anastomotic biliary stricture after adult deceased donor liver transplantation with multiple plastic stents versus self-expandable metal stents: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Anastomotic biliary strictures (ABSs) occur in up to 15% of patients after liver transplantation (LT). The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of self-expandable metal stents (SEMS) versus multiple plastic stents (MPS). Databases were searched through April 2017. The outcome measures were technical success, stricture resolution, recurrence and complications. We synthesized the findings descriptively and performed a meta-analysis. Three randomized controlled trials and one retrospective cohort study were identified, including 179 MPS and 119 SEMS patients. Outcome data were pooled in a meta-analysis that showed an advantage of SEMS in terms of the number of ERCP procedures (mean difference: 1.69 ERCP; 95% CI, 1-2.39; P < 0.00001) and treatment days (mean difference: 40.2 days; 95% CI, 3.9-76.4; P = 0.03), with no differences in terms of ABS resolution or recurrence. Fourteen case series reported MPS outcomes and fifteen reported SEMS outcomes, including 647 and 419 patients, respectively. Based on low-quality evidence, we cannot draw any reliable conclusions on the superiority of MPS or SEMS strategies. Even though shorter treatment times and fewer ERCP procedures support the use of SEMS, whether one technique has well-defined advantages over the other remains unclear.

Outcome of liver transplantation in patients with prior bariatric surgery

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is becoming the leading cause of disease resulting in liver transplantation (LT). As a result of this trend, more LT candidates are presenting with prior history of bariatric surgery (BS). Over the last decade, 960 patients underwent LT at our institution; 11 (1.1%) had prior BS. The most common type of BS was Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (n = 9) with 1 sleeve gastrectomy and 1 jejunoileal bypass. A total of 9 patients underwent LT alone, and 2 underwent simultaneous liver-kidney transplantation. The most common indication for LT was nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (n = 10) with 5 having additional diagnosis of alcoholic liver disease. The 30-day reoperation rate was 36.4% (n = 4); indications were bile duct repair (n = 3) and wound repair (n = 1). In the first 6 months after LT, biliary complications were seen in 54.5% (n = 6) of the patients. Both patient and graft survival rates at 1 and 2 years were 81.8% (n = 9) and 72.7% (n = 8), respectively. A total of 8 patients (72.7%) had indications for liver biopsy after LT; significant macrovesicular steatosis was found in 2 (18.2%). In patients with a history of alcohol consumption, 2 (40.0%) relapsed after LT. Two patients (18.2%) had a history of diet-controlled diabetes before LT; 1 of these patients became insulin dependent after LT. Mean body mass index (BMI) at LT was 31.0 ± 5.7 kg/m² . Mean BMI at 1, 6, and 12 months after LT was 28.3 ± 5.8, 28.0 ± 3.2, and 31.0 ± 6.6 kg/m² , respectively. Mean preoperative albumin was 2.6 ± 0.6 mg/dL. Patients showed improvement in albumin after LT, with mean albumin of 2.7 ± 0.6 and 3.2 ± 0.5 mg/dL at 1 and 3 months, respectively. The liver profile was stable after LT, with mean aspartate aminotransferase of 32.9 ± 18.4 and 26.6 ± 19.8 IU/L and alanine aminotransferase of 28.0 ± 17.5 and 30.2 ± 17.0 IU/L at 6 and 12 months, respectively. In conclusion, outcomes of LT patients with prior BS are comparable with other transplant recipients with regards to patient and graft survival and post-LT complication rates. Liver Transplantation 23 1415-1421 2017 AASLD.

Safety and Outcomes in 100 Consecutive Donation After Circulatory Death Liver Transplants Using a Protocol That Includes Thrombolytic Therapy

Donation after circulatory death (DCD) liver transplantation (LT) reportedly yields inferior survival and increased complication rates compared with donation after brain death (DBD). We compare 100 consecutive DCD LT using a protocol that includes thrombolytic therapy (late DCD group) to an historical DCD group (early DCD group n = 38) and a cohort of DBD LT recipients (DBD group n = 435). Late DCD LT recipients had better 1- and 3-year graft survival rates than early DCD LT recipients (92% vs. 76.3%, p = 0.03 and 91.4% vs. 73.7%, p = 0.01). Late DCD graft survival rates were comparable to those of the DBD group (92% vs. 93.3%, p = 0.24 and 91.4% vs. 88.2%, p = 0.62). Re-transplantation occurred in 18.4% versus 1% for the early and late DCD groups, respectively (p = 0.001). Patient survival was similar in all three groups. Ischemic-type biliary lesions (ITBL) occurred in 5%, 3%, and 0.2% for early DCD, late DCD, and DBD groups, respectively, but unlike in the early DCD group, in the late DCD group ITBL was endoscopically managed and resolved in each case. Using a protocol that includes a thrombolytic therapy, DCD LT yielded patient and graft survival rates comparable to DBD LT.

Role of donor hemodynamic trajectory in determining graft survival in liver transplantation from donation after circulatory death donors

Donation after circulatory death (DCD) donors show heterogeneous hemodynamic trajectories following withdrawal of life support. Impact of hemodynamics in DCD liver transplant is unclear, and objective measures of graft viability would ease transplant surgeon decision making and inform safe expansion of the donor organ pool. This retrospective study tested whether hemodynamic trajectories were associated with transplant outcomes in DCD liver transplantation (n = 87). Using longitudinal clustering statistical techniques, we phenotyped DCD donors based on hemodynamic trajectory for both mean arterial pressure (MAP) and peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO₂ ) following withdrawal of life support. Donors were categorized into 3 clusters: those who gradually decline after withdrawal of life support (cluster 1), those who maintain stable hemodynamics followed by rapid decline (cluster 2), and those who decline rapidly (cluster 3). Clustering outputs were used to compare characteristics and transplant outcomes. Cox proportional hazards modeling revealed hepatocellular carcinoma (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.53; P = 0.047), cold ischemia time (HR = 1.50 per hour; P = 0.027), and MAP cluster 1 were associated with increased risk of graft loss (HR = 3.13; P = 0.021), but not SpO₂ cluster (P = 0.172) or donor warm ischemia time (DWIT; P = 0.154). Despite longer DWIT, MAP and SpO₂ clusters 2 showed similar graft survival to MAP and SpO₂ clusters 3, respectively. In conclusion, despite heterogeneity in hemodynamic trajectories, DCD donors can be categorized into 3 clinically meaningful subgroups that help predict graft prognosis. Further studies should confirm the utility of liver grafts from cluster 2. Liver Transplantation 22 1469-1481 2016 AASLD.

Risk analysis of ischemic-type biliary lesions after liver transplant using octogenarian donors

The use of octogenarian donors to increase the donor pool in liver transplantation (LT) is controversial because advanced donor age is associated with a higher risk of ischemic-type biliary lesions (ITBL). The aim of this study was to investigate retrospectively the role of a number of different pre-LT risk factors for ITBL in a selected population of recipients of octogenarian donor grafts. Between January 2003 and December 2013, 123 patients underwent transplantation at our institution with deceased donor grafts from donors of age ≥80 years. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on the presence of ITBL in the posttransplant course. Exclusion criteria were retransplantations, presence of vascular complications, and no availability of procurement liver biopsy. A total of 88 primary LTs were included, 73 (83.0%) with no posttransplant ITBLs and 15 (17.0%) with ITBLs. The median follow-up after LT was 2.1 years (range, 0.7-5.4 years). At multivariate analysis, donor hemodynamic instability (hazard ratio [HR], 7.6; P = 0.005), donor diabetes mellitus (HR, 9.5; P = 0.009), and donor age-Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (HR, 1.0; P = 0.04) were risk factors for ITBL. Transplantation of liver grafts from donors of age ≥80 years is associated with a higher risk for ITBL. However, favorable results can be achieved with accurate donor selection. Donor hemodynamic instability, a donor history of diabetes mellitus, and allocation to higher Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score recipient all increase the risk of ITBL and are associated with worse graft survival when octogenarian donors are used. Liver Transplantation 22 588-598 2016 AASLD.

Impact of donor age in liver transplantation from donation after circulatory death donors: A decade of experience at Cleveland Clinic

The use of liver grafts from donation after circulatory death (DCD) donors remains controversial, particularly with donors of advanced age. This retrospective study investigated the impact of donor age in DCD liver transplantation. We examined 92 recipients who received DCD grafts and 92 matched recipients who received donation after brain death (DBD) grafts at Cleveland Clinic from January 2005 to June 2014. DCD grafts met stringent criteria to minimize risk factors in both donors and recipients. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year graft survival in DCD recipients was significantly inferior to that in DBD recipients (82%, 71%, 66% versus 92%, 87%, 85%, respectively; P = 0.03). Six DCD recipients (7%), but no DBD recipients, experienced ischemic-type biliary stricture (P = 0.01). However, the incidence of biliary stricture was not associated with donor age (P = 0.57). Interestingly, recipients receiving DCD grafts from donors who were <45 years of age (n = 55) showed similar graft survival rates compared to those receiving DCD grafts from donors who were ≥45 years of age (n = 37; 80%, 69%, 66% versus 83%, 72%, 66%, respectively; P = 0.67). Cox proportional hazards modeling in all study populations (n = 184) revealed advanced donor age (P = 0.05) and the use of a DCD graft (P = 0.03) as unfavorable factors for graft survival. Logistic regression analysis showed that the risk of DBD graft failure increased with increasing age, but the risk of DCD graft failure did not increase with increasing age (P = 0.13). In conclusion, these data suggest that stringent donor and recipient selection may ameliorate the negative impact of donor age in DCD liver transplantation. DCD grafts should not be discarded because of donor age, per se, and could help expand the donor pool for liver transplantation.

The role of liver transplantation or resection for patients with early hepatocellular carcinoma

Liver resection (LR) and liver transplantation (LT) are curative treatments for early hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), although their performance remains debated. We compared the survival of patients with HCC conforming to the Milan criteria (MC) after LT and LR and analyzed factors affecting clinical outcomes. Between January 2006 and January 2013, 65 and 184 patients received LT and LR for HCCs fulfilling the MC, respectively. Overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) rates were compared between the two groups. To investigate effects of liver function and living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) on survival, two subgroup analyses were performed and associations with OS and DFS were examined. We found that OS rates were higher after LT than after LR since 3 years postoperatively. DFS rates were significantly better after LT than after LR. Performance of LR, vascular invasion, and tumor multiplicity were associated with poor DFS, and factors affecting OS included the presence of vascular invasions, liver cirrhosis, and tumor multiplicity. In conclusion, despite of the effects of tumor characteristics on clinical outcomes, LT, including LDLT, should be considered the treatment of choice for patients with HCCs who met the MC. The role of LR is to identify poor prognostic factors through pathological examination.

[The results of biliary reconstructions after liver fragments transplantation]

AIM

To analyze the results of repeated reconstructions of choleresis after living related liver fragments transplantation.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study included 268 recipients (145 women and 123 men) aged 5 months - 61 years (mean age 16,11 ± 14,62 years) who underwent liver fragments transplantation in the department of liver transplantation of cad. B.V. Petrovskiy Russian Research Surgery Center from 1997 to 2012. Biliary reconstructions were performed at different terms after transplantation in 37 patients (13.81%). Complications followed repeated reconstructions, the initial conditions for biliary anastomosis formation during transplantation, the results of biliary reconstructions after transplantation were analyzed.

RESULTS

In most cases despite the prevailing complications there is a combination of various biliary complications requiring biliary reconstruction. It was found that live rfragment used for transplantation, type of primary reconstruction of choler sis, number of bile ducts orifices of graft and biliary anastomoses do not demonstrate statistically significant effect on the incidence of post-transplant biliary reconstructions (p>0.05). Poor prognosis in patients with biliary complications required biliary reconstructionsis determined by the development of graft dysfunction. Early reconstruction before development of liver transplant dysfunction is necessary condition of successful treatment. In the case of graft dysfunction liver retransplantation is unique method of treatment.

Biliary Cast Syndrome: Hepatic Artery Resistance Index, Pathological Changes, Morphology and Endoscopic Therapy

BACKGROUND

Biliary cast syndrome (BCS) was a postoperative complication of orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT), and the reason for BSC was considered to relate with ischemic type biliary lesions. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between BCS following OLT and the hepatic artery resistance index (HARI), and to observe pathological changes and morphology of biliary casts.

METHODS

Totally, 18 patients were diagnosed with BCS by cholangiography following OLT using choledochoscope or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. In addition, 36 patients who did not present with BCS in the corresponding period had detectable postoperative HARI on weeks 1, 2, 3 shown by color Doppler flow imaging. The compositions of biliary casts were analyzed by pathological examination and scanning electron microscopy.

RESULTS

HARI values of the BCS group were significantly decreased as compared with the non-BCS group on postoperative weeks 2 and 3 (P < 0.05). Odds ratio (OR) analysis of HARI 1, HARI 2, HARI 3 following the operation was >1 (OR = 1.300; 1.223; and 1.889, respectively). The OR of HARI 3 was statistically significant (OR = 1.889; 95% confidence interval = 1.166-7.490; P = 0.024). The compositions of biliary casts were different when bile duct stones were present. Furthermore, vascular epithelial cells were found by pathological examination in biliary casts.

CONCLUSIONS

HARI may possibly serve as an independent risk factor and early predictive factor of BCS. Components and formation of biliary casts and bile duct stones are different.

A meta-analysis and meta-regression of outcomes including biliary complications in donation after cardiac death liver transplantation

Donation after cardiac death (DCD) liver transplantation is increasingly common but concerns exist over the development of biliary complications and ischemic cholangiopathy (IC). This study aimed to compare outcomes between DCD and donation after brain death (DBD) liver grafts. Studies reporting on post-transplantation outcomes after Maastricht category III DCD liver transplantation were screened for inclusion. Odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals were produced using random-effects models for the incidence of biliary complications, IC, graft and recipient survival. Meta-regression was undertaken to identify between-study predictors of effect size for biliary complications and IC. PROSPERO Record: CRD42012002113. Twenty-five studies with 62 184 liver transplant recipients (DCD = 2478 and DBD = 59 706) were included. In comparison with DBD, there was a significant increase in biliary complications [OR = 2.4 (1.9, 3.1); P < 0.00001] and IC [OR = 10.5 (5.7, 19.5); P < 0.00001] following DCD liver transplantation. In comparison with DBD, at 1 year [OR = 0.7 (0.5, 0.8); P = 0.0002] and 3 years [OR = 0.6 (0.5, 0.8); P = 0.001], there was a significant decrease in graft survival following DCD liver transplantation. At 1 year, there was also a nonsignificant decrease [OR = 0.8 (0.6, 1.0); P = 0.08] and by 3 years a significant decrease [OR = 0.7 (0.5, 1.0); P = 0.04] found in recipient survival following DCD liver transplantation. Eleven factors were entered into meta-regression models, but none explained the variability in effect size between studies. DCD liver transplantation is associated with an increase in biliary complications, IC, graft loss and mortality. Significant unexplained differences in effect size exist between centers.

Functional Implications of Biochemical and Molecular Characteristics of Donation After Circulatory Death Livers

Supplemental digital content is available in the text.

In aggregate, livers donated after circulatory death (DCD) provide lower rates of graft and patient survival compared to brain dead donors (DBD). A method to identify DCD livers likely to perform well would lead to better decision-making regarding which livers to use and which to discard and is an important unmet clinical need. We hypothesized that the ischemic time between extubation and cold perfusion in the donor leads to immediate and unique biochemical and molecular changes that could be used to predict subsequent function.

Iatrogenic-related transplant injuries: the role of the interventional radiologist

As advances in surgical techniques and postoperative care continue to improve outcomes, the use of solid organ transplants as a treatment for end-stage organ disease is increasing. With the growing population of transplant patients, there is an increasing need for radiologic diagnosis and minimally invasive procedures for the management of posttransplant complications. Typical complications may be vascular or nonvascular. Vascular complications include arterial stenosis, graft thrombosis, and development of fistulae. Common nonvascular complications consist of leaks, abscess formation, and stricture development. The use of interventional radiology in the management of these problems has led to better graft survival and lower patient morbidity and mortality. An understanding of surgical techniques, postoperative anatomy, radiologic findings, and management options for complications is critical for proficient management of complex transplant cases. This article reviews these factors for kidney, liver, pancreas, islet cell, lung, and small bowel transplants.