Choledochocholedochostomy conversion to hepaticojejunostomy due to biliary obstruction in liver transplantation

The role of Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy for the management of biliary complications after living donor liver transplantation

INTRODUCTION

Post living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) biliary complications can be troublesome over the post-operative course of patients, especially those with recurrent cholangitis or choledocholithiasis. Thus, in this study, we aimed to evaluate the risks and benefits of Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy (RYHJ) performed after LDLT as a last option to deal with post-LDLT biliary complications.

METHODS

Retrospectively, of the 594 adult LDLTs performed in a single medical center in Changhua, Taiwan from July 2005 to September 2021, 22 patients underwent post-LDLT RYHJ. Indications for RYHJ included choledocholithiasis formation with bile duct stricture, previous intervention failure, and other factors. Restenosis was defined if further intervention was needed to treat biliary complications after RYHJ was performed. Thereafter, patients were categorized into success group (n = 15) and restenosis group (n = 4).

RESULTS

The overall success rate of RYHJ in the management of post-LDLT biliary complications was 78.9% (15/19). Mean follow-up time was 33.4 months. As per our findings, four patients experienced recurrence after RYHJ (21.2%), and mean recurrence time was 12.5 months. Three cases were recorded as hospital mortality (13.6%). Outcome and risk analysis presented no significant differences between the two groups. A higher risk of recurrence tended to be related to patients with ABO incompatible (ABOi).

CONCLUSION

RYHJ served well as either a rescue but definite procedure for recurrent biliary complications or a safe and effective solution to biliary complications after LDLT. A higher risk of recurrence tended to be related to patients with ABOi; however, further research would be needed.

Choledochoduodenostomy continues to be a safe alternative for biliary reconstruction in deceased-donor liver transplantation

Debate continues as to whether choledochoduodenostomy (CDD) can be used instead of Roux-en-Y choledochojejunostomy (CDJ) when duct-to-duct (DTD) is not an option. We hypothesized that CDD and CDJ had similar rates of complications. All deceased-donor liver transplantations from September 2011 to March 2020 were categorized by biliary reconstruction. Primary outcomes were bleeding, bile leak, anastomotic stricture, and cholangitis. Of the 1,086 patients, 812 (74.8%) received a DTD; 225 (20.7%) received a CDD; and 49 (4.5%) received a CDJ. Cholangitis was significantly higher in CDJ compared to DTD and CDD (26.5% vs 6% vs 13.8%, p < 0.0001). When controlling for significant confounders, CDJ had 10.2 higher odds of cholangitis (95% CI 4.4-23.2) compared to DTD, and 3.3 higher odds compared to CDD (95% CI 1.4-7.8). When compared to DTD, CDJ and CDD had significantly lower odds of stricture. CDD continues to be a safe alternative for biliary reconstruction in deceased-donor liver transplantation.

Surgical Duct-to-Duct Reconstruction: an Alternative Approach to Late Biliary Anastomotic Stricture After Deceased Donor Liver Transplantation

BACKGROUND

Bilio-enteric diversion is the current surgical standard in patients after deceased donor liver transplantation (DDLT) with a biliary anastomotic stricture failing interventional treatment and requiring surgical repair. In contrast to this routine, the aim of this study was to show the feasibility and safety of a duct-to-duct biliary reconstruction.

PATIENTS

Between 2012 and 2019, we performed a total of 308 DDLT in 292 adult patients. The overall biliary complication rate was 20.5%. Patients with non-anastomotic or combined strictures were excluded from this analysis. Out of 273 patients after a primary duct-to-duct reconstruction, 20 (7.3%) developed late isolated AS. Seven of these patients failed interventional biliary treatment and required a surgical repair.

RESULTS

Duct-to-duct reconstruction was feasible and successful in all patients. Liver function tests fully normalized and no patient required any form of biliary intervention after surgery. One patient with intraoperative cholangiosepsis was ICU bound for 5 days, and another patient with a subhepatic abscess required percutaneous drainage. There was no perioperative death. The median length of hospital stay was 8 (5-17) days. The median time of follow-up after relaparotomy was 1593 (434-2495) days.

CONCLUSION

Duct-to-duct reconstruction is a feasible and safe option in selected patients requiring surgical repair for isolated AS after DDLT. This approach preserves the biliary anatomy and avoids the potential side effects of a bilio-enteric diversion.

A Review on the Management of Biliary Complications after Orthotopic Liver Transplantation

Orthotopic liver transplantation is the definitive treatment for end-stage liver disease and hepatocellular carcinomas. Biliary complications are the most common complications seen after transplantation, with an incidence of 10-25%. These complications are seen both in deceased donor liver transplant and living donor liver transplant. Endoscopic treatment of biliary complications with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (commonly known as ERCP) has become a mainstay in the management post-transplantation. The success rate has reached 80% in an experienced endoscopist's hands. If unsuccessful with ERCP, percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography can be an alternative therapy. Early recognition and treatment has been shown to improve morbidity and mortality in post-liver transplant patients. The focus of this review will be a learned discussion on the types, diagnosis, and treatment of biliary complications post-orthotopic liver transplantation.

Biliary complications after liver transplantation: old problems and new challenges

Due to a vulnerable blood supply of the bile ducts, biliary complications are a major source of morbidity after liver transplantation (LT). Manifestation is either seen at the anastomotic region or at multiple locations of the donor biliary system, termed as nonanastomotic biliary strictures. Major risk factors include old donor age, marginal grafts and prolonged ischemia time. Moreover, partial LT or living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) and donation after cardiac death (DCD) bear a markedly higher risk of biliary complications. Especially accumulation of several risk factors is critical and should be avoided. Prophylaxis is still a major issue; however no gold standard is established so far, since many risk factors cannot be influenced directly. The diagnostic workup is mostly started with noninvasive imaging studies namely MRI and MRCP, but direct cholangiography still remains the gold standard. Especially nonanastomotic strictures require a multidisciplinary treatment approach. The primary management of anastomotic strictures is mainly interventional. However, surgical revision is finally indicated in a significant number of cases. Using adequate treatment algorithms, a very high success rate can be achieved in anastomotic complications, but in nonanastomotic strictures a relevant number of graft failures are still inevitable.

Is Duct to Duct biliary Anastomosis the Rule in Orthotopic Liver Transplantation?

Biliary complications after Liver Transplantation continue to be the major cause of morbidity in 11-25 % of patients. Biliary complications in patients who underwent orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) at our institute between March 2007 and June 2010 were analyzed retrospectively. 32 patients underwent Deceased Donor Liver Transplantation (DDLT) and in 12 patients Living Donor Liver Transplantation (LDLT) was done. No patients were lost to follow up. Follow up ranged between 4 and 44 months. During the study period, 44 patients underwent orthotopic liver transplantation. Patients were divided into two groups: Biliary Complications group (BC) n = 5 and Non Biliary Complications group (NBC) n = 39. Biliary complications occurred in 15.9 % of patients. Bile leaks accounted for majority of biliary complications. Fifteen variables were analyzed as possible risk factors for biliary complications. Of these, split grafts, duct to duct biliary anastomosis and total blood loss were statistically significant (P < 0.05) for biliary complications. Endoscopic treatment was successful in managing biliary complications in 75 % of patients. Biliary complications are the most common major complications in orthotopic liver transplantation. Significant risk factors are split liver grafts and duct to duct biliary anastomosis. Increased blood loss is a predictor for post operative biliary complications. These complications should be managed by endoscopic interventions. Surgery is indicated following failure of endoscopic interventions.

Biliary reconstruction, its complications and management of biliary complications after adult liver transplantation: a systematic review of the incidence, risk factors and outcome

Biliary reconstruction remains common in postoperative complications after liver transplantation. A systematic search was conducted on the PubMed database and 61 studies of retrospective or prospective institutional data were eligible for this review. The study comprised a total of 14,359 liver transplantations. The overall incidence of biliary stricture was 13%; 12% among deceased donor liver transplantation (DDLT) patients and 19% among living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) recipients. The overall incidence of biliary leakage was 8.2%, 7.8% among DDLT patients and 9.5% among LDLT recipients. An endoscopic strategy is the first choice for biliary complications; 83% of patients with biliary stricture were treated by endoscopic modalities with a success rate of 57% and 38% of patients with leakage were indicated for endoscopic biliary drainage. T-tube placement was not performed in 82% of duct-to-duct reconstruction. The incidence of biliary stricture was 10% with a T-tube and 13% without a T-tube and the incidence of leakage was 5% with a T-tube and 6% without a T-tube. A preceding bile leak and LDLT procedure are accepted risk factors for anastomotic stricture. Biliary complications remain common, which requires further investigation and the refinement of reconstruction techniques and management strategies.

Biliary complications after liver transplantation: A review

After liver transplantation, the prevalence of complications related to the biliary system is 6-35%. In recent years, the diagnosis and treatment of biliary problems has changed markedly. The two standard methods of biliary reconstruction in liver transplant recipients are the duct-to-duct choledochocholedochostomy and the Roux-en-Y-hepaticojejunostomy. Biliary leakage occurs in approximately 5-7% of transplant cases. Leakage from the site of anastomosis, the T-tube exit site and donor or recipient remnant cystic duct is well described. Symptomatic bile leakage should be treated by stenting of the duct by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) or percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTCD). Biliary strictures can occur at the site of the anastomosis (anastomotic stricture; AS) or at other locations in the biliary tree (non-anastomotic strictures; NAS). AS occur in 5-10% of cases and are due to fibrotic healing. Treatment by ERCP or PTCD with dilatation and progressive stenting is successful in the majority of cases. NAS can occur in the context of a hepatic artery thrombosis, or with an open hepatic artery (ischaemic type biliary lesions or ITBL). The incidence is 5-10%. NAS has been associated with various types of injury, e.g. macrovascular, microvascular, immunological and cytotoxic injury by bile salts. Treatment can be attempted with multiple sessions of dilatation and stenting of stenotic areas by ERCP or PTCD. In cases of localized diseased and good graft function, biliary reconstructive surgery is useful. However, a significant number of patients will need a re-transplant. When biliary strictures or ischaemia of the graft are present, stones, casts and sludge can develop.

Biliary strictures following liver transplantation: past, present and preventive strategies

Biliary complications are still the major source of morbidity for liver transplant recipients. The reported incidence of biliary strictures is 5%-15% after deceased donor liver transplantation and 28%-32% after right-lobe live donor surgery. Presentation is usually within the first year, but the incidence is known to increase with longer follow-up. The anastomotic variant is due to technical factors, whereas the nonanastomotic form is due to immunological and ischemic events, which later may lead to graft loss. Endoscopic management of anastomotic strictures achieves a success rate of 70%-100%; it drops to 50%-75% for nonanastomotic strictures with a higher recurrence rate. Results of endoscopic maneuvers are disappointing for biliary strictures after live donor liver transplantation, and the success rate is 60%-75% for anastomotic strictures and 25%-33% for the nonanastomotic variant. Preventive strategies in the cadaveric donor include the standardization of the type of anastomosis and maintenance of a vascularized ductal stump. In right-lobe live donor livers, donor liver duct harvesting also involves a major risk. The concept of high hilar intrahepatic Glissonian dissection, dissecting the artery and the duct as one unit, use of microsurgical techniques for smaller ducts, use of ductoplasty, and flexibility in the performance of double ductal anastomosis are the critical components of the preventive strategies in the recipient. In the case of live donors, judicious use of intraoperative cholangiograms, minimal dissection of the hilar plate, and perpendicular transection of the duct constitute the underlying principals for obtaining a vascularized duct.

Biliary complications following orthotopic liver transplantation. The Hungarian experience

A szerzők összefoglalják a magyar májátültetési program epeúti szövődményeinek jellemzőit. Feltárják az epeúti szövődmények előfordulási gyakoriságát. Elemzik az epeúti szövődmények típusait és azok megoszlását, valamint hatásukat a beteg-, illetve graftvesztésre. Elemzik az irodalomban már ismert rizikófaktorokat a hazai betegpopulációban. Ismertetik az epeúti szövődmények kezelési lehetőségeit. Retrospektív vizsgálat során a betegeket két csoportba osztották aszerint, hogy a májátültetés után kialakult-e epeúti szövődmény, vagy nem, majd a két csoportot összehasonlították számos vizsgált paraméter, valamint a túlélések szempontjából. Az epeúti szövődményes betegeket tovább csoportosították annak alapján, hogy a szövődmény a májátültetés után három hónapon belül vagy később alakult ki. Ezt a két csoportot szintén összehasonlították a fentebb említett kontrollcsoporttal. Egyvariációs összehasonlítások esetén a folytonos adatokat a populáció homogenitásának vizsgálata után (Levene-teszt) kétmintás t -próbával, illetve Mann–Whitney-féle U-teszttel, a kategorikus adatokat χ 2 -próbával, illetve Kaplan–Meier-analízissel vizsgálták. A túlélést Kaplan–Meier-metodikával vizsgálták. Az eredményeket valamennyi statisztikai próbánál akkor tekintették szignifikánsnak, ha a p < 0,05 volt. Eredmények: Epeúti szövődmény a betegek 26%-ában jelent meg, 290 vizsgált beteg közül 76 esetben. A leggyakoribb a szűkület (18%), majd az epecsorgás (9%), a necrosis (6%), végül az ischaemiás típusú epeúti károsodás (3%). Epeúti szövődmények esetén az 5 éves kumulatív túlélés rosszabb (55%), mint ezek hiányában (66%), és a retranszplantációk aránya is magasabb (15%) volt. A leggyakoribb kezelési típusok: intervenciós radiológiai (69%), sebészi (17%), ERCP (14%). Következtetések: Az epeúti szövődmények aránya megfelel a nemzetközi közléseknek, 2002 óta arányuk csökkent. Epeúti szövődmények kialakulásának rizikófaktorai: cholangitis, az arteria hepatica thrombosisa és stenosisa, magas bevitt intraoperatív volumen, valamint az akut rejectio. Korai epeúti szövődmények gyakran társultak a beültetett májgraft kezdeti gyenge működésével (ún. „initial poor function”). A korai epeúti szövődmények felelősek a túlélés csökkenéséért, a késői szövődmények inkább az életminőséget rontják. Az epeúti szövődményes betegeket döntően intervenciós radiológiai módszerekkel kezelték.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography in post-orthotopic liver transplant population with Roux-en-Y biliary reconstruction

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC) is a well-established modality for diagnostic and therapeutic maneuvers in pancreaticobiliary disorders. However, it is technically more challenging in patients with postsurgical anatomy like Roux-en-Y anastomoses. Its effectiveness in post-orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) patients with Roux-en-Y biliary reconstruction has not been reported. We sought to assess the efficacy and safety of ERC in this patient population. A total of 132 OLTs with Roux-en-Y biliary reconstruction were performed at our institution from June 1998 to August 2005. Data from consenting patients who underwent ERC were reviewed once they were identified through computerized medical index system. Of 132 OLT patients with Roux-en-Y biliary reconstruction, 31 patients (9 female and 22 male subjects ranging in age from 11 months to 70 years) underwent ERC. The indication for liver transplant was end-stage liver disease or occurrence of cholangiocarcinoma from primary sclerosing cholangitis in 28 patients and a case each of chronic hepatitis C, alcoholic liver disease, and metastatic islet cell carcinoma. A variable-stiffness pediatric colonoscope was used in most cases. ERC indications were both diagnostic and therapeutic and included the following: evaluation of increased liver biochemistries and fever in 12 patients, dilation of anastomotic biliary strictures in 10 patients, removal of fractured biliary tube or retained biliary stent in 6 patients, and in 1 patient each, biliary stone removal, management of bile leak, and jejunal tube extension placement for nutritional purpose. ERC was successful in 22 patients (71%). There were no postprocedural complications. Although ERC is technically more difficult and time-consuming in OLT patients with Roux-en-Y anastomoses, these data suggest that ERC is an effective and safe diagnostic and therapeutic modality with few or no complications when performed by experienced endoscopists. ERC was successful in most patients and allowed therapeutic interventions that obviated the need for percutaneous radiological intervention or surgery.

Biliodigestive Anastomosis in Liver Transplantation: Review of 13 Years

Hepaticojejunostomy is a good alternative technique for biliary reconstruction in liver transplantation. Among 517 liver transplants performed between March 1992 and July 2005, 33 involved hepaticojejunostomy, namely, 18 men and 12 women of average age: 44.8 years. The main cause for this technique was retransplant (n = 10), secondary biliary cirrhosis (n = 5), alcoholic cirrhosis (n = 5), HCV cirrhosis (n = 2), primary biliary cirrhosis (n = 1), cryptogenic cirrhosis (n = 1), sclerosing cholangitis (n = 3), fulminant liver failure (n = 1), autoimmune cirrhosis (n = 1), and insulinoma metastasis (n = 1). Choledochojejunostomy was performed for all Roux-en-Y loops, with an average cold ischemia time of 361.16 minutes (180-780). The biliary complications were biliary fistula in four cases (13.3%), including two who required surgery; stenosis of the anastomosis in two cases (6.6%) including one diagnosed by HIDA that resolved with medical treatment and the other, diagnosed by cholangio-MRI, requiring a new hepaticojejunostomy; and biliary peritonitis in three cases (10%), all of whom required surgery. The vascular complications were thrombosis of the hepatic artery (n = 1), which required retransplantation, and pseudoaneurysm of hepatic artery (n = 1). No biliary complications occurred. The 6-month patient survival was 80% and the 6-month graft survival was 77%; no patient died due to biliary complications. Hepaticojejunostomy is a technique with higher morbidity than choledocho-choledochostomy, but it is the best alternative when the latter is not possible.

Anastomotic biliary strictures after liver transplantation: causes and consequences

We retrospectively studied the prevalence, presentation, results of treatment, and graft and patient survival of grafts developing an anastomotic biliary stricture (AS) in 531 adult liver transplantations performed between 1979 and 2003. Clinical and laboratory information was obtained from the hospital files, and radiological studies were re-evaluated. Twenty-one possible risk factors for the development of AS (variables of donor, recipient, surgical procedure, and postoperative course) were analyzed in a univariate and stepwise multivariate model. Forty-seven grafts showed an anastomotic stricture: 42 in duct-to-duct anastomoses, and 5 in hepaticojejunal Roux-en-Y anastomoses. The cumulative risk of AS after 1, 5, and 10 years was 6.6%, 10.6%, and 12.3% respectively. Postoperative bile leakage (P = 0.001), a female donor/male recipient combination (P = 0.010), and the era of transplantation (P = 0.006) were independent risk factors for the development of an AS. In 47% of cases, additional (radiologically minor) nonanastomotic strictures were diagnosed. All patients were successfully treated by 1 or more treatment modalities. As primary treatment, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticography (ERCP) was successful in 24 of 36 (67%) cases and percutaneous transhepatic cholangiodrainage in 4 of 11 (36%). In the end 15 patients (32%) were operated, all with long-term success. AS presenting more than 6 months after transplantation needed more episodes of stenting by ERCP, and more stents per episode compared to those presenting within 6 months and recurred more often. Graft and patient survival were not impaired by AS.

Changes of duplex parameters and splenic size in liver transplant recipients during a long period of observation

AIM: To assess the changes of portal and arterial velocities, resistance index, spleen and liver size during a long observation period (13.7 years) after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT).

METHODS: Two hundred and sixty patients were recruited retrospectively for this study and divided into groups with defined time intervals after OLT. The cross-sectional changes of portal and arterial velocities, resistance index, spleen and liver size between the defined time intervals were studied. The complications detected by ultrasound were compared to gold standard methods.

RESULTS: The mean values for liver size were all within the normal range. The splenic size decreased between the time intervals 100 and 1 000 d after OLT (t; P<0.01). While portal and arterial flow velocities decreased up to 5.5 years (t; portal velocity P<0.01, maximal systolic velocity P = 0.05, maximal end diastolic velocity P<0.01), RI increased during this interval (t: P<0.01). Higher RI values were found in older patients (r = 0.24, P<0.001).

CONCLUSION: The arterial and portal velocities show adaptation processes continuing over the course of many years after OLT and are reported for the first time. The vascular complications detected by ultrasound occur mostly up to 100 d after OLT.

Bile duct complications after liver transplantation

Complications involving the biliary tract after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) have been a common problem since the early beginning of this technique. Biliary complications have been reported to occur at a relatively constant rate of approximately 10-15% of all deceased donor full size OLTs. There is a wide range of potential biliary complications which can occur after OLT. Their incidence varies according to the type of graft, type of donor, and the type of biliary anastomosis performed. The spectrum of biliary complications has changed over the past decade because of the establishment of split liver, reduced-size, and living donor liver transplantation. Apart from technical developments, novel diagnostic methods have been introduced and evaluated in OLT, the most prominent being magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Treatment modalities have also changed over the past years towards a primarily nonoperative, endoscopy-based strategy, leaving the surgical intervention for lesions which otherwise are not curable. The management of biliary complications after OLT requires a multidisciplinary approach. Conservative, interventional, and endoscopic treatment options have to be weighed up against surgical re-intervention. In the following the spectrum of specific bile duct complications after OLT and their treatment options will be reviewed.

Liver transplantation using organs from donors older than 60 years

At present, it is frequently accepted to expand the organ pool for liver transplantation (LTx) by including livers from critical donors. From 1990 to June 2002 a total of 1,208 LTx were performed. Of those, 67 livers from donors older than 60 years were transplanted to 66 patients, including re-LTx in eight patients. Fourteen patients had malignant diseases (21%). Ten patients had a high urgency status (15%). Median donor age was 65 years (range 61-80 years). Primary graft function was observed in 84%. Patient survival rate at 1 and 5 years was 79% and 62%, and graft survival was 68% and 53%, respectively. No difference was observed in LTx with livers from donors younger than 60 years. Fifteen graft losses occurred during the study. Surgical complications were observed in 23 patients (34%). The outcome of LTx with livers from donors older than 60 years is satisfactory and is comparable to results of LTx with livers from donors younger than 60 years. The frequency of vascular complications and cholestasis syndrome is not increased.

Diagnosing biliary complications of orthotopic liver transplantation with mangafodipir trisodium-enhanced MR cholangiography: comparison with conventional MR cholangiography

OBJECTIVE

This study was designed to determine whether the addition of mangafodipir trisodium-enhanced MRI could improve the image quality, visualization of ductal structures, and diagnostic confidence provided by conventional T2-based MR cholangiography (MRC) in patients with suspected biliary complications after orthotopic liver transplantation. SUBJECTS AND METHODS. Our study group consisted of 25 consecutive patients who were referred for MR evaluation of clinically suspected biliary complications after orthotopic liver transplantation. Conventional MRC in the axial and coronal planes was performed in each patient, followed by fat-suppressed volumetric gradient-echo imaging in the same planes both before and after the IV administration of mangafodipir trisodium. Imaging was performed in all patients until the contrast agent was seen in the bowel. Images were then graded for quality, visualization of bile ducts and anastomoses, presence of significant stricture or leak, and level of diagnostic confidence.

RESULTS

Mangafodipir trisodium-enhanced MRC tended to outperform conventional MRC in overall image quality and extrahepatic duct visualization; it was also more effective in delineating biliary anastomoses, and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.001). All 25 enhanced examinations were considered diagnostic. Diagnostic confidence was scored as poor or lacking in 14 of the conventional MRC examinations for biliary stenosis and in 12 examinations for biliary leak.

CONCLUSION

Enhancement with mangafodipir trisodium improves the performance of MRC for the detection and exclusion of biliary abnormalities after orthotopic liver transplantation. Future investigations should compare the performance of mangafodipir trisodium-enhanced MRC with the performance of more invasive techniques.

Biliary complications in adult living donor liver transplantation with duct-to-duct hepaticocholedochostomy or Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy biliary reconstruction

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to compare the incidence of biliary complications after adult living donor liver transplantation (ALDLT) with Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy (R-Y HJ) or duct-to-duct hepaticocholedochostomy (D-D HC).

METHODS

Biliary complications were reviewed in 20 consecutive ALDLT recipients surviving more than 1 month, including 10 patients who underwent R-Y HJ and 10 patients who underwent D-D HC reconstructions.

RESULTS

Ten biliary complications were seen in 8 patients (40%) from the study group. Specifically, 1 case of biliary leakage and 1 case of biliary hemorrhage were observed in the R-Y HJ group (20%), and 2 biliary leakages, 4 biliary strictures, and 2 C-tube related biliary leakages were seen in 6 patients from the D-D HC group (60%). Three of the 5 patients (60%) who underwent right lobe graft ALDLTs experienced biliary stricture. All cases of biliary leakage and biliary hemorrhage were stopped spontaneously by continuous drainage. Three patients in the D-D HC group with anastomotic strictures were successfully treated with percutaneous interventions. Only 1 patient with anastomotic stricture in the D-D HC group with left lobe graft required intrahepatic R-Y HJ reanastomosis. Two cases of C-tube related biliary leakages were treated with endoscopic management.

CONCLUSIONS

Biliary complications such as anastomotic strictures were common in the D-D HC group rather than in the R-Y HJ group. D-D HC reconstruction should be applied cautiously, especially in the right lobe graft ALDLT cases.

Biliary Complications After Liver Transplantation

The incidence of biliary complications after liver transplant is estimated to be 8% to 20%. Post-liver transplant biliary complications may lead to acute and chronic liver injury. The early recognition and prompt treatment of such complications improves the long-term survival of the patient and graft. An understanding of the type of biliary reconstruction, the rationale for creating a particular anastomosis, and the technical difficulties in reconstructing the biliary tract are important in assessing and managing complications after liver transplant. Because the clinical presentation of these patients may be subtle, the physician must be aggressive and thoughtful in ordering and interpreting the diagnostic tests. Important points to remember are 1) that noninvasive examinations may fail to detect small obstructions or leaks, 2) a liver biopsy often is performed prior to cholangiography to exclude rejection and ischemia, and 3) the liver biopsy can miss an extrahepatic obstruction by misinterpreting portal inflammation as rejection. Biliary leaks and strictures are the most common biliary complications following liver transplant. Less common complications include ampullary dysfunction and stone/sludge formation. The effective management of biliary complications following a liver transplant depends on understanding the natural history, the prognosis, and the available therapeutic options for each type of complication.