The role of T-tubes and abdominal drains on short-term outcomes in liver transplantation - A systematic review of the literature and expert panel recommendations

Liver transplantation: Do not abandon T-tube drainage-a multicentric retrospective study of the ARCHET research group

Biliary complications remain a real issue in liver transplantation (LT). Despite meta-analyses, the anastomosis technique, especially the use of biliary drain as T-Tube drain (TT) or transcystic drain, remains controversial. This study conducted by the ARCHET research group examine the incidence and types of biliary complications (BC) after LT according to the presence or absence of a biliary drain. 1485 patients with LT surgery between 2009 to 2015 in 4 LT centers were included, divided into 3 groups: no drain (ND n = 442), transcystic drain (TCD, n = 169) and TT(n = 874).The T-Tube group includes 3 techniques: transanastomotic, subanastomotic and tunneled retroperitoneal. Fistula and biliary stricture (AS) rates were studied. The risk factors of BC were investigated by multivariate analysis. The BC rate was lower in the TT group (17% TT, 25% TCD, 31% ND, p < 0.05), the complication rate Dindo-Clavien grade ≥ III is higher in the ND group (24% vs. 10% TT p < 0.05). Arterial complication has been found as a risk factor of BC with the multivariate analysis (p < 0.01, OR 1.86 [1.20-2.84]). In addition, the TT decreased by 5 the risk of AS (p < 0.05, OR 0.19 [0.12-0.28]). The fistula rate does not differ regardless of the reconstruction mode. In this study, biliary drain decreases the rate of BC. The findings confirmed the role of T-tube insertion in prevention of AS regardless of the way it is set up.

Consensus document from the Spanish Society for Liver Transplantation: enhanced recovery after liver transplantation

The goal of the Spanish Society for Liver Transplantation (La Sociedad Española de Trasplante Hepático) is to promote and create consensus documents about current topics in liver transplantation with a multidisciplinary approach. To this end, in November 2022, the 10th Consensus Document Meeting was held, with the participation of experts from the 26 authorized Spanish liver transplantation programs. This edition discusses Enhanced Recovery After Liver Transplantation, dividing needed actions into three periods: preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative. The evaluated evidence and the consensus conclusions for each of these topics are described.

[Potential risk to patient safety by discontinuation of production of classical T-drains? : Nationwide survey in Germany and statement of the surgical working group for liver, gall bladder and pancreatic diseases (CALGP) of the German Society for General and Visceral Surgery (DGAV)]

The revision of the medical device regulation (MDR) legislation by the European Union and supplementations by the member states has been implemented for good reasons but causes dramatic side effects. It is no longer allowed to produce some rarely used medical devices by various manufacturers that have been successfully used for decades. Before production, a new application to the MDR would be necessary, which is not a realistic business case for companies producing rarely used devices. This problem currently relates to the Kehr T‑drain made from soft rubber or latex that has been in use since the late nineteenth century. A surgically placed T‑drain, although rarely necessary nowadays, is still in use worldwide for special indications in an attempt to avoid severe complications. These special indications include complex hepato-pancreato-biliary (HPB) procedures and perforations of the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract where T‑drains may be used to secure the hepatojejunostomy or to create a stable fistula. The HPB working group (CALGP) of the German Society of General and Visceral Surgery (DGAV) provides a statement from a surgical perspective on this matter after a survey of all its members. Politics should be very careful not to generalize when implementing useful new regulations at a European and national level. Established and comprehensible treatment concepts should not be restricted and exemption permits should be quickly granted in these cases because the discontinuation of these niche products may lead to potential patient safety issues and even fatalities.

Enhanced recovery for liver transplantation: recommendations from the 2022 International Liver Transplantation Society consensus conference

There is much controversy regarding enhanced recovery for recipients of liver transplants from deceased and living donors. The objectives of this Review were to summarise current knowledge on individual enhanced recovery elements on short-term outcomes, identify key components for comprehensive pathways, and create internationally accepted guidelines on enhanced recovery for liver-transplant recipients. The ERAS4OLT.org collaborative partnered by the International Liver Transplantation Society performed systematic literature reviews on the effect of 32 relevant enhanced perioperative recovery elements on short-term outcomes, and global specialists prepared expert statements on deceased and living donor liver transplantation. The Grading Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations approach was used for rating of quality of evidence and grading of recommendations. A virtual international consensus conference was held in January, 2022, in which results were presented, voted on by the audience, and discussed by an independent international jury of eight members, applying the Danish model of consensus. 273 liver transplantation specialists from 30 countries prepared expert statements on elements of enhanced recovery for liver transplantation based on the systematic literature reviews. The consensus conference yielded 80 final recommendations, covering aspects of enhanced recovery for preoperative assessment and optimisation, intraoperative surgical and anaesthetic conduct, and postoperative management for the recipients of liver transplants from both deceased and living donors, and for the living donor. The recommendations represent a comprehensive overview of the relevant elements and areas of enhanced recovery for liver transplantation. These internationally established guidelines could direct the development of enhanced recovery programmes worldwide, allowing adjustments according to local resources and practices.