Biliary tract reconstruction with or without T-tube in orthotopic liver transplantation: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Application of cholecystic duct plasty in the prevention of biliary complications following orthotopic liver transplantation

Background

The purpose was aimed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of cholecystic duct plasty (CDP) and biliary reconstruction techniques preventing biliary complications following orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) first proposed by our center.

Methods

127 enrolled patients who underwent LT in our center from January 2015 to December 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. According to the mode of biliary tract reconstruction, patients were divided into CDP group (Group 1, n = 53) and control group (Group 2, n = 74). The differences of perioperative general data, biliary complications and long-term prognosis between two groups were compared and analyzed.

Results

All patients completed the operation successfully, the incidence of perioperative complications was 22.8%. There was no significant difference in perioperative general data and complications between the two groups. Follow-up ended in June 2020, with a median follow-up period of 31 months. During the follow-up period, biliary complications occurred in 26 patients, with an overall incidence of 20.5%. The overall incidence of biliary complications and anastomotic stenosis in Group 1 was lower than that in Group 2 (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in overall prognosis between the two groups (P = 0.274), however, the cumulative incidence of biliary complications in Group 1 was lower than that in Group 2 (P = 0.035).

Conclusion

Reconstruction of common bile duct by CDP represents considerable safety and practicability, particularly for patients with small diameter of common bile duct or wide discrepancy of bile duct size between donor and recipient.

Biodegradable biliary stents coated with mesenchymal stromal cells in a porcine choledochojejunostomy model

BACKGROUND AIMS

Roux en y anastomosis is a preferred method of biliary reconstruction in liver transplantation that involves living donors or pediatric patients. However, biliary stricture is a frequent and serious complication, accounting for up to 40% of biliary complications in these patients. Previously, we demonstrated that extraluminal delivery of adipose-derived (AD) mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) decreased peri-biliary fibrosis and increased neo-angiogenesis in a porcine model of duct-to-duct biliary anastomosis. In this study, we used a porcine model of Roux en y anastomosis to evaluate the beneficial impact of a novel intraluminal MSC delivery system.

METHODS

Nine animals were divided into three groups: no stent (group 1), bare stent (group 2) and stent coated with AD-MSCs (group 3). All animals underwent cholecystectomy with roux en y choledochojejunostomy. Two animals per group were followed for 4 weeks and one animal per group was followed for 8 weeks. Cholangiograms and blood were sampled at baseline and the end of study. Biliary tissue was collected and examined by Masson trichrome staining and immunohistochemical staining for MSC markers (CD34 and CD44) and for neo-angiogenesis (CD31).

RESULTS

Two of three animals in group 1 developed an anastomotic site stricture. No strictures were observed in the animals of group 2 or group 3. CD34 and CD44 staining showed that AD-MSCs engrafted successfully at the anastomotic site by intraluminal delivery (group 3). Furthermore, biliary tissue from group 3 showed significantly less fibrosis and increased angiogenesis compared with the other groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Intraluminal delivery of AD-MSCs resulted in successful biliary engraftment of AD-MSCs as well as reduced peri-biliary fibrosis and increased neo-angiogenesis.

Biliary and Vascular Complications after Liver Transplantation-From Diagnosis to Treatment

The last decades have brought impressive advances in liver transplantation. As a result, there was a notable rise in the number of liver transplants globally. Advances in surgical techniques, immunosuppressive therapies and radiologically guided treatments have led to an improvement in the prognosis of these patients. However, the risk of complications remains significant, and the management of liver transplant patients requires multidisciplinary teams. The most frequent and severe complications are biliary and vascular complications. Compared to vascular complications, biliary complications have higher incidence rates but a better prognosis. The early diagnosis and selection of the optimal treatment are crucial to avoid the loss of the graft and even the death of the patient. The development of minimally invasive techniques prevents surgical reinterventions with their associated risks. Liver retransplantation remains the last therapeutic solution for graft dysfunction, one of the main problems, in this case, being the low number of donors.

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

BACKGROUND

This systematic review and expert panel recommendation aims to answer the question regarding the routine use of T-tubes or abdominal drains to better manage complications and thereby improve outcomes after liver transplantation.

METHODS

Systematic review following PRISMA guidelines and recommendations using the GRADE approach derived from an international expert panel to assess the potential risks and benefits of T-tubes and intra-abdominal drainage in liver transplantation (CRD42021243036).

RESULTS

Of the 2996 screened records, 33 studies were included in the systematic review, of which 29 (six RCTs) assessed the use of T-tubes and four regarding surgical drains. Although some studies reported less strictures when using a T-tube, there was a trend toward more biliary complications with T-tubes, mainly related to biliary leakage. Due to the small number of studies, there was a paucity of evidence on the effect of abdominal drains with no clear benefit for or against the use of drainage. However, one study investigating the open vs. closed circuit drains found a significantly higher incidence of intra-abdominal infections when open-circuit drains were used.

CONCLUSIONS

Due to the potential risk of biliary leakage and infections, the routine intraoperative insertion of T-tubes is not recommended (Level of Evidence moderate - very low; grade of recommendation strong). However, a T-tube can be considered in cases at risk for biliary stenosis. Due to the scant evidence on abdominal drainage, no change in clinical practice in individual centers is recommended. (Level of Evidence very low; weak recommendation).

The use of the T-tube in biliary tract reconstruction during orthotopic liver transplantation: An umbrella review

Biliary complications are one of the main concerns after liver transplantation, and to avoid these, the use of a T-tube has been advocated in biliary reconstruction. Most liver transplantation centres perform a biliary anastomosis without a T-tube to avoid the risk of complications and T-tube-related costs. Several meta-analyses have reached discordant conclusions regarding the benefits of using the T-tube. An umbrella review was performed to summarise quantitative measures about overall biliary complications, biliary leaks, biliary strictures and cholangitis associated with the T-tube use after liver transplantation. Published systematic reviews and meta-analyses related to the use of T-Tube in liver transplantation were searched and analysed. From the comprehensive literature search from PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library databases on the 25th of October 2021, 104 records were retrieved. Seven meta-analyses and two systematic reviews were included in the final analysis. All the meta-analyses of RCT stated no differences in overall biliary complications and biliary leaks when using T-tube for a liver transplant (I² ≥ 90% and I² range 0-76%, respectively). The meta-analysis of the RCTs evaluating the risks of biliary strictures after liver transplantation showed that T-tube protects from the complication (I² range 0-80%). Biliary anastomosis without a T-tube has equivalent overall biliary complications and bile leaks compared to the T-tube reconstruction. The incidence of biliary strictures is attenuated in patients with T-tubes, and most meta-analyses of RCTs have very low heterogeneity. Therefore, the present umbrella review suggests a selective T-tube use, particularly in small biliary ducts or transplants with marginal grafts at high risk of post-LT strictures.

Biliary Anastomosis Using T-tube Versus No T-tube for Liver Transplantation in Adults: A Review of Literature

The T-tube-directed biliary anastomosis in orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) aims to minimize preventable biliary complications, including bile leaks and strictures. Biliary complications in patients with OLT increase the risk of morbidity and mortality. This review paper evaluated the current evidence on the routine use of T-tube reconstruction in OLT cases.

A review of prospective, retrospective, observational, cohort studies as well as systematic reviews, meta-analyses, review papers, and opinion papers has been conducted to evaluate the therapeutic potential of T tube-based biliary anastomosis in cases of OLT.

Our finding showed a bile leak incidence of 16.6% and 6.6% in T-tube and non-T-tube groups, respectively. The results indicated a lower incidence of anastomotic fistulae in the non-T-tube group (0.6%) compared to the T-tube group (4%). The findings negated statistically significant differences in the three-year actuarial survival rates based on biliary anastomosis with and without T-tube intervention (62.5% vs. 69.8%). The studies revealed a 6-11% and 2-11% incidence of cholangitis in OLT patients with T-tube-based reconstruction and those without a T-tube, respectively, and 26% and 20% incidence of total biliary complications in OLT patients with and without T-tube, respectively. In addition, the findings ruled out the influence of a T-tube on the incidence of perioperative complications, endoscopies, and reoperations in OLT cases.

The current evidence correlates the increased incidence of bile leaks, cholangitis, and overall biliary complications with the use of a T-tube during OLT. In addition, T-tube-guided reconstruction has no impact on perioperative complications, overall survival, endoscopies, and reoperations in OLT cases.

Re-thinking of T-tube use in whole liver transplantation: an analysis on the risk of delayed graft function

The liver–gut axis has been identified as crucial mediator of liver regeneration. Thus, the use of a T-tube in liver transplantation (LT), which interrupts the enterohepatic bile circulation, may potentially have a detrimental effect on the early allograft functional recovery. We retrospectively analyzed a cohort of 261 patients transplanted with a whole liver graft, with a duct-to-duct biliary anastomosis, who did not develop any surgical complication within postoperative day 14. Early allograft dysfunction (EAD) was defined according to the criteria of Olthoff et al. (EAD-O), and graded according to the Model for Early Allograft Function (MEAF) score. EAD-O developed in 24.7% of recipients and the median MEAF score was 4.0 [interquartile range 2.9–5.5]. Both MEAF and EAD predicted 90-day post-LT mortality. A T-tube was used in 49.4% of cases (n = 129). After a propensity score matching for donor age, cold and warm ischemia time, donor risk index, balance of risk score, Child–Pugh class C, and MELD score, the T-tube group showed a significantly higher prevalence of EAD-O and value of MEAF than the no-T-tube group (EAD-O: 29 [34.1%] vs 16 [19.0%], p = 0.027; MEAF 4.5 [3.5–5.7] vs 3.7 [2.9–5.0], p = 0.014). In conclusion, T-tube use in LT may be a risk factor for EAD and higher MEAF, irrespective of graft quality and severity of pre-LT liver disease.

Pediatric T-tube in adult liver transplantation: Technical refinements of insertion and removal

BACKGROUND

With the increasing use of extended-criteria donor organs, the interest around T-tubes in liver transplantation (LT) was restored whilst concerns regarding T-tube-related complications persist.

AIM

To describe insertion and removal protocols implemented at our institution to safely use pediatric rubber 5-French T-tubes and subsequent outcomes in a consecutive series of adult patients.

METHODS

Data of consecutive adult LT patients from brain-dead donors, treated from March 2017 to December 2019, were collected (i.e., biliary complications, adverse events, treatment after T-Tube removal). Patients with upfront hepatico-jejunostomy, endoscopically removed T-tubes, those who died or received retransplantation before T-tube removal were excluded.

RESULTS

Seventy-two patients were included in this study; T-tubes were removed 158 d (median; IQR 128-206 d) after LT. In four (5.6%) patients accidental T-tube removal occurred requiring monitoring only; in 68 (94.4%) patients Nelaton drain insertion was performed according to our protocol, resulting in 18 (25%) patients with a biliary output, subsequently removed after 2 d (median; IQR 1-4 d). Three (4%) patients required endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) due to persistent Nelaton drain output. Three (4%) patients developed suspected biliary peritonitis, requiring ERCP with sphincterotomy and nasobiliary drain insertion (only one revealing contrast extravasation); no patient required percutaneous drainage or emergency surgery.

CONCLUSION

The use of pediatric rubber 5-French T-tubes in LT proved safe in our series after insertion and removal procedure refinements.

T-tube or no T-tube for biliary tract reconstruction in orthotopic liver transplantation: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis

Objectives: Biliary tract reconstruction with or without T-tube is commonly used in orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). However, the efficacy and safety of T-tube usage remain controversial. This meta-analysis was conducted to assess the latest evidence of clinical outcomes.Methods: Embase, Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Web of Science were systematically searched from inception to 20 January 2021 for eligible studies. The analyses were performed using Review Manager and Stata.Results: A total of 24 trials involving 3320 participants were included in the meta-analysis. Compared with the no T-tube group, there was a higher incidence of overall biliary complications (OR:1.54; 95%CI, 1.06-2.24; P = 0.02), bile leaks (OR:2.34; 95%CI,1.57-3.48; P < 0.0001), cholangitis (OR:2.78; 95%CI,1.19-6.51; P = 0.002), and longer cold ischemia time (MD:22.27; 95%CI,0.80-43.74; P = 0.04) in the T-tube group. Furthermore, the no T-tube group had significantly higher odds of biliary strictures than the T-tube group (OR:0.60; 95%CI, 0.47-0.78; P = 0.0001).Conclusion: T-tube is still not routinely recommended, but is a good choice for OLT patients at high risk of biliary strictures. Notably, the higher rate of biliary complications in the T-tube group did not translate into an increase in endoscopic or re-operative interventions.

Usefulness of T-Tube in Liver Transplantation: Still Effective or Outmoded Strategy?

Introduction: T-tube placement during liver transplantation (LT) is still debated. We performed a retrospective study to evaluate the usefulness of T-tube after LT in two cohorts differing in post-transplant risk. Methods: A total of 327 LTs performed between 2015 and 2018 were included in the analysis. LTs from donation after circulatory death and living donation, split-liver transplants, and LTs with hepaticojejunostomy were excluded. T-tube was reserved for marginal grafts, high-risk recipients, and bile duct size discrepancy. A balance of risk (BAR) score of ≤9 defined the low-risk cohort (232 patients, 68 with and 164 without T-tube), while a BAR score of >9 defined the high-risk cohort (95 patients, 43 with and 52 without T-tube). Postoperative complications were estimated with the comprehensive complication index (CCI). Postoperative biliary complications were classified in anastomotic stricture (AS), non-anastomotic stricture (NAS), and biliary leakage (BL). Results: In the low-risk cohort, LTs with and without T-tube had similar rates of NAS (0 vs. 2.9%, p = 0.36), AS (2.9 vs. 2.4%, p = 0.83), and BL (1.4 vs. 2.4%, p = 0.64). Analogous outcomes were found in the high-risk cohort: NAS (0 vs. 0), AS (0 vs. 5.7%, p = 0.11), and BL (0 vs. 1.3%, p = 0.27). There were more postoperative complications among patients with T-tube, in both the low-risk (CCI 29 vs. 21, p < 0.001) and high-risk (CCI 51 vs. 29, p < 0.001) cohort. No differences in primary non-function, hepatic artery thrombosis, and mortality were observed. Conclusions: T-tube placement did not influence postoperative biliary complications. Although the two cohorts were normalized for post-transplant risk, LT recipients with T-tube had a more complicated course.

T-tube vs no T-tube for biliary tract reconstruction in adult orthotopic liver transplantation: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Whether to use a T-tube for biliary anastomosis during orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) remains a debatable question. Some surgeons chose to use a T-tube because they believed that it reduces the incidence of biliary strictures. Advances in surgical techniques during the last decades have significantly decreased the overall incidence of postoperative biliary complications. Whether using a T-tube during OLT is still associated with the reduced incidence of biliary strictures needs to be re-evaluated.

AIM

To provide an updated systematic review and meta-analysis on using a T-tube during adult OLT.

METHODS

In the electronic databases MEDLINE, PubMed, Scopus, ClinicalTrials.gov, the Cochrane Library, the Cochrane Hepato-Biliary Group Controlled Trails Register, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, we identified 17 studies (eight randomized controlled trials and nine comparative studies) from January 1995 to October 2020. The data of the studies before and after 2010 were separately extracted. We chose the overall biliary complications, bile leaks or fistulas, biliary strictures (anastomotic or non-anastomotic), and cholangitis as outcomes. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to describe the results of the outcomes. Furthermore, the test for overall effect (Z) was used to test the difference between OR and 1, where P ≤ 0.05 indicated a significant difference between OR value and 1.

RESULTS

A total of 1053 subjects before 2010 and 1346 subjects after 2010 were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled results showed that using a T-tube reduced the incidence of postoperative biliary strictures in studies before 2010 (P = 0.012, OR = 0.62, 95%CI: 0.42-0.90), while the same benefit was not seen in studies after 2010 (P = 0.60, OR = 0.76, 95%CI: 0.27-2.12). No significant difference in the incidence of overall biliary complications (P = 0.37, OR = 1.41, 95%CI: 0.66-2.98), bile leaks (P = 0.89, OR = 1.04, 95%CI: 0.63-1.70), and cholangitis (P = 0.27, OR = 2.00, 95%CI: 0.59-6.84) was observed between using and not using a T-tube before 2010. However, using a T-tube appeared to increase the incidence of overall biliary complications (P = 0.049, OR = 1.49, 95%CI: 1.00-2.22), bile leaks (P = 0.048, OR = 1.91, 95%CI: 1.01-3.64), and cholangitis (P = 0.02, OR = 7.21, 95%CI: 1.37-38.00) after 2010. A random-effects model was used in biliary strictures (after 2010), overall biliary complications (before 2010), and cholangitis (before 2010) due to their heterogeneity (I² = 62.3%, 85.4%, and 53.6%, respectively). In the sensitivity analysis (only RCTs included), bile leak (P = 0.66) lost the significance after 2010 and a random-effects model was used in overall biliary complications (before 2010), cholangitis (before 2010), bile leaks (after 2010), and biliary strictures (after 2010) because of their heterogeneity (I² = 92.2%, 65.6%, 50.9%, and 80.3%, respectively).

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the evidence gathered in our updated meta-analysis showed that the studies published in the last decade did not provide enough evidence to support the routine use of T-tube in adults during OLT.

An Italian survey on the use of T-tube in liver transplantation: old habits die hard!

There is enough clinical evidence that a T-tube use in biliary reconstruction at adult liver transplantation (LT) does not significantly modify the risk of biliary stricture/leak, and it may even sustain infective and metabolic complications. Thus, the policy on T-tube use has been globally changing, with progressive application of more restrictive selection criteria. However, there are no currently standardized indications in such change, and many LT Centers rely only on own experience and routine. A nation-wide survey was conducted among all the 20 Italian adult LT Centers to investigate the current policy on T-tube use. It was found that 20% of Centers completely discontinued the T-tube use, while 25% Centers used it routinely in all LT cases. The remaining 55% of Centers applied a selective policy, based on criteria of technical complexity of biliary reconstruction (72.7%), followed by low-quality graft (63.6%) and high-risk recipient (36.4%). A T-tube use > 50% of annual caseload was not associated with high-volume Center status (> 70 LT per year), an active pediatric or living-donor transplant program, or use of DCD grafts. Only 10/20 (50%) Centers identified T-tube as a potential risk factor for complications other than biliary stricture/leak. In these cases, the suspected pathogenic mechanism comprised bacterial colonization (70%), malabsorption (70%), interruption of the entero-hepatic bile-acid cycle (50%), biliary inflammation due to an indwelling catheter (40%) and gut microbiota changes (40%). In conclusion, the prevalence of T-tube use among the Italian LT Centers is still relatively high, compared to the European trend (33%), and the potential detrimental effect of T-tube, beyond biliary stricture/leak, seems to be somehow underestimated.

Post-liver transplant biliary complications: Current knowledge and therapeutic advances

Liver transplantation is the current standard of care for end-stage liver disease and an accepted therapeutic option for acute liver failure and primary liver tumors. Despite the remarkable advances in the surgical techniques and immunosuppressive therapy, the postoperative morbidity and mortality still remain high and the leading causes are biliary complications, which affect up to one quarter of recipients. The most common biliary complications are anastomotic and non-anastomotic biliary strictures, leaks, bile duct stones, sludge and casts. Despite the absence of a recommended treatment algorithm many options are available, such as surgery, percutaneous techniques and interventional endoscopy. In the last few years, endoscopic techniques have widely replaced the more aggressive percutaneous and surgical approaches. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography is the preferred technique when duct-to-duct anastomosis has been performed. Recently, new devices and techniques have been developed and this has led to a remarkable increase in the success rate of minimally invasive procedures. Understanding the mechanisms of biliary complications helps in their early recognition which is the prerequisite for successful treatment. Aggressive endoscopic therapy is essential for the reduction of morbidity and mortality in these cases. This article focuses on the common post-transplant biliary complications and the available interventional treatment modalities.

Anastomotic bilio-biliary stricture after adult liver transplantation: A retrospective study over 20 years in a single center

BACKGROUND

Biliary complications are the main surgical complication after liver transplantation (LT). The aims of the present retrospective single center study were to describe anastomotic bilio-biliary strictures (ABS) in a large cohort of liver transplant recipients with long follow-up.

METHODS

All adult LT recipients who underwent a LT, with bilio-biliary anastomosis, between 1990 and 2010 in Edouard Herriot hospital, Lyon, France were included in the study.

RESULTS

The study population consisted in 783 patients (70.0% males), median age 50.5 years; main indication was alcohol-related liver disease (46.8%). The median follow-up after LT was 11.9 years (range 0-27 years). The overall incidence of anastomotic biliary complications was 9.7%: 50 patients developed an ABS (6.6%), after a median delay of 4.4 months (range 0.1-245.2) after LT and 32 (4.1%) developed biliary leakage after a median delay of 25 days (range 1-179). The actuarial risk of developing an ABS was 1.6% at 1-month, 2.7% at 3-months, 4.1% at 6-months, and 5.1%, 6.0%, 6.4%, 6.6%, 7.3% at 1-, 2-, 5-, 10- and 15-years, respectively. Univariate analysis disclosed that post-reperfusion syndrome and liver graft steatosis (≥30%) were significant risk factors for ABS. Multivariate analysis disclosed that graft steatosis (OR=6.262, 95%CI 1.936-20.257, P=0.002) and MELD score (OR=1.071, 95%CI 1.018-1.128, P=0.008) were significant risk factors for ABS. The first-line treatment of ABS consisted in endoscopic stenting for 44 patients (88.0%) and immediate success rate was 75.0%. Delayed recurrence of ABS occurred in 8/33 patients (24.0%).

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that steatotic grafts should be used for recipients without severe liver failure to avoid ABS, and that endoscopic stenting of post-LT ABS leads to a high success rate, but is associated with a significant risk of recurrence.

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 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.

Endoscopic Management of Benign Biliary Strictures After Liver Transplantation

Biliary strictures represent some of the most frequent complications encountered after orthotopic liver transplantation. They comprise an array of biliary abnormalities with variations in anatomical location, clinical presentation, and different pathogenesis. Magnetic resonance cholangiography represents the most accurate noninvasive imaging test that can provide detailed imaging of the whole biliary system-below and above the anastomosis. It is of particular value in those harboring complex hilar or intrahepatic strictures, offering a detailed roadmap for planning therapeutic procedures. Endoscopic therapy of biliary strictures usually requires biliary sphincterotomy plus balloon dilation and stent placement. However, endoscopic management of nonanastomotic biliary strictures is much more complex and challenging as compared with anastomotic biliary strictures. The present article is a narrative review presenting the results of endoscopic treatment of biliary strictures occurring after liver transplantation, describing the different strategies based on the nature of the stricture and summarizing their outcomes.

Graft Dysfunction and Management in Liver Transplantation

Graft dysfunction of the liver allograft manifests across a spectrum in both timing posttransplantation and clinical presentation. This can range from mild transient abnormalities of liver tests to acute liver failure potentially leading to graft failure. The causes of graft dysfunction can be divided into those resulting in early and late graft dysfunction. Although nonspecific, liver biochemistry abnormalities are still the mainstay investigation used in monitoring for dysfunction. This article provides a summary of the main causes and management strategies for liver graft dysfunction in the early through late posttransplant stages.

Surgical issues in retrieval and implantation

With increasing demand for organ transplantation and patients deteriorating or dying on the waiting list, organs are now being increasingly used from donors previously considered too marginal. This requires improvements to donor management during the retrieval process, and of the organ during transport and subsequent implantation, in order to maintain outcomes.

T-tube Systematic Use in the Biliary Anastomosis: Comparison of Two Consecutive Series of Liver Transplantation

OBJECTIVES

The authors sought to check the frequency of biliary complications with the use of a T-tube. In 2012, throughout the year, it was carried out systematically in all liver transplantations regardless of the characteristics of the bile duct. Despite the long experience, biliary complications remain a common cause of postoperative morbidity and mortality.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In this study we compared complications in 23 consecutive transplantation cases using T-tube biliary anastomosis during the year 2012 with 23 consecutive transplantation cases without T-tube during the year 2013. We evaluated postoperative complications and long-term outcomes (for 2 years to 3 years).

RESULTS

Of the 23 patients with anastomosis with a T-tube, 2 patients (8.69%) had biliary stricture that required prosthesis by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, 1 of them (4.34%) was operated by incorrect placement of the T-tube, and in 4 patients (17.39%) bile leakage (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography prostheses in 3 cases and hepaticojejunostomy in 1). During follow-up at 3 years, only 2 patients had minimal bile duct dilatation without clinical relevance. In the patients who underwent transplantation without a T-tube, 18 (78.26%) had no complications, 3 (13.04%) showed stenosis (prosthesis placement), and 2 (8.69%) had bile leakage (hepaticojejunostomy and prosthesis). During follow-up at 2 years to 3 years, no patient had biliary dilatation or alteration of cholestatic parameters. In the comparative study of both groups we found no statistically significant differences.

CONCLUSIONS

We have not seen an improvement in complications with the use of T-tube (69.56% vs. 78.23%) that encourage us to work systematically, although the small number of cases does not allow statistically significant conclusions.

Current diagnosis and treatment of benign biliary strictures after living donor liver transplantation

Despite advances in surgical techniques, benign biliary strictures after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) remain a significant biliary complication and play an important role in graft and patient survival. Benign biliary strictures after transplantation are classified into anastomotic or non-anastomotic strictures. These two types differ in presentation, outcome, and response to therapy. The leading causes of biliary strictures include impaired blood supply, technical errors during surgery, and biliary anomalies. Because patients usually have non-specific symptoms, a high index of suspicion should be maintained. Magnetic resonance cholangiography has gained widespread acceptance as a reliable noninvasive tool for detecting biliary complications. Endoscopy has played an increasingly prominent role in the diagnosis and treatment of biliary strictures after LDLT. Endoscopic management in LDLT recipients may be more challenging than in deceased donor liver transplantation patients because of the complex nature of the duct-to-duct reconstruction. Repeated aggressive endoscopic treatment with dilation and the placement of multiple plastic stents is considered the first-line treatment for biliary strictures. Percutaneous and surgical treatments are now reserved for patients for whom endoscopic management fails and for those with multiple, inaccessible intrahepatic strictures or Roux-en-Y anastomoses. Recent advances in enteroscopy enable treatment, even in these latter cases. Direct cholangioscopy, another advanced form of endoscopy, allows direct visualization of the inner wall of the biliary tree and is expected to facilitate stenting or stone extraction. Rendezvous techniques can be a good option when the endoscopic approach to the biliary stricture is unfeasible. These developments have resulted in almost all patients being managed by the endoscopic approach.

Management of biliary complications after liver transplantation

Biliary complications (BC) currently represent a major source of morbidity after liver transplantation. Although refinements in surgical technique and medical therapy have had a positive influence on the reduction of postoperative morbidity, BC affect 5% to 25% of transplanted patients. Bile leak and anastomotic strictures represent the most common complications. Nowadays, a multidisciplinary approach is required to manage such complications in order to prevent liver failure and retransplantation.