PURPOSE: To review our experience with percutaneous internal-external biliary drainage in treating biliary anastomotic leaks following orthotopic liver transplantation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between September 1997 and June 2006, 157 liver transplantations were performed in our hospital. Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage was performed in 10 patients (9 males, 1 female; mean age, 32.9 years; age range, 2-62 years) with patent hepatic arterial systems to treat clinically significant anastomotic bile leaks. RESULTS: Bile leaks were resolved and anastomotic patency was restored in all patients. Massive hemobilia occurred in 1 patient due to arterial pseudoaneurysm and was treated with embolization. No major complications were seen in the other patients. During a mean follow-up of 19.5 months, anastomotic stricture occurred in 2 patients (1 in combination with a recurrent leak). Both patients were successfully treated with percutaneous methods. The remaining 8 patients had no biliary problems. CONCLUSION: When treating anastomotic bile leaks in liver transplant patients, percutaneous procedures may be performed with high technical success and low complication rates.
PURPOSE: To review our experience with percutaneous internal-external biliary drainage in treating biliary anastomotic leaks following orthotopic liver transplantation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between September 1997 and June 2006, 157 liver transplantations were performed in our hospital. Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage was performed in 10 patients (9 males, 1 female; mean age, 32.9 years; age range, 2-62 years) with patent hepatic arterial systems to treat clinically significant anastomotic bile leaks. RESULTS: Bile leaks were resolved and anastomotic patency was restored in all patients. Massive hemobilia occurred in 1 patient due to arterial pseudoaneurysm and was treated with embolization. No major complications were seen in the other patients. During a mean follow-up of 19.5 months, anastomotic stricture occurred in 2 patients (1 in combination with a recurrent leak). Both patients were successfully treated with percutaneous methods. The remaining 8 patients had no biliary problems. CONCLUSION: When treating anastomotic bile leaks in liver transplant patients, percutaneous procedures may be performed with high technical success and low complication rates.
Authors: Salvatore Alessio Angileri; Giovanni Maria Rodà; Anna Paola Savoldi; Letizia Di Meglio; Giulia Signorelli; Anna Maria Ierardi; Nikolaos Galanakis; Dimitrios Tsetis; Gianpaolo Carrafiello Journal: Ann Gastroenterol Date: 2020-09-16