Alexander R Cortez1, Mackenzie C Morris1, Nicholas G Brown2, Leah K Winer1, Kamran Safdar2, Sampath Poreddy2, Shimul A Shah1,3, R Cutler Quillin4,5. 1. Cincinnati Research in Outcomes and Safety in Surgery (CROSS), Department of Surgery, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA. 2. Division of Digestive Diseases, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA. 3. Division of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA. 4. Cincinnati Research in Outcomes and Safety in Surgery (CROSS), Department of Surgery, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA. quillirc@mail.uc.edu. 5. Division of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA. quillirc@mail.uc.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Biliary complications are common following liver transplantation (LT) and traditionally managed with Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy. However, endoscopic management has largely supplanted surgical revision in the modern era. Herein, we evaluate our experience with the management of biliary complications following LT. METHODS: All LTs from January 2013 to June 2018 at a single institution were reviewed. Patients with biliary bypass prior to, or at LT, were excluded. Patients were grouped by biliary complication of an isolated stricture, isolated leak, or concomitant stricture and leak (stricture/leak). RESULTS: A total of 462 grafts were transplanted into 449 patients. Ninety-five (21%) patients had post-transplant biliary complications, including 56 (59%) strictures, 28 (29%) leaks, and 11 (12%) stricture/leaks. Consequently, the overall stricture, leak, and stricture/leak rates were 12%, 6%, and 2%, respectively. Endoscopic management was pursued for all stricture and stricture/leak patients, as well as 75% of leak patients, reserving early surgery only for those patients with an uncontrolled leak and evidence of biliary peritonitis. Endoscopic management was successful in the majority of patients (stricture 94%, leak 90%, stricture/leak 90%). Only six patients (5.6%) received additional interventions-two required percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography catheters, three underwent surgical revision, and one was re-transplanted. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic management of post-transplant biliary complications resulted in long-term resolution without increased morbidity, mortality, or graft failure. Successful endoscopic treatment requires collaboration with a skilled endoscopist. Moreover, multidisciplinary transplant teams must develop treatment protocols based on the local availability and expertise at their center.
BACKGROUND: Biliary complications are common following liver transplantation (LT) and traditionally managed with Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy. However, endoscopic management has largely supplanted surgical revision in the modern era. Herein, we evaluate our experience with the management of biliary complications following LT. METHODS: All LTs from January 2013 to June 2018 at a single institution were reviewed. Patients with biliary bypass prior to, or at LT, were excluded. Patients were grouped by biliary complication of an isolated stricture, isolated leak, or concomitant stricture and leak (stricture/leak). RESULTS: A total of 462 grafts were transplanted into 449 patients. Ninety-five (21%) patients had post-transplant biliary complications, including 56 (59%) strictures, 28 (29%) leaks, and 11 (12%) stricture/leaks. Consequently, the overall stricture, leak, and stricture/leak rates were 12%, 6%, and 2%, respectively. Endoscopic management was pursued for all stricture and stricture/leak patients, as well as 75% of leak patients, reserving early surgery only for those patients with an uncontrolled leak and evidence of biliary peritonitis. Endoscopic management was successful in the majority of patients (stricture 94%, leak 90%, stricture/leak 90%). Only six patients (5.6%) received additional interventions-two required percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography catheters, three underwent surgical revision, and one was re-transplanted. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic management of post-transplant biliary complications resulted in long-term resolution without increased morbidity, mortality, or graft failure. Successful endoscopic treatment requires collaboration with a skilled endoscopist. Moreover, multidisciplinary transplant teams must develop treatment protocols based on the local availability and expertise at their center.
Authors: Emad Hamdy Gad; Eslam Ayoup; Amr M Aziz; Tarek Ibrahim; Mostafa Elhelbawy; Mohammed Al-Sayed Abd-Elsamee; Ahmed Nabil Sallam Journal: Ann Med Surg (Lond) Date: 2022-04-14
Authors: Abraham J Matar; Katie Ross-Driscoll; Lisa Kenney; Hannah K Wichmann; Joseph F Magliocca; William H Kitchens Journal: Transplant Direct Date: 2021-09-07
Authors: Daniel Azoulay; Cyrille Feray; Chetana Lim; Chady Salloum; Maria Conticchio; Daniel Cherqui; Antonio Sa Cunha; René Adam; Eric Vibert; Didier Samuel; Marc Antoine Allard; Nicolas Golse Journal: JHEP Rep Date: 2022-02-12