Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Biliary complication commonly occurred after orthotopic liver transplantation, which is one of the main reasons for failure of transplantation.
OBJECTIVE: To discuss feasibility of interventional management through T tube or its fibrous tract for treating biliary tract complications after orthotopic liver transplantation.
METHODS: Totally 16 patients suffering biliary tract complications after orthotopic liver transplantation and in totally received 46 times of cholangiography and balloon dilation were included, one of which underwent biliary stent implantation. One patient underwent 11 times of cholangiography and balloon dilation. All patients were followed-up.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: After biliary balloon dilation, 2 cases of stricture with leaks, 1 cases of biliary anastomotic stricture and 4 cases of multiple strictures were recovered. One multiple stricture patient had a hepatic hematoma after biliary balloon dilation and received a second transplantation. Six cases of multiple strictures with biliary sludge were catabatic. One case of multiple strictures with biliary sludge received the stent treatment, but much sludge blocked the tract and stent. Only one case was not catabatic and received a second transplantation. The interventional management through T tube or its fibrous tract for biliary tract stricture after orthotopic liver transplantation is efficient, convenient, and minimally invasive. It may be an effective way for these complications. However, a second liver transplantation should be performed for parts of patients who had uncontrollable stenosis.