Radiologic assessment of bile duct complications in liver transplantation: initial experience.

Four of the first 24 patients who received 31 orthotopic liver transplantations in our institution developed complications at the site of the surgical anastomosis in the common bile duct. There was one anastomotic stricture, one anastomotic stricture with "bile sludge" deposition, and two cases of bile sludge formation without stricturing at the anastomotic site. The two cases of stricturing required surgical revision while both those of bile sludge accumulation without stricture were successfully managed conservatively. Familiarity with the postoperative appearance of the common bile duct anastomosis and its complications is necessary for the proper assessment of these patients.