Diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopic retrograde cholangiography after liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND

We report our current experience using endoscopic retrograde cholangiography in the management of post-transplantation biliary tract complications.

METHODS

Twenty-three patients among 109 adult liver transplant recipients underwent retrograde cholangiography because of cholestasis (18 patients) or bile leaks (5 patients).

RESULTS

Eleven of 18 patients developed anastomotic strictures, all successfully dilated by plastic stents; one patient required Roux-en-Y revision due to recurrent cholangitis while stented. Three had biliary calculi extracted following sphincterotomy. Two developed intrahepatic ductal strictures secondary to severe rejection. One patient had hepatic artery thrombosis with a hilar stricture. One cholangiogram was normal. Three patients developed bile peritonitis following T-tube removal, all treated by sphincterotomy and nasobiliary drainage. Choledochal perforation resulting from an impacted T-tube limb was detected in two patients, both treated with sphincterotomy and nasobiliary drainage.

CONCLUSIONS

Strictures within 3 months of surgery required 3 months of stenting; those occurring later required longer periods of time to respond. Bile leaks responded uniformly and rapidly to drainage. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography is a useful diagnostic and therapeutic intervention for post-transplantation biliary tract complications.