Balloon dilatation of biliary-enteric strictures in children.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of our study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of balloon dilatation in the treatment of anastomotic strictures in children with liver transplants.


METHODS
For a period of 7 years, we treated 20 consecutive biliary-enteric strictures in 19 children (age range, 13 months to 17.9 years, mean, 7.3 years) with balloon dilatation. Dilatation was performed between 30 days and 8.4 years (mean, 2.6 years) following surgical creation of the biliary-enteric anastomosis. Thirteen patients had left lateral segment liver transplant grafts, one patient had a split-liver, left-lobe graft, and five patients had whole liver grafts.


RESULTS
Technical success was 100% and there were no procedure-related complications. One patient with a patent anastomosis underwent repeat transplantation 183 days after the procedure for chronic rejection. In 58% (11/19) of the remaining procedures, balloon dilatation resulted in biliary-enteric patency at one year, and continued patency ranges from 1.4 to 5.4 years (mean, 3.6 years). In 40% (8/20) of the procedures, the biliary-enteric stricture persisted after balloon dilatation, and these patients eventually underwent surgical revision, retransplantation, or endobiliary metallic stent placement.


CONCLUSIONS
Balloon dilatation is a safe and effective treatment for biliary-enteric strictures following pediatric liver transplantation.
Lorenz
Jonathan M
JM
Department of Radiology, The University of Chicago Hospitals, 5841 S. Maryland Ave., MC 2026, Chicago, IL 60637, USA. jonathanlorenz@hotmail.com
Denison
Gregory
G
Funaki
Brian
B
Leef
Jeffrey A
JA
Van Ha
Thuong
T
Rosenblum
Jordan D
JD
D000293:Adolescent; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001660:Biliary Tract Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D002404:Catheterization; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002758:Cholangiography; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D012086:Reoperation; D016896:Treatment Outcome