Intrahepatic biliary strictures without hepatic artery thrombosis after liver transplantation: an analysis of 1,113 liver transplantations at a single center.
BACKGROUND
Intrahepatic biliary strictures (IHBS) without hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) is a serious complication and known to increase the risk of graft failure after liver transplantation. This manuscript describes the incidence, risk factors, clinical pictures, management, and outcomes.


METHODS
Between 1994 and 2002, 1,113 liver transplantations were performed in 974 adult patients. Data was retrospectively analyzed in terms of incidence, risk factors, clinical pictures (type of strictures), management (radiologic, surgical management), and outcomes.


RESULTS
Sixteen (1.4%) grafts had IHBS without HAT. Specific risk factors were not identified from donors or recipients. However, ischemic factors from the donors were suspected from non-heart-beating donors (n=1) and cardiac-arrest donors (n=2). Three types of IHBS were identified: (1) diffuse type (n=7), (2) bilateral proximal type (n=7), and (3) unilateral type (n=2). Overall success rate of radiologic interventions was 31.3% (5/16). Of the 11 patients who did not improve, 6 died: diffuse type (3/7, 42.9%), bilateral type (3/7, 42.9%), and unilateral (0/2, 0%). Three patients had retransplantation, and two patients are waiting retransplantation. The majority of the IHBS were diffuse or bilateral (14/16, 87.5%), and rate of the graft failure was high (10/14, 71.4 %). Overall graft survival of IHBS was lower than that without IHBS (P=0.025).


CONCLUSIONS
The majority of the IHBS without HAT were of a diffuse or bilateral proximal type. Patients with diffuse or bilateral proximal type have a low success rate from radiologic intervention and may benefit from early retransplantation.
Nakamura
Noboru
N
Division of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, University of Miami, 1801 NW 9th Avenue, Miami, FL 33136, USA.
Nishida
Seigo
S
Neff
Guy R
GR
Vaidya
Anil
A
Levi
David M
DM
Kato
Tomoaki
T
Ruiz
Phillip
P
Tzakis
Andreas G
AG
Madariaga
Juan R
JR
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002780:Cholestasis, Intrahepatic / Q000209:etiology*; D006085:Graft Survival; D006499:Hepatic Artery; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000401:mortality; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology*