Successful treatment of recurrent cholangitis complicating liver transplantation by Roux-en-Y limb lengthening.
A 40-year-old male developed sepsis due to cholangitis. Five years earlier he underwent liver transplantation with hepaticojejunostomy. Over the past 18 months, he had 6 episodes of cholangitis. Radiologic studies demonstrated no biliary obstruction. Surgical intervention to eliminate bile reflux and stasis by lengthening the Roux-en-Y limb from 30 to 90 cm was curative. He has had no further episodes of cholangitis or hospitalization in the past 2 years. This case is the first description to our knowledge of a simple technique to treat recurrent cholangitis in patients with normal biliary anatomy, but inadequate biliary drainage following liver transplantation.
Vrochides
D
D
Department of Surgery, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island 02903, USA.
Fischer
S A
SA
Soares
G
G
Morrissey
P E
PE
D000328:Adult; D000713:Anastomosis, Roux-en-Y / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002761:Cholangitis / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D016896:Treatment Outcome