Prospective evaluation of biliary reconstruction with duct-to-duct continuous suture in adult live donor liver transplantation.
OBJECTIVE
Biliary reconstruction remains the Achilles' heel of adult live donor liver transplantation (LDLT). The study aims to investigate the feasibility of duct-to-duct hepaticocholedochostomy in LDLT.


METHODS
Perioperative data from 30 consecutive LDLT aiming at duct-to-duct reconstruction of the biliary tract using a continuous suture technique were prospectively collected. Nineteen recipients (63.3%) had one graft bile duct. Eleven recipients (36.7%) had two or three graft bile ducts. The median follow-up was 50 months.


RESULTS
The overall biliary complication rate was 23.3%. Two recipients developed biliary stricture (6.7%), and two recipients (6.7%) presented with biliary leakage in early posttransplant phase (<90 days). One recipient suffered from bilioma (3.3%), and two recipients (6.7%) presented with biliary stricture in later posttransplant phase (>90 days). No correlation was found between the number of graft bile ducts and the incidence of biliary complications. No biliary complication-associated necessity for re-transplantation or mortality was observed. On multivariate analysis, no single risk factor associated with biliary complication could be identified. All biliary complications were successfully treated with Roux-en-hepaticojejunostomy and/or with endoscopic interventions.


CONCLUSIONS
Duct-to-duct hepaticocholedochostomy with continues suture represents a safe and feasible procedure for biliary reconstruction in LDLT. Recipients may benefit from aggressive management of biliary complications with Roux-en-hepaticojejunostomy as compared with repeated endoscopic interventions in early posttransplant phase.
Department of Surgery, University of Regensburg Medical Center, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, 93053 Regensburg, Germany. tytsui@gmail.com
Tung Yu
TY
Tsui
Hans Jürgen
HJ
Schlitt
Aiman
A
Obed
D000328:Adult; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000379:methods; D001652:Bile Ducts / Q000601:surgery*; D001662:Biliary Tract Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D019520:Living Donors; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013536:Suture Techniques; D055815:Young Adult