title: Biliary complications after orthotopic liver transplantation: a 5-year experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Biliary complications, particularly bile duct stenosis or leak, remain the "Achilles' heel" of orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT), significantly increasing the risk of graft loss and recipient death. The aim of the study was to retrospectively analyze biliary complications over a 5-year experience seeking to identify risk factors for these complications.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-seven OLT performed in 84 recipients were included in the analysis. In all cases but one, we performed an end-to-end hepatic duct anastomosis with a 7-0 running suture under 2.5× magnification.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Biliary complications developed after 17.2% OLT: anastomosis site stenosis (10.3%), multiple stenoses (5.7%), or bile duct necrosis (1.1%). A bile leak was not observed. Two recipients died from biliary sepsis. Among the patients with biliary complications, there was an higher rate of hepatic artery problems (33.3% vs 2.7%; P<.01), and a longer anhepatic phase (85 vs 72 minutes; P<.01). We performed endoscopic treatment in 73% and percutaneous drainage in 6.6% of recipients. Good treatment results were achieved in 36.4% of cases with biliary complications whereas they were satisfactory in 27.3%. Five patients with biliary complications required re-transplantation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A bile duct anastomosis performed end-to-end with a running suture under magnification decreased the risk of bile leakage after OLT. A prolonged anhepatic phase or an hepatic artery thrombosis or stenosis increased the risk of biliary complications after OLT.
authors: Department of General, Vascular and Transplant Surgery, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland. robertk@hot.pl
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Król
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Karkoszka
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Ziaja
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Pawlicki
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Stańczyk
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Badura
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Cierniak
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Więcek
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Hartleb
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Cierpka
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D057868:Anastomotic Leak / Q000209:etiology; D001660:Biliary Tract Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult