title: Complications after endoscopic sphincterotomy in liver transplant recipients: A retrospective single-centre study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Biliary tract complications after liver transplantation are usually treated by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. When biliary tract intervention is indicated, endoscopic sphincterotomy is often required. However, data regarding complication rates after endoscopic sphincterotomy in liver transplant recipients are limited. This study therefore investigated complication rates during the first 15 days after endoscopic sphincterotomy in liver transplant recipients.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study retrospectively reviewed 157 consecutive liver transplant recipients who underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography with endoscopic sphincterotomy between January 1998 and August 2013 at the University Hospital of Münster, Germany. Complications that occurred within the first 15 days after the procedure were recorded, and complication rates were compared between patients who underwent conventional and precut endoscopic sphincterotomy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 24 complications (15.2%) were recorded, including 9 cases (5.7%) of pancreatitis, 6 cases (3.8%) of bleeding, and 1 case (0.6%) of perforation. There were no procedure-related deaths. There were no significant differences in complication rates between the two sphincterotomy techniques. The rate of post-procedural pancreatitis decreased over time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Endoscopic sphincterotomy is a safe procedure in liver transplant recipients. The procedure-related complication rate is reasonable and most complications can be managed conservatively.
authors.affiliation: University Hospital of Münster, Department of Transplant Medicine, Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hüsing
authors.affiliation: University Hospital of Münster, Department of Transplant Medicine, Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Vito R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Cicinnati
authors.affiliation: University Hospital of Münster, Department of Transplant Medicine, Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maschmeier
authors.affiliation: University Hospital of Münster, Department of Transplant Medicine, Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Hartmut H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.affiliation: University Hospital of Münster, Department of General and Visceral Surgery, Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Heiner H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Wolters
authors.affiliation: University Hospital of Münster, Department of Transplant Medicine, Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Beckebaum
authors.affiliation: University Hospital of Münster, Department of Transplant Medicine, Münster, Germany. Electronic address: iyad.kabar@ukmuenster.de.
authors.forename: Iyad
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kabar
mesh_terms: D001659:Biliary Tract / Q000293:injuries; D001660:Biliary Tract Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000209:etiology; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016717:Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic / Q000009:adverse effects*
keywords: Complications; ERCP; Endoscopic sphincterotomy; Liver transplantation