Preliminary study of choledochocholedochostomy without T tube in liver transplantation: a comparative study
A Moreno Elola-Olaso1, J C Meneu Diaz, E Moreno Gonzalez
1Servicio de Cirugía General, Aparato Digestivo y Trasplante de Organos Abdominales, Hospital 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain.
Introduction:
Biliary anastomosis during liver transplantation can be safely performed using an end-to-end choledochocholedochostomy, with or without a T tube. The objective of this study was to determine whether the insertion of a T tube was related to more postoperative complications.
Methods:
Between April 1986 and September 2004, we performed a retrospective, longitudinal, and comparative study of 1012 liver transplantations, including 50 adult recipients with a T tube and a control group with a choledochocholedochostomy without a T tube.
Results:
T tube insertion was associated with more postoperative complications and worse actuarial survival of both the recipient and graft, though these differences did not reach statistical significance.
Conclusion:
The duct-to-duct biliary anastomosis stented with a T tube tends to be associated with more postoperative complications. Based on this analysis, we recommend the performance of a nonstented anastomosis.