Evolving strategies to prevent biliary strictures after living donor liver transplantation

The optimal surgical technique has not been elucidated that reduces the occurrence of biliary strictures after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT).

We performed retrospective analysis of 193 consecutive LDLTs, including 78 right and 115 left lobe grafts. An external biliary stent was used for all of the cases.

The overall 1-, 3-, and 5-year biliary stricture-free survival rates were 87.5%, 85.3%, and 85.3%, respectively. The 1- and 3-year biliary stricture-free survival rates for duct-to-duct reconstruction were 86.9% and 84.9%, and those for hepaticojejunostomy were 90.1% and 80.8%, respectively. A multivariate analysis revealed that the original number of graft bile ducts greater than the number of external stents, right lobe grafts, bile leaks, and recipient age older than 60 years represented the significant risk factors (P < .05) to develop a biliary stricture after LDLT. All cases with biliary strictures (n = 61) were initially managed nonsurgically, but 4 patients ultimately required interventions.

Biliary reconstruction in LDLT using an appropriate number of external stents resulted in fairly acceptable outcomes. However, not only the proper use of stents or graft selection, but also nonsurgical factors, are important factors that determine the incidence of biliary strictures after LDLT.