Choledochocholedochostomy, a relatively safe procedure in orthotopic liver transplantation

The biliary anastomosis has been considered the Achilles heel of liver transplantation, and especially the choledochocholedochostomy has been reported to be ill-fated. However, based on previous experimental experiences we decided to use the choledochocholedochostomy as the biliary anastomosis of preference in orthotopic liver transplantation. A choledochocholedochostomy has been performed in 29 of the 31 patients who have undergone transplantation since 1979. Five complications (17%) were diagnosed, of which one proved to be fatal. Two complications were related to the handling of the T-tube and required simple laparotomy to solve the intraperitoneal bile leakage. The other three complications were major: in one patient the choledochocholedochostomy was stenosed, requiring a conversion into a hepaticojejunostomy, while in two patients the donor common bile duct became necrotic. One of these patients underwent successful retransplantation, while the other died of sepsis. In both patients the hepatic artery anastomosis proved to be thrombosed, while in all patients without biliary complications the hepatic artery anastomosis was patent angiographically or at autopsy. The total incidence of sepsis was 26%, but in only four patients (13%) was sepsis related to the choledochocholedochostomy. The relationship between the necrosis of the donor bile duct and the patency of the hepatic artery anastomosis emphasizes an impeccable surgical technique. The low incidence of biliary complications in our 31 patients characterizes the choledochocholedochostomy as a relatively safe biliary procedure in clinical liver transplantation.