Biliary complications and management in pediatric living donor liver transplantation for underlying biliary atresia

Background

Biliary complications are a major problem in pediatric liver transplantation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the management and outcomes of biliary complication after pediatric living donor liver transplantation (LDLT).

Methods

From 1994 to 2010, 157 pediatric LDLT due to biliary atresia were performed in our center. Doppler ultrasound was initially performed daily for 2 weeks postoperatively to evaluate biliary and vascular complications. Computed tomography and or magnetic resonance cholangiography were performed when complications were suspected. They were treated using radiological or surgical interventions.

Results

Among the 157 cases, we observed 10 (6.3%) biliary complications, which were divided into three groups: bile leakage (n = 3); biliary stricture without vascular complication (n = 4); and biliary stricture with vascular complication (n = 3). The three cases bile leakages recovered after interventional procedures. The seven biliary strictures underwent percutaneous transhepatic cholangial drainage (PTCD). All cases without vascular complications were completely cured after PTCD or a subsequent surgical re-anastomosis. In the vascular complication group, early recorrection of the HA occlusion with successful PTCD treatment were performed in two cases, but one other case with diffuse ischemic biliary destruction had a poor result.

Conclusion

Successful interventional radiographic approaches are effective for anastomotic biliary complications but with poor results in diffuse ischemic biliary destruction.