Biliary tract complications after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) are common and is important to evaluate newer treatment options and compare them to standard surgical treatment. From september 1991 to september 1998, the biliary tract reconstruction was analysed in 78 OLT. Choledochocholedochostomy employing a T-tube (CCT) was performed in 16 patients (20.5%), choledochocholedochostomy without the T-tube (CC) in 50 (64.1%) and choledochojejunostomy (RYCJ) in 12 (15.4%). We observed 24 (31,2%) biliary complications, 12 of them within the first month. There were 12/78 (15,6%) fistulas (CCT = 5, CC = 6, RYCJ = 1) 9/78 (11,7%) strictures (CCT = 1, CC = 8) and 3/78 (3,9%) calculosis (CCT = 1, CC = 2). Retrograde cholangiopancreatography endoscopy (ERCP) was employed in 19/78 patients ( 24,7%) with improvement in 13 (61,9%). ERCP was employed in 11 cases of biliary fistula leading to improvement in 4/5 patients in group CCT and 5/6 patients in group CC. On the other hand, from the 8 cases of biliary stricture submitted to endoscopic procedure, obstructive syndrome were successfully managed in 4/8 patients in group CC. Choledochocholedochostomy employing a T-tube was successfully in 7/16 cases (43,75%) and choledochocholedochostomy without T tube in 16/50 cases (32%.). Only 9 out of 24 biliary tract complications required reoperations (CCT = 1, CC = 8). There were 5 cases of hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) among 78 patients . Median follow-up after the treatment of biliary tract complications was 14 months ranging from 1 to 6,8 years. In this series, 8/78 (10,4%) patients died (5, HAT, 1 CCT, 2 CC). The overal incidence of biliary complications was higher in groups CCT (7/16), CC (16/50) when compared to RYCJ (no complication observed). There was no significant difference related to the presence of fistula or stricture between CCT and CC groups. The incidence of early and late complications was similar in both groups (CCT and CC). These results suggest that biliary leakage and stricture rates are not significantly affected by the use of the T-tube. ERCP applied to selected cases provided an acurated diagnosis and treatment, being a reliable procedure as a first choice to improve the treatment. It has proved to be safe and effective, avoiding the need of a more invasive surgery, which should be considered for nonresponsive patients.
Liver; Transplantation; Biliary complication
