Prospective evaluation of biliary reconstruction with duct-to-duct continuous suture in adult live donor liver transplantation.

Purpose: Biliary reconstruction remains the Achilles' heel of adult live donor liver transplantation (LDLT). The study aims to investigate the feasibility of duct-to-duct hepaticocholedochostomy in LDLT.

Methods: Perioperative data from 30 consecutive LDLT aiming at duct-to-duct reconstruction of the biliary tract using a continuous suture technique were prospectively collected. Nineteen recipients (63.3%) had one graft bile duct. Eleven recipients (36.7%) had two or three graft bile ducts. The median follow-up was 50 months.

Results: The overall biliary complication rate was 23.3%. Two recipients developed biliary stricture (6.7%), and two recipients (6.7%) presented with biliary leakage in early posttransplant phase (<90 days). One recipient suffered from bilioma (3.3%), and two recipients (6.7%) presented with biliary stricture in later posttransplant phase (>90 days). No correlation was found between the number of graft bile ducts and the incidence of biliary complications. No biliary complication-associated necessity for re-transplantation or mortality was observed. On multivariate analysis, no single risk factor associated with biliary complication could be identified. All biliary complications were successfully treated with Roux-en-hepaticojejunostomy and/or with endoscopic interventions.

Conclusion: Duct-to-duct hepaticocholedochostomy with continues suture represents a safe and feasible procedure for biliary reconstruction in LDLT. Recipients may benefit from aggressive management of biliary complications with Roux-en-hepaticojejunostomy as compared with repeated endoscopic interventions in early posttransplant phase.