Objective: To investigate the feasibility and management of retransplantation for diffuse biliary strictures occurring after initial liver transplantation.

Methods: The clinical data of 53 consecutive liver retransplantation patients at our hospital from January 2001 to December 2009 were collected and analyzed retrospectively. Among them, 20 (37.7%) were due to diffuse biliary strictures.

Results: Diffuse biliary strictures appeared at 3 - 16 months after initial transplantation. The mean time was 6.3 months. The specific types included intra-hepatic diffuse biliary strictures (n = 16) and multi-strictures involving both intra- & extra-hepatic biliary ducts (n = 4). Retransplantation was performed after a failure of intervention or/and other comprehensive treatments. Among them, 14 were cured and 6 died from peri-operative complications including serious abdominal infection & MODS (multiple organ dysfunction syndrome) (n = 3, 50%), biliary fistula (n = 2, 33.3%) and hepatic artery embolism (n = 1, 16.7%). These patients were followed up for a mean time of 1.8 years (range: 1 - 5 years). The accumulative survival rates at 1, 3 and 6 months were 80.0%, 75.0% and 70.0% respectively.

Conclusions: Liver retransplantation is the ultimate treatment for diffuse biliary strictures after liver transplantation. The survival rate is associated with operative timing, surgical techniques and peri-operative management.

Download full-text PDF

Source

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

diffuse biliary
24
biliary strictures
16
liver retransplantation
12
biliary
8
diffuse
6
retransplantation
5
[experiences liver
4
retransplantation postoperative
4
postoperative diffuse
4
biliary strictures]
4

Similar Publications

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!