The technical pitfalls of duct-to-duct biliary reconstruction in pediatric living-donor left-lobe liver transplantation: the impact of stent placement

Pediatr Transplant. 2008 Sep;12(6):661-5. doi: 10.1111/j.1399-3046.2007.00870.x. Epub 2007 Dec 14.

Abstract

The feasibility of D-D biliary reconstruction in pediatric LDLT using a left-lobe graft is still controversial. The medical records of 19 pediatric patients (age: four months to 16 yr) were reviewed. The biliary reconstruction was performed in an end-to-end fashion using absorbable sutures. An external biliary tube was placed into the bile duct through the anastomotic site (n = 10) and not through the anastomotic site (n = 4). An external tube was not used in five patients. The median follow-up was 4.7 yr. Nine patients had 11 biliary complications (leakage, n = 2; stricture, n = 7; stricture with leakage, n = 2). Due to biliary complications, conversion to an R-Y was required in five patients, and four patients required radiological or endoscopic management. The patients younger than one yr of age required conversion to R-Y within one wk after LDLT. The analysis of factors related to biliary complications revealed that the use of a trans-anastomotic biliary tube was the only significant factor to avoid biliary complications. In conclusion, D-D biliary reconstruction in LDLT using a left-lobe graft is feasible in selected cases, though it remains challenging. The use of a trans-anastomotic biliary tube is important to avoid biliary complications.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Bile Ducts / surgery
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Liver / anatomy & histology
  • Liver / pathology
  • Liver Diseases / surgery*
  • Liver Diseases / therapy*
  • Liver Transplantation / instrumentation*
  • Liver Transplantation / methods*
  • Living Donors
  • Male
  • Prosthesis Implantation
  • Treatment Outcome