Background/aims: To evaluate the relationship between biliary complications of recipients and biliary variations of donors in living donor liver transplantation.
Methodology: From January 2008 to February 2011, 60 adult patients underwent LDLT at West China Hospital, Sichuan University, China. After cholecystectomy, an intraoperative cholangiogram was routinely performed through the cystic duct to identify biliary anatomy. The recipients have been followed up for 3 to 40 months.
Results: Biliary complications developed in 9 patients (15.0%) and 3 (5.0%) were diagnosed as anastomotic leakage, while 6 (10.0%) developed strictures. The incidence of biliary variations was 26%. There was no statistical difference in biliary complications no matter the biliary variations.
Conclusions: Performing biliary variations assessment may contribute to reduction of biliary complications.