Background: Biliary anastomosis stricture (BAS) is still among the major concerns after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT), even after the technical refinements including the universal use of the blood flow-preserving hilar dissection technique. The aim of this study is to investigate what are still the factors for BAS after LDLT.
Methods: An analysis of 279 adult-to-adult LDLT grafts (left lobe, n = 161; right lobe, n = 118) with duct-to-duct biliary reconstruction, since the universal application of minimal hilar dissection technique and gradual introduction of eversion technique, was performed.
Results: There were 39 patients with BAS. Univariate analysis showed that a right lobe graft (P = 0.008), multiple bile ducts (P < 0.001), ductoplasty (P < 0.001), not using the eversion technique (P = 0.004) and fewer biliary stents than bile duct orifices (P = 0.002) were among the factors associated with BAS. The 1-year and 5-year BAS survival rates were 17.7% and 21.2% in the noneversion group (n = 134), and 6.2% and 7.9% in the eversion group (n = 145), respectively (P = 0.002). The perioperative factors including graft biliary anatomy were not different between everted (n = 134) and noneverted (n = 145) patients.
Conclusions: The application of eversion technique under minimal hilar dissection technique could be a key for preventing BAS in duct-to-duct biliary reconstruction in LDLT.