Jae Myeong Lee, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Gi-Young Ko MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Kyu-Bo Sung MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Hyun-Ki Yoon, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Dong Il Gwon MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Kyung Rae Kim, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Jin Hyoung Kim MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

et al, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To evaluate the efficacy of percutaneous transhepatic balloon dilation (PTBD) followed by indwelling drainage tube placement for treating biliary strictures following living donor liver transplantation (LDLT).

PTBD and subsequent indwelling drainage tube placement for the treatment of biliary strictures was performed in 253 patients. Serial exchanges of drainage tubes with larger diameters up to 14F were performed at 4- to 6-week intervals. Drainage tubes were removed if follow-up cholangiography revealed fluent passage of contrast media with residual stenosis less than 50% of normal extrahepatic bile ducts and there was no recurrence of symptoms or changes in biochemistry findings. Clinical outcome, tube independence rate, and the factors influencing drainage tube removal were retrospectively evaluated using the multivariate Cox regression analysis

Clinical success and tube independence rates were 88.9% (225/253) and 69.2% (175/253), respectively. The recurrence rate at a mean 28.1 ± 19.0 months following drainage tube removal was 13.7%. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that type of biliary anastomosis (duct-to-duct anastomosis), type of biliary strictures (complex biliary strictures), and interval between LDLT and PTBD (less than 3 months) were independent factors associated with difficulty of drainage tube removal.

Our treatment protocol was an effective alternative in the treatment of biliary strictures when endoscopic management failed or was contraindicated. However, further research is required to minimize the duration of treatment and the recurrence rate following tube removal, and to maximize the tube independence rate.

Our treatment protocol was an effective alternative in the treatment of biliary strictures when endoscopic management failed or was contraindicated.

Lee, J, Ko, G, Sung, K, Yoon, H, Gwon, D, Kim, K, Kim, J, et al, , Efficacy of Percutaneous Transhepatic Treatments for Biliary Strictures after Living Donor Liver Transplantation.  Radiological Society of North America 2008 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, February 18 - February 20, 2008 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2008/6020156.html