Introduction: Long-term biliary complications after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) are not well described in the literature. This study was undertaken to determine the long-term impact of biliary complications after adult right-lobe LDLT.
Methods: This retrospective review analyzed an 11-yr experience of 344 consecutive right-lobe LDLTs with at least two yr of follow-up.
Results: Biliary leaks occurred in 50 patients (14.5%), and strictures occurred in 67 patients (19.5%). Cumulative biliary complication rates at 1, 2, 5, and 10 yr were 29%, 32%, 36%, and 37%, respectively. Most early biliary leaks were treated with surgical drainage (N = 29, 62%). Most biliary strictures were treated first with endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (42%). There was no association between biliary strictures and the number of ducts (hazard ratio [HR] 1.017 [0.65-1.592], p = 0.94), but freedom from biliary stricture was associated with a more recent era (2006-2010) (HR 0.457 [0.247-0.845], p = 0.01). Long-term graft survival did not differ between those who had or did not have biliary complications (66% vs. 67% at 10 yr).
Conclusions: Biliary strictures are common after LDLT but may decline with a center's experience. With careful follow-up, they can be successfully treated, with excellent long-term graft survival rates.
Keywords: biliary complications; living donor liver transplant; long-term complications.
© 2015 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.