Percutaneous Transhepatic Radiologic Intervention of Biliary Complications following Liver Transplantation: A Single-center Experience

Biliary complications are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing Liver Transplantation (LT). Post-biliary transplantation strictures (BSs) are a severe problem with a high risk of graft failure. However, management of these BSs has remained controversial, and considerable variability has been reported in Percutaneous Transhepatic Radiological Interventions (PTRIs) related to broad differences in technical procedures.

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of percutaneous treatments in managing post-LT BSs in a center in Shiraz.

PTRIs including balloon dilatation, metallic stent, and internal or internal-external hand-made plastic stent insertion were done for 34 transplanted patients with BSs referring to the Interventional Radiology Unit of Shiraz Namazi Hospital. Technical success rate, patency rates, and complications were evaluated.

In this study, 31 strictures were successfully treated without any significant difference between the anastomotic and non-anastomotic types of stricture (success rate: 91.2%). Based on the results, 12- , 24-, and 36-month primary patency rates were 90.1%, 84.5%, and 76.8%, respectively. The secondary patency rate was 100% at 12 and 24 months and 93.3% at 36 and 60 months. The rate of minor complications (mild cholangitis and hemobilia) was 6.4%, and no major complications were detected.

According to the findings, PTRI is an effective method for treating anastomotic and non-anastomotic strictures with a high success rate and low complications.