Efficacy of Laparoscopic Approach in the Management of Early Liver Transplant Complications

Abstract

The use of the laparoscopic approach in managing early liver transplant complications has been shown to be safe and feasible in various settings with the advantages of shorter recovery period, decreased postoperative pain, and rapid functional recovery. The laparoscopic approach has been used to resolve postoperative complications in kidney and pancreas recipients and less often in orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) recipients, most of them in the late period (> 1 month posttransplantation). We herein describe our experience with the laparoscopic management of early complications after liver transplantation. From May 2009 to May 2011, we successfully treated three patients with early abdominal complications after OLT using a laparoscopic approach. Three patients—two with intraabdominal bleedings and one with a small bowell obstruction were treated successfully, thereby avoiding risks of a relaparotomy. In addition to these benefits, the laparoscopic approach causes less tissue injury and consequently evokes a minor innate inmune response.