Management Of Anastomotic Biliary Strictures Research Articles

Management of anastomotic biliary stricture through utilizing percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy

Occurrence of anastomotic biliary stricture (AS) remains an essential issue following hepatobiliary surgeries, and percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy (PTCS) has great therapeutic significance in handling refractory AS for patients with altered gastrointestinal anatomy after cholangio-jejunostomy. This present study aimed to investigate feasibility of PTCS procedures in AS patients for therapeutic indications. This study was a single-center, retrospective cohort study with a total number of 124 consecutive patients who received therapeutic PTCS due to AS. Clinical success rate, required number, and adverse events of therapeutic PTCS procedures as well as patients survival state were reviewed. These 124 patients previously underwent choledochojejunostomy or hepatico-jejunostomy, and there was post-surgical altered gastrointestinal anatomy. Overall, 366 therapeutic PTCS procedures were performed for these patients through applying rigid choledochoscope, and the median time of PTCS procedures was 3 (1-11). Among these patients, there were 34 cases (27.32%) accompanied by biliary strictures and 100 cases (80.65%) were also combined with biliary calculi. After therapeutic PTCS, most patients presented with relieved clinical manifestations and improved liver functions. The median time of follow-up was 26 months (2-86 months), and AS was successfully managed through PTCS procedures in 104 patients (83.87%). During the follow-up period, adverse events occurred in 81 cases (65.32%), most of which were tackled through supportive treatment. PTCS was a feasible, safe and effective therapeutic modality for refractory AS, which may be a promising alternative approach in clinical cases where the gastrointestinal anatomy was changed after cholangio-jejunostomy.

Early patient and liver allograft outcomes from donation after circulatory death donors using thoracoabdominal normothermic regional: a multi-center observational experience

BackgroundDonation after circulatory death (DCD) liver allografts are associated with higher rates of primary non-function (PNF) and ischemic cholangiopathy (IC). Advanced recovery techniques, including thoracoabdominal normothermic regional perfusion (TA-NRP), may improve organ utilization and patient and allograft outcomes. Given the increasing US experience with TA-NRP DCD recovery, we evaluated outcomes of DCD liver allografts transplanted after TA-NRP.MethodsLiver allografts transplanted from DCD donors after TA-NRP were identified from 5/1/2021 to 1/31/2022 across 8 centers. Donor data included demographics, functional warm ischemic time (fWIT), total warm ischemia time (tWIT) and total time on TA-NRP. Recipient data included demographics, model of end stage liver disease (MELD) score, etiology of liver disease, PNF, cold ischemic time (CIT), liver function tests, intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital length of stay (LOS), post-operative transplant related complications.ResultsThe donors' median age was 32 years old and median BMI was 27.4. Median fWIT was 20.5 min; fWIT exceeded 30 min in two donors. Median time to initiation of TA-NRP was 4 min and median time on bypass was 66 min. The median recipient listed MELD and MELD at transplant were 22 and 21, respectively. Median allograft CIT was 292 min. The median length of follow up was 257 days. Median ICU and hospital LOS were 2 and 7 days, respectively. Three recipients required management of anastomotic biliary strictures. No patients demonstrated IC, PNF or required re-transplantation.ConclusionLiver allografts from TA-NRP DCD donors demonstrated good early allograft and recipient outcomes.

Management of anastomotic biliary stricture after liver transplantation and impact on survival

BackgroundAnastomotic biliary strictures (AS) is the main surgical complication after liver transplantation. The aims of this study are to investigate the risk factors of AS, its management and its impact on overall survival and survival of the graft. MethodsAll patients who had received a liver transplantation with duct-to-duct anastomosis at Toulouse University Hospital between 2010 and 2016 were included. ResultsOf 225 included patients, 56 (24.9%) presented with AS. The median time to discovery of AS was 83 days and 69.6% of the AS appeared within 6 months. Transplantation in critically ill patients, with a liver score >800 points, was an independent predictive factor of survival (P = 0.003). The first-line treatment was endoscopic (87.5%), with a success rate of 79.6% and a median of 4 procedures per patient in 12 months. In cases of failure of endoscopic therapy, percutaneous treatment had a high failure rate (50%). AS had no impact in terms of overall survival or in terms of graft survival. ConclusionAS do not have any repercussions on patient or graft survival, requiring long endoscopic treatment with multiple procedures. In the event of failure of this first-line endoscopic treatment, it seems preferable to turn directly towards surgical repair.

The first experience with the fully-covered self-expandable nitinol stents in the management of anastomotic biliary strictures after orthotopic liver transplantation

Background: Biliary anastomosis strictures after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) develop in 5–12% of patients. This complication significantly impairs the patients’ quality of life and can lead to graft loss.Aim: To analyze the first experience in the use of coated self-expanding nitinol stents in patients with biliary anastomosis strictures after OLT.Materials and methods: From December 2018 to January 2019, there were 5 patients with anastomotic strictures after OLT in the Department of Organ and/or Tissue Transplantation of the S.P. Botkin Municipal Clinical Hospital. All patients underwent endoscopic stenting of strictures with a self-expanding nitinol-coated stent. In all patients, the stent was removed at 3 months after its placement.Results: No complications and deaths were recorded in this patient group. The median duration of the follow-up after stent removal was 14.15 ± 2.35 (3–17) months, with no cases of restenosis identified.Conclusion: The use of coated nitinol stents in the management of patients with anastomotic strictures after liver transplantation is effective and safe. The possibility of their use in routine clinical practice requires confirmation in further studies.

Sa1535 - Comparative Efficacy Between Self-Expandable Metallic Stent and Plastic Stent in the Management of Anastomotic Biliary Stricture

Sa1535 - Comparative Efficacy Between Self-Expandable Metallic Stent and Plastic Stent in the Management of Anastomotic Biliary Stricture

Management of anastomotic biliary stricture after liver transplantation: metal versus plastic stent.

BackgroundPost-transplant anastomotic biliary strictures remain refractory to endoscopic therapy in a considerable number of cases. The aim of this meta-analysis was to compare fully-covered self-expandable metal and plastic stents in the management of post-transplant biliary strictures.MethodsA meta-analysis was performed using a random effects model; results were expressed as odds ratio (OR) and mean standardized difference. The primary outcome was stricture resolution, while recurrence rate after stent placement, treatment time, and safety of the procedure were the secondary outcomes.ResultsThrough a systematic literature review until October 2017, we identified 7 studies, of which 4 were randomized controlled trials. Stricture resolution was slightly higher with metal stents, with no statistical difference between the two procedures (OR 1.38, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.60-3.15; P=0.45) and low heterogeneity (I2=6%). Stricture recurrence showed a non-significant trend in favor of plastic stents (OR 1.82, 95%CI 0.52-6.31, P=0.35). Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography with placement of metal stents offered a significant improvement in terms of reduced treatment time (mean standardized difference: -3.58 months, 95%CI -6.23 to -0.93; P=0.008), but with more frequent complications, although not significantly so (OR 2.34, 95%CI 0.75-7.25; P=0.14). Sensitivity analysis confirmed all the findings.ConclusionMetal stents appear to be a promising tool that can decrease treatment time, although there is still no clear evidence of their superiority over plastic stents in terms of efficacy.

Application of Fully Covered Self-Expandable Metallic Stents with and without Antimigration Waist Versus Repeated Plastic Biliary Stent Placement in Management of Anastomotic Biliary Strictures After Orthotopic Liver Transplantation.

BakgroundStandard methods for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) management of anastomotic strictures (AS) after OLT includes repeated balloon dilation of the stricture with subsequent insertion of a plastic biliary stent (PBS). In post-OLT patients not responding to standard endoscopic treatment, the placement of fully covered self-expanding metal stents (FCSEMS) is a valid alternative to surgical treatment. The aim of this study was to compare the results of new FCSEMS implantation with the standard ERCP stricture management protocol and with conventional FCSEMS insertion.Material/MethodsThis retrospective study involved 39 post-OLT patients with confirmed diagnosis of biliary AS. Enrolled subjects were divided into 2 groups: the FCSEMS group (study group) and the PBS group (control group). The study group was divided into 2 subgroups: the conventional FCSEMS group and the new-type FCSEMS group.ResultsStricture recurrence after PBS placement was observed in 36.36% of controls and in only 9.52% of study group members (P=0.170). Recurrence rates in patients after conventional FCSEMS and new type FCSEMS implantation was similar (10% vs. 9.09%; P=0.501). The applied treatment was successful in 82.61% of study group members and only 43.75% of controls (P=0.029). Success rates of conventional FCSEMS and new-type SEMS insertion did not differ significantly (81.82% vs. 83.33%, P=0.649). There was no statistically significant difference in complication rates between groups (P=0.879).ConclusionsImplantation of FCSEMS is more effective than repeated balloon dilatation of AS with subsequent PBS placement and is they have similar complication rates. Application of new-type FCSEMS gives results comparable to conventional FCSEMS.

Endoscopic treatment of post-liver transplantation anastomotic biliary stricture: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Biliary strictures after liver transplantation are recognized as its Achilles' heel. The strictures are classified in anastomotic and ischemic or non-anastomotic biliary strictures, and they figure among the most common complications after liver transplantation. There are some treatment options including balloon dilation, the placement of multiple plastic stents and the placement of self-expandable metal stents and all of them seem to have good results. The aim of this study was to systematically review the literature concerning the results of the endoscopic treatment of anastomotic biliary strictures after liver transplantation. A systematic review of the literature was performed on the management of anastomotic biliary strictures post- orthotopic liver transplantation. The Medline-PubMed, EMBASE, Scielo-LILACS, and Cochrane Databases were electronically searched from January 1966 to April 2013. No well-designed randomized controlled trial was found. Most studies were retrospective or prospective comparisons in design. One study (86 patients) compared the endoscopic and the percutaneous accesses. The sustained clinical success rates were similar but the treatment duration was longer in the percutaneous group access. Two studies (56 patients) compared balloon dilation with balloon dilation and multiple plastic stents. There were no differences concerning sustained clinical success and complication rates. Balloon dilation is as effective as balloon dilation plus multiple plastic stenting for the resolution of the anastomotic biliary strictures. Well-designed randomized trials are still needed to compare balloon dilation versus multiple plastic stenting versus metallic stenting.

A Systematic Review on Efficacy and Safety of Partially and Fully Covered Self-Expandable Metal Stent (SEMS) Compared to Multiple Plastic Stents (MPS) in the Endoscopic Management of Anastomotic Biliary Stricture Post Orthotopic Liver Transplantation (OLT)

Purpose: Anastomotic biliary strictures (AS) account for up to 80% of biliary strictures post OLT. Several case series have reported stricture resolution rates in the range of 60-90% with balloon dilatation and multiple plastic stents (MPS). This strategy requires multiple ERCPs with associated risks, cost and patient burden. More recently, partially and fully covered SEMSs have been increasingly utilized in this setting, given their larger diameter and easy removability. It is not clear whether there are clear advantages of using SEMS over MPS in all cases. Methods: A systematic review on SEMS and MPS placement for AS was performed after searching Medline and Embase databases using the search terms anastomotic/biliary/bile duct stricture, endoscopy and ERCP. Inclusion criteria were 1) anastomotic stricture post OLT, 2) MPS or partially or fully covered SEMS. Exclusion criteria were 1) non anastomotic stricture, 2) living donor liver transplant, 3) single plastic stent, 4) uncovered SEMS, 5) studies including <5 patients. Data on clinical success and complications were extracted and summarized. Results: From a total of 791 studies, 8 studies (N=441) utilizing MPS and 9 studies (N=199) utilizing SEMS fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria (table 1 and table 2) and were included in this review. For the 8 MPS studies, the stricture resolution rates were higher when MPS duration was >6 months (88-100%) compared to those with <6 months (65-87%). The mean or median number of ERCPs per patient in MPS ranged between 3-4.2 and 2.5-3.5 when stenting duration was >6 months and <6 months, respectively. Five of the 8 SEMS studies involved previous plastic stenting plus balloon dilation. The stricture resolution rates were higher when SEMS duration was >3 months (80-95%) compared to those with <3 months (53-88%), but did not seem to differ whether there was previous plastic stenting plus balloon dilation or not (53-92% vs 67-95%). The mean or median number of ERCP per patient in SEMS ranged between 2.1-7.4 (3.4-7.4 in those with previous plastic stenting plus balloon dilation vs 2.1-3 in those without). Although the overall complication rates were low, SEMS migration rates were significant at 4-47%.Table: [160] Table 1. Results of studies utilizing multiple plastic stents + dilation in endoscopic management of AS post OLTTable: [160] Table 2. Results of studies utilizing partially or fully covered SEMS in endoscopic management of ASConclusion: Although SEMS appeared to be a promising option in the endoscopic management of AS post OLT, current evidence does not support its routine use.

Dual catheter placement technique for treatment of biliary anastomotic strictures after liver transplantation

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results of percutaneous transhepatic management of anastomotic biliary strictures using the dual catheter placement technique (2 drainage catheters inserted via single percutaneous tract). The protocol of this retrospective study was approved by the institutional review board of our institution and written informed consent was waived. Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage and subsequent balloon dilation of anastomotic strictures were performed in 79 patients. Serial exchanges of drainage via catheter with larger diameters up to 14-French were performed at 1-month intervals followed by 3 exchanges of dual catheters at 2 month intervals. Drainage catheters were removed when follow-up cholangiography revealed improved strictures without recurrence of symptoms or elevation of biochemical findings. Technical success was achieved in all 79 (100%) patients after percutaneous transhepatic treatment. The mean period of dual catheter placement was 6.5 ± 1.1 months (range, 5.5-14.2 months). Clinical success was achieved in 78 (98.7%) of 79 patients and drainage catheters were removed 23.8 ± 8.8 months (range, 11.4-43.3 months) after the initial percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage. Procedure-related complications occurred in 14 (17.8%) patients. During the mean follow-up period of 34.5 ± 3 months (range, 24.4-38.5 months) in the 78 patients, the primary patency rates were 96%, 92%, and 91% at 1, 2, and 3 years, respectively. Seven (9%) of the 78 patients experienced recurrent symptoms at a mean of 15.4 ± 8.9 months (range, 6.1-26.2 months) after catheter removal. In conclusion, the dual catheter placement technique seems to be an easy, safe, and effective method with an acceptable catheter intervention period for the treatment of anastomotic strictures following LDLT.

Temporary placement of partially covered self-expandable metal stents for anastomotic biliary strictures after liver transplantation: a prospective, multicenter study

Management of anastomotic biliary strictures after liver transplantation deserves optimization. To evaluate placement and removal of partially covered self-expandable metal stents (PCSEMSs) in this setting. Prospective, multicenter, uncontrolled study. Three French academic hospitals with liver transplantation units and tertiary referral endoscopy centers. Twenty-two patients (18 men, 4 women, aged 49.7 ± 12 years) with anastomotic biliary stricture. Seventeen (77.3%) presented stricture recurrence after plastic stenting. PCSEMSs were placed across the stricture for 2 months and then removed. Patients were followed by clinical examination and liver function tests 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after PCSEMS removal. The ability to remove PCSEMS. PCSEMS placement was successful in all patients, after sphincterotomy in 21 patients. Stent-related complications included minor pancreatitis (3 patients), transient pain (1 patient), and cholangitis (1 patient). Stent removal was achieved in all patients but 2 whose stents had migrated distally. Partial stent dislocation was noted in 5 patients (upward in 4, downward in 1). Complications associated with stent removal were minor, including self-contained hemorrhage (1 patient) and fever (1 patient). The stricture persisted at the end of treatment in 3 patients (13.6%), all of whom had stent migration or dislocation. Recurrence of anastomotic stricture after initial success occurred in 9 of 19 patients (47.4%) within 3.5 ± 2.1 months. Sustained stricture resolution was observed in 10 of 19 patients (52.6%), 45.6% from an intent-to-treat perspective. Uncontrolled study with limited follow-up. Temporary placement and removal of PCSEMSs in anastomotic biliary strictures after liver transplantation is feasible, although sometimes demanding. Stent migration may impair final outcome.

Endoscopic treatment for biliary stricture after adult living donor liver transplantation

Endoscopic intervention is considered to be the primary treatment for biliary stricture after adult living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) with duct-to-duct biliary reconstruction. The aim of this study was to investigate the risk factors of biliary stricture and the clinical outcomes and predictors of failure after endoscopic retrograde cholangiography with balloon dilation (ERC-D). We enrolled 239 adult patients who underwent LDLT between 2000 and 2006. Sixty-eight patients (28.4%) developed biliary stricture. Twenty-nine patients with anastomotic biliary stricture were treated with ERC-D and stenting. We retrospectively analyzed the risk factors of biliary stricture and the clinical outcomes of ERC-D. The median follow-up period was 31 months. The risk factors of biliary stricture on multiple logistic regression analysis were a graft with multiple bile ducts, a previous history of bile leakage, and hepatic artery stenosis. The overall success rate of ERC-D was 64.5%. On simple logistic regression, the failure of primary ERC-D was associated with late biliary stricture over 24 weeks and more than 8 weeks between a 2-fold increase of serum alkaline phosphatase from the stable level and ERC-D, even though these were not statistically significant on multiple logistic regression. The relapse rate of stricture after successful ERC-D was 30%. The duration of stenting in the recurrence group was shorter than that in the nonrecurrence group (11.8 +/- 5.03 versus 29.0 +/- 11.6 weeks, P = 0.004). ERC-D is effective for the management of anastomotic biliary stricture. However, the failure rate of primary ERC-D may be high in patients with late onset and delayed diagnosis of biliary stricture. The recurrence seems to occur frequently in patients with a short duration of stenting.

Percutaneous Management of Postoperative Anastomotic Biliary Strictures

Postoperative anastomotic biliary strictures can occur after surgery in bile ducts belonging to transplanted or native (nontransplanted) livers. The majority of postoperative anastomotic strictures encountered by interventional radiologists are most likely in liver transplant recipients due to the large and growing liver transplant recipient population worldwide compared with patients with native livers and biliary enteric anastomoses. They occur after 2.5 to 13% of liver transplantations and they represent at least one-half of biliary strictures encountered after liver transplantation. Anastomotic biliary strictures are considered technical in nature, accentuated by fibrosis and scarring that may be secondary to, if not exacerbated by, graft ischemia. There are numerous variables in the percutaneous transhepatic balloon dilation protocols applied to treat anastomotic biliary strictures. These include (1) types of balloons, (2) how long balloons are inflated, (3) how frequently patients return for additional dilation sessions, and (4) the interval(s) at which they return. No alteration in these variables has proven to improve long-term patency. In addition, new technology such as cutting balloons and stents has not been fully evaluated to determine their effect on long-term patency. The current article describes the overall theme of balloon dilation protocols for the management of anastomotic biliary strictures and discusses possible future management of such strictures.

Transhepatic Dilation of Anastomotic Biliary Strictures in Liver Transplant Recipients with Use of a Combined Cutting and Conventional Balloon Protocol: Technical Safety and Efficacy

To determine the safety and technical efficacy of a transhepatic dilation protocol involving the use of a combined cutting and conventional balloon protocol in the management of anastomotic biliary strictures in adult liver transplant recipients. Retrospective review of adult transplant recipients undergoing transhepatic cutting balloon dilation for anastomotic biliary strictures was performed over a period of 8 months. Cutting balloon dilation was followed by conventional balloon dilation with use of a balloon with a diameter at least as large as that of the initial cutting balloon. Technically successful dilation was defined by improvement of the biliary stricture. A technically successful regimen was defined by a residual stenosis less than 30% after a maximum of three sessions. The technical results were stratified according to lesions treated for the first time and those with restenosis. Comparison among institutions in terms of published methods and technical results were made. Twenty-two patients with liver transplants underwent 49 cutting balloon dilation sessions as part of 27 regimens (1.8 sessions per regimen): 12 cases of primary treatment, 10 cases of restenosis, four for intraprocedural failures of conventional balloon dilation, and one for the latter two indications. Technical success rates of regimens for primary stenoses, restenoses, and all cases were 100%, 90%, and 93%, respectively. These results compare favorably with historic intrainstitutional results, which are 89%, 73%, and 85% for primary stenoses, restenoses, and all cases, respectively. In addition, no biliary ruptures or cases of major hemobilia were encountered. Minor hemobilia was encountered in 10% of cases. The use of commercially available cutting balloons augmented subsequently with larger conventional balloons is safe for transhepatic balloon dilation and can increase the technical success rate of percutaneous management of transplant biliary strictures.

Establishing a systematic endoscopic approach to the management of anastomotic biliary strictures is needed.

Establishing a systematic endoscopic approach to the management of anastomotic biliary strictures is needed.

Efficacy of endoscopic management of anastomotic biliary strictures after hepatic transplantation.

Anastomotic biliary strictures are the most common cause of biliary obstruction following liver transplantation. We studied the efficacy and safety of endoscopic management of anastomotic strictures retrospectively. A stricture at choledocho-choledochal anastomosis was identified in 30 of 354 sequential adult liver-transplant recipients at our institution. Balloon dilation was performed in 29 patients and a stent was inserted across the anastomotic stricture in one patient at initial endoscopy. A total of nine patients did not require further treatment; ten had repeated dilation (median 2). A stent was placed for persistent anastomotic stricture in six patients and for other indications in four patients. Outcomes studied were improvement in cholestasis, stricture diameter, and need for surgical treatment. Safety of therapy was assessed with nature and number of procedural complications. The median serum bilirubin level decreased from 3.25 mg/dl to 1.1 mg/dl (P < 0.001) and median alkaline phosphatase decreased from 451.5 IU/l to 125 IU/l (P = 0.001) following endoscopic therapy. Cholestasis improved in 26 of 30 patients with therapy. Of the remainder, three of three patients with concurrent nonanastomotic strictures and one patient with anastomotic stricture and histologic evidence of rejection showed worsening cholestasis at follow-up. Stricture diameter improved from a median of 2.5 mm to 7 mm (P < 0.001). Median follow-up was 17.9 months from the last therapeutic endoscopy. Five treatable, nonlethal complications occurred after 77 procedures. None of the patients required surgery for anastomotic stricture during a follow-up period up to 58 months. Endoscopic management offers effective and safe treatment for posttransplantation anastomotic biliary strictures and avoids the need for surgical intervention.