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Copyright ©The Author(s) 2016. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jul 21, 2016; 22(27): 6173-6191
Published online Jul 21, 2016. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v22.i27.6173
Advances in endoscopic management of biliary complications after living donor liver transplantation: Comprehensive review of the literature
Milljae Shin, Jae-Won Joh
Milljae Shin, Department of Surgery, Konkuk University Medical Center, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul 143-729, South Korea
Jae-Won Joh, Department of Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul 135-710, South Korea
Author contributions: Shin M performed conception, design, content acquisition and interpretation and wrote the paper; Joh JW contributed critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors of this manuscript have no conflicts of interest to disclose.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Correspondence to: Jae-Won Joh, MD, PhD, Professor, Department of Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 50 Irwon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul 135-710, South Korea. jw.joh@samsung.com
Telephone: +82-2-34103466 Fax: +82-2-34100040
Received: March 28, 2016
Peer-review started: March 29, 2016
First decision: May 12, 2016
Revised: May 25, 2016
Accepted: June 28, 2016
Article in press: June 29, 2016
Published online: July 21, 2016
Abstract

Apart from noticeable improvements in surgical techniques and immunosuppressive agents, biliary complications remain the major causes of morbidity and mortality after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). Bile leakage and stricture are the predominant complications. The reported incidence of biliary complications is 15%-40%, and these are known to occur more frequently in living donors than in deceased donors. Despite the absence of a confirmed therapeutic algorithm, many approaches have been used for treatment, including surgical, endoscopic, and percutaneous transhepatic techniques. In recent years, nonsurgical approaches have largely replaced reoperation. Among these, the endoscopic approach is currently the preferred initial treatment for patients who undergo duct-to-duct biliary reconstruction. Previously, endoscopic management was achieved most optimally through balloon dilatation and single or multiple stents placement. Recently, there have been significant developments in endoscopic devices, such as novel biliary stents, as well as advances in endoscopic technologies, including deep enteroscopy, the rendezvous technique, magnetic compression anastomosis, and direct cholangioscopy. These developments have resulted in almost all patients being managed by the endoscopic approach. Multiple recent publications suggest superior long-term results, with overall success rates ranging from 58% to 75%. This article summarizes the advances in endoscopic management of patients with biliary complications after LDLT.

Keywords: Biliary complication, Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography, Endoscopic management, Living donor, Liver transplantation

Core tip: Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) has become an accepted therapeutic option for patients with end-stage liver disease. However, biliary complications remain the major causes of morbidity and mortality for LDLT recipients and donors. Although there are currently no reports of a clear therapeutic algorithm, many approaches have been developed to treat biliary complications, including surgical, endoscopic, and percutaneous transhepatic techniques. Endoscopic treatment is currently the preferred initial treatment for patients that have previously undergone duct-to-duct biliary reconstruction. This article discusses various aspects of endoscopic management of biliary complications that occur in LDLT.