Biliary complications in living liver donors

Surg Today. 2010 May;40(5):411-7. doi: 10.1007/s00595-009-4143-1. Epub 2010 Apr 28.

Abstract

With the increasing use of living donor liver transplantation (LDLT), the morbidity and mortality of the donors have thus become inevitable problems associated with this procedure. The most common postoperative complications among donors for LDLT involve the biliary tract. The incidence of biliary complications in donors tends to be about 5% based on recent publications. Anatomical variations in the biliary tract, higher predonation alkaline phosphatase levels, and intraoperative blood transfusions are also risk factors for biliary complications in the donors after donation. Donors with biliary complications often show unspecific symptoms and most of the biliary complications can be normally treated by nonsurgical methods. Interventional procedures such as percutaneous placement of a peritoneal drain, percutaneous/endoscopic biliary drainage, and combinations of balloon dilatation and/or stenting are effective in the treatment of bile leakage and biliary stricture. A clear understanding of the biliary anatomy of each donor and refined surgical techniques will help to minimize risk of biliary complications for living liver donors.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Biliary Tract Diseases / diagnosis
  • Biliary Tract Diseases / epidemiology
  • Biliary Tract Diseases / etiology*
  • Biliary Tract Diseases / therapy
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Liver Transplantation / adverse effects*
  • Living Donors*
  • Postoperative Complications / epidemiology
  • Postoperative Complications / etiology*
  • Postoperative Complications / therapy
  • Risk Factors