Operations upon the biliary tract during transplantation of the liver

Abstract

Operation upon the biliary tract is a discipline within transplantation of the liver. There exists a background of basic science information concerning anatomy and physiology, an historical evolution of surgical techniques, a divergence of contemporary opinion regarding preferred approaches and a body of well described complications. The complication rate, once more than one-half with substantial contribution to mortality rates, now ranges from approximately 15 to 25 per cent. Current practice in most institutions is to use choledochocholedochostomy with T-tube stent when a recipient duct is present and Roux-en-Y choledochojejunostomy with internal stent when a suitable recipient duct is absent. Hepatic arterial thrombosis is an important cause of complications of the biliary tract. The overlap of symptoms and signs of rejection with those of biliary sepsis and other complications of the biliary tract underscores the need for algorithmic use of diagnostic modalities in the post-transplant period.