1. Bile leakage following T-tube removal in orthotopic liver transplantation.
- Author
-
Tepetes K, Karavias D, Felekouras E, Jabour N, Tzakis A, and Starzl E
- Subjects
- Biliary Tract Diseases diagnosis, Humans, Bile, Biliary Tract Diseases etiology, Drainage instrumentation, Liver Transplantation adverse effects
- Abstract
Background/aims: Biliary tract complications constitute a common cause of post-operative morbidity after orthotopic liver transplantation. Bile leakage following T-tube removal, even if uncommon, can also seriously influence post-operative recovery. This report outlines the diagnostic and therapeutic policy used to treat this complication in a large liver transplantation center., Methodology: Fourteen consecutive cases of bile leakage after T-tube removal are presented. Abdominal pain was the most common symptom and acute abdomen developed in one third of the patients. Ultrasonography was the most common imaging technique used., Results: Five patients were treated conservatively with or without percutaneous drainage of the biloma and 9 patients underwent an exploratory laparotomy. Ligation of the T-tube tract was the most common technique used. All patients had an uneventful clinical course., Conclusions: Clinical signs are the most important factor in the diagnosis of this complication, and should be treated surgically if the patient does not improve within 24-48 hours under conservative management. Inadequate fibrous T-tube tract formation due to immunosuppression or the underlying disease could be an explanation for the development of this complication.
- Published
- 1999