Bile leakage following T-tube removal in orthotopic liver transplantation.

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.