Diagnosis and treatment of biliary sludge,cast and stone following liver transplantation

Objective:To investigate etiological facts and treatment of biliary sludge,cast and stone following orthotopic liver transplantation(OLT).Methods:A review was made using data collected from 81 cases with OLTs performed in our center from February 2003 to January 2004,and confirmed by retrospective study.Etiological factors of biliary sludge,cast and stone following OLT were analyzed,and treatment of biliary sludge,cast and stone following OLT were discussed.Result:Nine cases of biliary sludge,cast and stone were diagnosed and the incidence rate was 11.1%.Of these,five were biliary sludge and cast,2 were bile stone and 2 were necrotic debris.Two cases with hepatic artery embolism received retransplantation and survived.The other one with hepatic artery embolism was ameliorated with nasobiliary drainage by ERCP.Two cases with biliary sludge and cast were resolved by non-operative treatment.Four cases were reoperated,2 resolved and 2 cases died.Conclusion:Biliary injury and ischemia reperfusion injury,reject reaction,infection and changes of bile kinetics are the important factors causing biliary sludge,cast and stone following OLT.Shortening the time of cold and heat ischemia reperfusion injury of liver,reducing the injury of the blood supply of donor bile duct,actively preventing and early treating of infection and rejection reaction might reduce the incidence rate of biliary sludge,cast and stone following OLT.