Comparison of intraoperative biliary anastomosis stenting technique in living-donor liver transplantation: Review of 41 patients

BACKGROUND/AIM: Biliary fistula is one of the most important complications in liver transplantation. Complications can vary from simple local peritonitis to death, and various techniques have been described to prevent them. In this study, we compared two different stenting methods used in biliary tract anastomosis in living-donor liver transplantation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed data from 41 living-donor liver transplantations that were performed due to end-stage liver failure between August 2019 and November 2020. Patients were grouped according to the stenting technique used in biliary anastomosis. Postoperative biliary tract complications were investigated. RESULTS: Biliary fistulas were observed in 2 (7.4%) patients in the internal stent group, while 4 (28.5) fistulas were observed in the external stent group. Biliary tract stricture was observed in 2 (7.4%) patients in the internal stent group, but there was no statistical difference in complications. The preoperative MELD score (p = 0.038*) was found to be statistically significant in regard to developing complications. CONCLUSION: Our study did not show the effect of stenting methods used during biliary anastomosis on the development of complications. However, larger randomized controlled studies are needed.