Technical review of a single-center experience of biliary recanalization for liver transplantation-related benign biliary stricture

PURPOSE: To review a single-center experience of percutaneous biliary recanalization for liver transplantation-related benign biliary stricture, particularly focusing on the technical aspect METHOD: Twenty-three recipients of liver transplantation (LT) with 27 benign biliary strictures underwent percutaneous recanalization using a step-by-step technique from June 2017 to March 2020. The step-by-step technique includes a hairy wire or an usual 0.035-inch wire passage, a coaxial system, supporting catheters of various shapes and wires, and an extraluminal passage. The success rate of percutaneous biliary recanalization, degree of stricture, interval between LT and biliary recanalization, procedure time, number of sessions, and recanalization techniques were analyzed. RESULTS: Among the 27 lesions, 26 (96 %) were successfully recanalized using a percutaneous approach without major complications. Of the 27 lesions, 8 were complete obstructions and 19 were partial obstructions. Consequently, the average interval between LT and biliary recanalization was 28.8 ± 42.7 months (range, 2–192 months). The average procedure time was 50 ± 65 min (range, 8–345 min). The average number of sessions was 1.4 ± 1 (range, 1–6). The case distribution for the used recanalization techniques was as follows: twelve cases utilized step 1, 10 utilized step 2, 4 utilized step 3, and only 1 case utilized step 4. The complete obstruction group required a more advanced technique and spent more recanalization time than the partial obstruction group. CONCLUSIONS: The step-by-step percutaneous biliary recanalization technique had a high success rate without major complications. According to the patient’s biliary anatomy appropriate selection of an angled 5-Fr support catheter and wire is essential in increasing the recanalization success rate.