Background and aim: The aim of the study was to assess efficacy and safety of endoscopic treatment in BS after pediatric LTx.
Methods: We retrospectively reviewed data of patients with DDA who developed BS and underwent ERCP.
Results: Of 189 transplanted patients with DDA, strictures developed in 30 (16%). In this subgroup, the median age at LTx was 14.7 (1.5-17.6) and follow-up period was 3.9 (1.3-11.3). ABS were in 76% and NABS in combination with ABS in 24% of patients. Overall, 95 ERCP sessions (3.0 per patient) were performed with successful outcome in 22 (73%) cases. Duration of treatment was 9.1 (1.8-24.1) months. Five patients underwent surgical revision and three patients retransplantation (10%). Risk factors of endoscopy failure were HCV or HBV infection, prolonged CIT and treatment before 2007. The most common complications after ERCP were cholangitis (8.2%) and pancreatitis (4.2%). There were worse overall prognosis and higher risk of post-ERCP complications in NABS.
Conclusions: ERCP is safe and effective in the majority of patients with post-transplant duct-to-duct BS, and it is currently recommended as the first-line treatment.
Keywords: anastomotic stricture; biliary complications; cholangitis; pancreatitis.
© 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.