Biliary and Vascular Complications after Liver Transplantation-From Diagnosis to Treatment

Medicina (Kaunas). 2023 Apr 28;59(5):850. doi: 10.3390/medicina59050850.

Abstract

The last decades have brought impressive advances in liver transplantation. As a result, there was a notable rise in the number of liver transplants globally. Advances in surgical techniques, immunosuppressive therapies and radiologically guided treatments have led to an improvement in the prognosis of these patients. However, the risk of complications remains significant, and the management of liver transplant patients requires multidisciplinary teams. The most frequent and severe complications are biliary and vascular complications. Compared to vascular complications, biliary complications have higher incidence rates but a better prognosis. The early diagnosis and selection of the optimal treatment are crucial to avoid the loss of the graft and even the death of the patient. The development of minimally invasive techniques prevents surgical reinterventions with their associated risks. Liver retransplantation remains the last therapeutic solution for graft dysfunction, one of the main problems, in this case, being the low number of donors.

Keywords: biliary complications; graft dysfunction; liver transplantation; vascular complications.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cardiovascular Diseases* / etiology
  • Humans
  • Liver
  • Liver Transplantation* / adverse effects
  • Postoperative Complications / epidemiology
  • Postoperative Complications / etiology
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Tissue Donors

Grants and funding

The APC was funded by the University of Oradea, Oradea, Romania, through an internal project.