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Endoscopy 2008; 40(9): 746-751
DOI: 10.1055/s-2008-1077489
Original article

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Is stenting necessary after balloon dilation of post-transplantation biliary strictures? Results of a prospective comparative study

H.  Kulaksiz1 , K.  H.  Weiss2 , D.  Gotthardt2 , G.  Adler1 , W.  Stremmel2 , A.  Schaible3 , A.  Dogan3 , A.  Stiehl2 , P.  Sauer2
  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, University Hospital Ulm, Germany
  • 2Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Germany
  • 3Department of Surgery, University Hospital Heidelberg, Germany
Further Information

Publication History

submitted 29 January 2008

accepted after revision 2 June 2008

Publication Date:
13 August 2008 (online)

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Commentaire de travail de H. Kulaksiz et al., pp. 746Endoscopy 2008; 40(09): 969-969
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1306875

Background and study aims: Biliary strictures are a major cause of morbidity following liver transplantation. In the present prospective comparative trial, we evaluated balloon dilation vs. balloon dilation plus stenting with regard to technical and clinical efficacy as well as complications.

Patients and methods: A total of 32 patients with symptomatic biliary strictures after liver transplantation were assigned to balloon dilation (n = 17) or balloon dilation plus plastic stent placement (n = 15). The main outcome parameter was sustained clinical success defined as an interval of at least 3 months without further endoscopic intervention. Additional outcome parameters were assisted clinical success and treatment failure, as well as procedure-related complications.

Results: The initial technical success and primary clinical success rates in the dilation group were both 100 %; in the stent group, the corresponding rates were 100 % and 93 % (n. s.). The sustained clinical success was 71 % vs. 73 %, respectively (n. s.). The time interval to reach sustained clinical success was 6.1 and 5.1 months, respectively (n. s.). No significant differences were found in assisted clinical success or in treatment failure. Complications were observed in 4.3 % in the dilation group and 13.6 % in the stent group (P < 0.05). Independent of the treatment group, a sustained clinical success in anastomotic strictures was achieved in 100 %, whereas the success rate of strictures of the donor hepatic duct was 50 % and of strictures involving the hilum, only 14 % (P < 0.05).

Conclusions: In patients with biliary strictures after liver transplantation, endoscopic balloon dilation alone was as effective as dilation plus stent placement. Stent placement was associated with a significantly higher complication rate. Endoscopic treatment of strictures of the biliary anastomosis is highly effective, whereas attempts to treat more complex strictures are less promising.

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Hasan Kulaksiz, MD

University Hospital Ulm
Department of Internal Medicine
Division of Gastroenterology

Robert-Koch-Str. 8
D-89081 Ulm
Germany

Fax: +49731-500 44502

Email: hasan.kulaksiz@uniklinik-ulm.de

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