ABSTRACT
Objective To explore causes leading to and the timing of liver retransplantation. Methods Among 164 cases of liver transplantation from Jul. 1999 to Dec. 2004, 6 cases underwent retransplantation with an incidence of 3. 65%. Causes included multiple intrahepatic bile duct stricture by ischemic reperfusion injury in 3 cases, hepatic artery stricture and thrombosis, hepatitis B recurrence, outflow obstruction of hepatic veins in one each. Results Clinical symptom improved in 4 cases, and failed to improve in 2 cases. Two cases suffered from intraabdominal bleeding, one biliary leak, one bacterial infection, two mold infection. Two patients died from bacterial and mold infection in four months. Conclusion Ischemic reperfusion injury is main cause resulting in intrahepatic bile duct stricture, liver retransplantation should be performed when the function of graft deteriorates significantly and conservative therapy fails.