ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the safety and long-term outcomes of endoscopic deployment ofmultiple plastic stents for treatment of biliary stricture after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). Methods Between June 2005 and June 2012, 31 patients with biliary strictures after LDLT received endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and multiple plastic stents placement. The technical success rate and ERCP-related complications were observed. The patients were followed up and the duration of stents treatment, stricture eliminating rate, and sustained clinical success rate were recorded. Results The ERCP findings revealed stricture in 22 cases and stricture plus leakage in 9. The endoscopic technical success rate was 87. 1% (27/31). ERCP-related complications included acute pancreatitis in 1 case, acute cholangitis 2 and partial stent migration in 2. There were no procedure-related deaths. The median period from stent deployment to removal was 9. 6 months. The stricture eliminating rate was 95% (19/20) and sustained clinical success rate was 88. 2% (15/17) during a follow-up of 5-43 months (median 38 months). Conclusion Endoscopic deployment of multiple plastic stents is safe and effective for biliary stricture after LDLT, with acceptable long-termoutcomes, and the method may be a firtt-line therapy option for biliary stricture after LDLT.