Clinical application of argon plasma coagulation (APC) trans-choledochoscopy in the treatment of biliary tract related complications following liver transplantation / 中华器官移植杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the clinical value of argon plasma coagulation (APC)trans-choledochoscopy in biliary tract complications following liver transplantation. Methods All 27 patients underwent T-tube-choledochoscopy or percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscope (PTCS).APC was used to burn the hyperplasia of bile duct stenosis and then expended the stenosis with bougienage. The bile duct foreign bodies were burnt by APC and then eliminated. The granulation tissues of bile duct were burnt by APC after biopsied. The sutures of anastomoses were burnt by APC and then eliminated. Results In general, the therapeutic achievement ratio of stenosis of bile duct in 25 cases of 28 locations was 78. 6% (22/28). The clearance ratio of bile duct foreign bodies was 85. 7% (6/7). The elimination ratio of granulation tissues was 100% (5/5), the same as the elimination ratio of sutures of anastomoses. There were no treatment-related complications about APC. The recurrence ratio of bile duct stenosis was respectively 4.5% (1/22) and 13. 6% (3/22)after follow-up for 3 and 6 months respectively. All the recurrent stenosis was non-anastomotic. The recurrence ratio of bile duct foreign bodies was respectively 16. 7% (1/6) and 33.3% (2/6) after follow-up for 3 and 6 months respectively. Conclusion APC trans-choledochoscopy in treatment of biliary anastomotic stenosis, mural foreign bodies, mural biliary cast, granulation tissues of bile duct and sutures of anastomoses following liver transplantion has a high success ratio and a sure long-term efficacy without treatment-related complications.