Liver transplantation : official publication of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and the International Liver Transplantation Society
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Comparative Study
Continuous versus interrupted suture for end-to-end biliary anastomosis during liver transplantation gives equal results.
Biliary complications following orthotopic liver transplantation have been reported in 10% to 30% of patients. Most surgeons perform an end-to-end choledochocholedochostomy with interrupted sutures for biliary reconstruction. The goal of this study was to compare biliary complications between interrupted suture (IS) and continuous suture (CS) techniques during liver transplantation in which an end-to-end choledochocholedochostomy over an internal biliary stent was performed. ⋯ Kaplan-Meier event rates show no difference in leaks (P = .79), strictures (P = .41), graft survival (P = .52), and patient survival (P = .32) by anastomosis type. In conclusion, there was no difference in biliary complications, graft survival, or patient survival between the 2 groups. CS and IS techniques for biliary reconstruction during liver transplantation yield comparable outcomes.