Biliary complications are still frequent after liver transplantation especially living donor liver
transplantation (LDLT). Bacterial cholangitis is a potentially life-threatening complication. Management
is based on antimicrobial therapy and surgical drainage. Bile cultures can play a role
in determining the causative agent and optimizing antibiotic therapy.
This study assessed the incidence of bacterial cholangitis among recipients of LDLT and evaluated
the role of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in management of
potential biliary infection.
This study was conducted at Ain Shams Organ Transplantation Center between February
2019 and April 2022. The selected 39 LDLT recipients developed post-transplant cholangitis on
top of biliary complications. Liver function tests, imaging, ERCP were performed in all patients.
The results showed that incidence of biliary complications were 38.2%. Imaging and ERCP
findings were consistent regarding the anastomotic stricture diagnosis. Stones were detected by
ERCP in 12 patients when magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography detected them in only
one patient. Significant improvement as regard inflammatory markers (CRP-Procalcitonin)
,liver enzymes and Total bilirubin before and after ERCP.