Biliary strictures are a significant cause of morbidity and graft loss in pediatric liver transplant recipients. Risk factors for the development of biliary strictures are not fully established. We aimed to evaluate the incidence of biliary strictures and treatment modalities outcomes and to identify potential risk factors for occurrence.

Pediatric patients who underwent liver transplantation in the single tertiary pediatric liver transplant center in Israel were evaluated. We compared demographics, presentation, laboratory results, imaging, treatment, and outcomes between patients with and without biliary stricture. Multivariate regression analyses were used to identify risk factors for biliary strictures.

Among 121 pediatric liver transplant patients, 65 (53.7%) were males; the median age at the time of liver transplantation was 43 (3-215) months. Fifteen patients (12.4%) had biliary strictures following transplantation. One (7%) patient with biliary stricture was treated via endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, and 12 patients (80%) underwent interventions via a percutaneous transhepatic approach. Nine of the 12 patients were treated successfully, requiring one or multiple procedures, while the remaining had surgery or laser therapy. Risk factors for the development of biliary strictures were biliary leak, acute cellular rejection, and the presence of two biliary anastomoses.

In our cohort, the presence of two biliary anastomoses and post-transplant complications including acute cellular rejection and early biliary leaks were associated with biliary strictures in pediatric liver transplantation recipients. Percutaneous transhepatic interventions result in good outcomes in most patients.

We aimed to analyze the risk factors for management failure of BC after pediatric liver transplantation (pLT) by retrospectively analyzing primary pLT performed between 1997 and 2018 (n = 620 patients).

In all, 117/620 patients (19%) developed BC. The median (range) follow-up was 9 (1.4-21) years. Patient survival at 1, 5 and 10 years was 88.9%, 85.7%, 84.4% and liver graft survival was 82.4%, 77.4%, and 74.3% respectively. Graft not patient survival was impaired by BC (p = 0.01). Multivariate analysis identified the number of dilatation courses > 2 (p = 0.008), prolonged cold ischemia time (p = 0.004), anastomosed multiple biliary ducts (p = 0.019) and hepatic artery thrombosis (p = 0.01) as factors associated with impaired graft survival. The number of dilatation courses > 2 (p < 0.001) and intrahepatic vs anastomotic stricture (p = 0.014) were associated with management failure. Thus, repeated (> 2) radiologic dilatation courses are associated with impaired graft survival and management failure. Overall, graft but not patient survival was impaired by BC.

Percutaneous biliary interventions (PBIs) are commonly performed by interventional radiologists for a variety of clinical indications including biliary infections, strictures, leaks, and postoperative complications. PBIs have high technical and clinical success rates and are relatively safe when compared with more invasive surgical techniques. Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography and percutaneous biliary drainage play an essential role in the management of common posthepatobiliary complications including biliary strictures and leaks. Percutaneous biliary endoscopy can be used for direct visualization of the biliary tree and a variety of interventions including tissue biopsy, lithotripsy, stone removal, as well as stent placement and removal.