Biliary reconstruction using non‐penetrating, tissue everting clips versus conventional sewn biliary anastomosis in liver transplantation

Background. Biliary complications occur following approximately 25% of liver transplantations. Efforts to decrease biliary complications include methods designed to diminish tissue ischemia. Previously, we reported excellent short‐term results and decreased biliary anastomosis time in a porcine liver transplant model using non‐penetrating, tissue everting clips (NTEC), specifically VCS® clips. Methods. We examined the incidence of biliary anastomotic complications in a group of patients in whom orthotopic liver transplantation was performed with biliary reconstruction using NTEC and compared that group to a matched group treated with biliary reconstruction via conventional end‐to‐end sewn choledochocholedochostomy. Patients were matched in a 1:2 fashion by age at transplantation, disease etiology, Child‐Turcot‐Pugh scores, MELD score or UNOS status (prior to 1998), cold and warm ischemia times, organ donor age, and date of transplantation. Results. Seventeen patients had clipped anastomosis and 34 comparison patients had conventional sewn anastomosis. There were no differences between groups in terms of baseline clinical or demographic data. The median time from completion of the hepatic artery anastomosis to completion of clipped versus conventional sewn biliary anastomosis was 45 (interquartile range = 20 min) versus 47 min (interquartile range = 23 min), respectively (p=0.12). Patients were followed for a mean of 29 months. Biliary anastomotic complications, including leak or anastomotic stricture, were observed in 18% of the clipped group and 24% of the conventional sewn group. Conclusions. Biliary reconstruction can be performed clinically using NTEC as an alternative to conventional sewn biliary anastomoses with good results.