Biliary Complication Rates in Living Donor Liver Transplantation: a Retrospective Comparative Study of Stent Versus Non-Stent Groups

Impact of Non-stenting Method with Mucosal Eversion on Biliary Complications Post-LDLT in a Mid-volume Center: a Propensity Score-Matching Analysis of Case-Control Study

Despite technological advancements in living donor liver transplantation (LDLT), biliary complications (BC), including biliary anastomotic stricture (BAS) and bile leak (BL), remain unresolved issues that significantly affect patient outcomes. Biliary stenting has emerged as a potential method for reducing BC in LDLT procedures; however, their necessity remains debated. This study aimed to assess the necessity of biliary stenting by retrospectively comparing the bile duct complication rates in LDLT using duct-to-duct anastomosis with or without biliary stenting.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adults aged between 19 and 80 years at the time of liver transplantation.
• Patients who underwent liver transplantation surgery for liver disease performed by the Department of Surgery at Chungnam National University Hospital under the supervision of the principal investigator.
• Patients who signed the informed consent form before study registration (for future participants).

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients who have not signed the informed consent form or have insufficient understanding of the clinical trial protocol, making it difficult to accurately express their intention to participate.
• Patients deemed unsuitable for participation in this clinical study by the investigator.