Ultrasonographically guided percutaneous transhepatic liver biopsy after pediatric liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Complications associated with ultrasonographically guided percutaneous transhepatic liver biopsy (PTLB) after liver transplantation (LT) have been rarely reported, and there is no consensus about its safety. We retrospectively reviewed the safety and outcomes of PTLB after pediatric LT. METHODS: Between January 2008 and December 2019, 8/1122 (0.71%) pediatric patients who underwent ultrasonographically guided PTLB after LT developed complications. The median age at PTLB was 7.8 years (range 0.1-17.9). Grafts included left lobe/left lateral segment in 1050 patients and others in 72. PTLB was performed using local anesthesia±sedation in 1028 patients and general anesthesia in 94. RESULTS: Complications after PTLB included acute cholangitis in 3 patients, sepsis in 2, respiratory failure due to over-sedation in 1, subcapsular hematoma in 1, and intrahepatic arterioportal fistula in 1. The incidence of complications of PTLB in patients with biopsy alone and those with simultaneous interventions was 0.49% and 3.19%, respectively (p = .023). Patients who developed acute cholangitis, respiratory failure, subcapsular hematoma, and arterioportal fistula improved with non-operative management. Of two patients with sepsis, one underwent PTLB and percutaneous transhepatic portal vein balloon dilatation and developed fever and seizures the following day. Sepsis was treated with antibiotic therapy. Another patient who underwent PTLB and exchange of percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage catheter developed fever and impaired consciousness immediately. Sepsis was treated with antibiotic therapy, mechanical ventilation, and continuous hemofiltration. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous transhepatic liver biopsy after pediatric LT is safe. However, combining liver biopsy with simultaneous procedures for vascular and biliary complications is associated with an increased risk of complications.

The Causes and Outcomes of Early Relaparotomy Following Pediatric Living Donor Liver Transplantation.

Early relaparotomy of adult recipients after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) is significantly associated with poor prognosis. However, there are few reports focusing on pediatric recipients after LDLT. The aim of this study is to clarify the causes and outcomes of early relaparotomy after pediatric LDLT. A total of 265 pediatric recipients (272 LDLTs) transplanted from May 2001 to October 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. Early relaparotomy was defined as surgical intervention performed within 3 months after LDLT. Early relaparotomy was performed 49 times for 33 recipients (12.5%). The recipient and graft survival rates in the early relaparotomy group were significantly lower than those in the nonearly relaparotomy group, respectively (75.0% and 63.6% versus 96.6% and 95.8%; both P < 0.001). Left lateral segment grafts were used significantly more frequently in the nonrelaparotomy group (P = 0.01). According to the multivariate analysis, the preoperative Pediatric End-Stage Liver Disease (PELD)/Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score of the early relaparotomy group was significantly higher than that of the nonearly relaparotomy group (13.7 versus 6.3; P = 0.04). According to the receiver operating characteristic curve, the preoperative PELD/MELD score cutoff point was 17.2. Early relaparotomy due to infectious causes led to significantly poorer graft survival than that due to noninfectious causes (P = 0.04). In conclusion, the recipient and graft survival rates of the early relaparotomy group were significantly lower than those of the nonearly relaparotomy group. A high preoperative PELD/MELD score was a risk factor for early relaparotomy. In particular, early relaparotomy due to infection showed a poor prognosis.

Increased tacrolimus blood concentration by Beni-Madonna - a new hybrid citrus cultivar categorized as 'Tangor', in a liver transplant patient: likely furanocoumarin-mediated inhibition of CYP3A4 or P-glycoprotein.

ADVERSE EVENT: A drug interaction leading to greater exposure to tacrolimus. DRUG IMPLICATED: Tacrolimus and Beni-Madonna (a new cultivar citrus categorized as 'Tangor'). THE PATIENT: A 9-month-old girl with biliary atresia (body weight, 7.5 kg) taking tacrolimus after liver transplantation. EVIDENCE THAT LINKS THE DRUG TO THE EVENT: The time course was consistent with the appearance of the interaction, which was confirmed by an increase in the blood concentration of tacrolimus. Dihydroxybergamottin was detected in peel of Beni-Madonna and in peel and fruit pulp of grapefruit. MANAGEMENT: Avoiding Beni-Madonna intake. MECHANISM: Inhibition of activity of CYP3A4, P-glycoprotein, or both, by Beni-Madonna. IMPLICATION FOR THERAPY: Clinicians should be aware of this potential interaction, and patients taking drugs such as tacrolimus (the kinetics of which are affected by grapefruit juice) should avoid Beni-Madonna intake. HYPOTHESIS TO BE TESTED: Further study is required to determine if other Citrus species categorized as Tangor contain furanocoumarins.

Interventional radiology treatment for vascular and biliary complications following pediatric living donor liver transplantation - a retrospective study.

There are few long-term outcome reports for interventional radiology (IVR) treatments for vascular and biliary complications following pediatric living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). Herein, we presented our institution's experience and investigated the efficacy and issues of long-term outcome with IVR treatments. Between May 2001 and September 2016, 279 pediatric LDLTs were performed. The median age at LDLT was 1.4 years old, and the median observation period was 8.2 years. All the biliary reconstructions at LDLT were hepaticojejunostomy. The IVR treatments were selected as endovascular, radiological, or endoscopic interventions. Post-transplant hepatic vein, portal vein, hepatic artery, and biliary complications were present in 7.9%, 14.0%, 5.4%, and 18.3%, respectively. IVR treatment was the first treatment option in 81.8%, 94.9%, 46.7%, and 94.1%, respectively. The recurrence and cure rates following IVR treatment were 42.1%, 21.1%, 44.4%, and 34.0% and 84.2%, 97.4%, 100%, and 88.0%, respectively. The graft survival rates in patients with and without post-transplant vascular and biliary complications were 94.4% and 90.6%, respectively (P = 0.522). The IVR treatments for vascular and biliary complications following pediatric LDLT are the first choice option. Although the recurrence following IVR treatment is a major problem and it is necessary to carefully perform long-term follow-up, IVR treatments have good treatment outcomes.