A simple method to confirm patency of the graft bile duct during living-related partial liver transplantation

A bile duct stricture caused by an inadvertent ligation or suture during donor operation is rare, but not a negligible complication after living-related liver transplantation (LRLT). We present here a simple technique to prevent this kind of complication. Before bilioenteric anastomosis, a rod-shaped surgical probe was introduced into the bile ducts of the graft to examine their patency. The position of the surgical probe and the liver segment in which the probe proceeded was checked using ultrasonography. Using this technique in all of our 60 cases of LRLT, we have had no experience of this bile duct complication. We recommend this technique to be adopted in LRLT and split-liver transplantation to diminish the risk of biliary complications.