Role of ERCP in asymptomatic orthotopic liver transplant patients with abnormal liver enzymes

• DOI: 10.1111/j.1572-0241.2000.01675.x
• Publication Date: 2004-03-30T10:01:22Z
• Authors: Devin E. Eckhoff; Todd H. Baron; William G. Blackard; Desiree E. Morgan; Ralph Crowe; Marty Sellers; Brendan McGuire; Juan L. Contreras; J. Steve Bynon
• Keywords: Abnormality

The safety and efficacy of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in the evaluation management biliary tract complications after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) have been previously demonstrated. However, role ERCP evaluating asymptomatic OLT patients with abnormal enzymes a normal tree remains poorly defined. We sought to assess utility this subset patients.A retrospective analysis of-asymptomatic evaluated by was undertaken. In addition ERCP, all these had diagnostic abdominal Doppler ultrasound, percutaneous biopsy. All choledochocholedochostomy at time transplant T-tube cholangiograms 3 months postoperatively. A radiologist, blinded clinical findings, interpreted ultrasound as normal, dilation, or vascular abnormalities. same radiologist findings. pathologist, graded biopsies diagnostic, but nondiagnostic.Twenty-two underwent 23 ERCPs. Twenty-two ERCPs were (96%), one finding did not explain enzyme abnormality. Liver biopsy 13 22 (57%) each case normal. remaining 10 nondiagnostic. Ultrasound five cases, three cases suggesting normal.Routine use function test abnormalities diagnostically useful. patients, usually frequently should be initial invasive procedure.