ROLE OF ERCP IN MANAGEMENT OF BACTERIAL CHOLANGITIS IN LIVING-DONOR LIVER TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS WITH BILIARY COMPLICATIONS: A SINGLE CENTER STUDY

Biliary complications are still frequent after liver transplantation especially living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). Bacterial cholangitis is a potentially life-threatening complication. Management is based on antimicrobial therapy and surgical drainage. Bile cultures can play a role in determining the causative agent and optimizing antibiotic therapy. This study assessed the incidence of bacterial cholangitis among recipients of LDLT and evaluated the role of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in management of potential biliary infection. This study was conducted at Ain Shams Organ Transplantation Center between February 2019 and April 2022. The selected 39 LDLT recipients developed post-transplant cholangitis on top of biliary complications. Liver function tests, imaging, ERCP were performed in all patients. The results showed that incidence of biliary complications were 38.2%. Imaging and ERCP findings were consistent regarding the anastomotic stricture diagnosis. Stones were detected by ERCP in 12 patients when magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography detected them in only one patient. Significant improvement as regard inflammatory markers (CRP-Procalcitonin) ,liver enzymes and Total bilirubin before and after ERCP.