Hepatic abscesses after liver transplantation secondary to traumatic intrahepatic bile duct injuries in a cadaveric allograft donor

• Published in: Transplant international 2004-08, Vol.17 (7), p.379-383
• Main Authors: COWIE, S. E, YOSHIDA, E. M, RYAN, A. G, CHUNG, S. W, BUCZKOWSKI, A. K, HO, S. G, ERB, S. R, STEINBRECHER, U. P, SCUDAMORE, C. H
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic - injuries; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic - surgery; Biological and medical sciences; Cadaver; Cholangiography; General aspects; Humans; Liver Abscess - diagnostic imaging; Liver Abscess - etiology; Liver Transplantation - adverse effects; Male; Medical sciences; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Tissue Donors; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
• ISSN: 0934-0874; 1432-2277
• DOI: 10.1007/s00147-004-0727-2

We report the case of an ultimately successful liver transplant recipient whose post-transplant course was complicated by the early development of multiple abscesses in the graft. Post-transplant cholangiography identified multiple shear injuries to the second and third order intrahepatic bile ducts, originating from blunt trauma to the donor liver. Treatment was non-operative following recent reports of the successful management of intrahepatic bile duct injury in the stable trauma patient. This discussion adds to the limited literature available on the transplantation of injured donor livers, despite this being a relatively common practice. Further experience is needed in determining the appropriate criteria for the use of traumatized donor livers. Cholangiography carried out on the back table may help to determine if such injured livers are suitable for transplantation.