BACKGROUND Despite significant advancements in liver transplantation (LT) surgical procedures and perioperative care, post-LT biliary complications (BCs) remain a significant source of morbidity, mortality, and graft failure. In addition, data are conflicting regarding the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of LT recipients. Thus, the success of LT should be considered in terms of both the survival and recovery of HRQoL. AIM To assess the impact of BCs on the HRQoL of live-donor LT recipients (LDLT-Rs). METHODS We retrospectively analysed data for 25 LDLT-Rs who developed BCs post-LT between January 2011 and December 2016 at our institution. The Short Form 12 version 2 (SF 12v2) health survey was used to assess their HRQoL. We also included 25 LDLT-Rs without any post-LT complications as a control group. RESULTS The scores for HRQoL of LDLT-Rs who developed BCs were significantly higher than the norm-based scores in the domains of physical functioning ( P = 0.003), role-physical ( P < 0.001), bodily pain ( P = 0.003), general health ( P = 0.004), social functioning ( P = 0.005), role-emotional ( P < 0.001), and mental health ( P < 0.001). No significant difference between the two groups regarding vitality was detected ( P = 1.000). The LDLT-Rs with BCs had significantly lower scores than LDLT-Rs without BCs in all HRQoL domains ( P < 0.001) and the mental ( P < 0.001) and physical ( P = 0.0002) component summary scores. CONCLUSION The development of BCs in LDLT-Rs causes a lower range of improvement in HRQoL.

BACKGROUND Biliary complications (BCs) after liver transplantation (LT) remain a considerable cause of morbidity, mortality, increased cost, and graft loss. AIM To investigate the impact of BCs on chronic graft rejection, graft failure and mortality. METHODS From 2011 to 2016, 215 adult recipients underwent right-lobe living-donor liver transplantation (RT-LDLT) at our centre. We excluded 46 recipients who met the exclusion criteria, and 169 recipients were included in the final analysis. Donors’ and recipients’ demographic data, clinical data, operative details and postoperative course information were collected. We also reviewed the management and outcomes of BCs. Recipients were followed for at least 12 mo post-LT until December 2017 or graft or patient loss. RESULTS The overall incidence rate of BCs including biliary leakage, biliary infection and biliary stricture was 57.4%. Twenty-seven (16%) patients experienced chronic graft rejection. Graft failure developed in 20 (11.8%) patients. A total of 28 (16.6%) deaths occurred during follow-up. BCs were a risk factor for the occurrence of chronic graft rejection and failure; however, mortality was determined by recurrent hepatitis C virus infection. CONCLUSION Biliary complications after RT-LDLT represent an independent risk factor for chronic graft rejection and graft failure; nonetheless, effective management of these complications can improve patient and graft survival.

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