The bile duct anastomosis in liver transplantation.

In spite of the dramatic improvement of survival after orthotopic liver transplantation over the last decades, biliary tract complications are still the 'achilles heal' of liver transplantation with a potential risk of significant morbidity and mortality. Biliary leaks or strictures, the major types of biliary complications, may occur after direct choledocho-choledochostomy (CC) or Roux-Y choledocho-jejunostomy (CRY). The majority of these biliary complications, however, are often a consequence of surgical technique and therefore potentially amenable to improved surgical technique.