Locoregional treatments are commonly applied in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients as a bridge to liver transplantation to prevent tumor progression during waiting time. We hypothesized that pre-transplant radioembolization treatment may increase the prevalence of hepatic artery and biliary complications post-transplant.

A retrospective review of 173 consecutive HCC patients who underwent liver transplantation between January 2007 and October 2016 at our transplant center was performed. The prevalence of hepatic artery and biliary complications in patients treated with and without radioembolization prior to liver transplantation was compared. Posssible risk factors for associated with hepatic artery and biliary complications were evaluated using univariable and multivariable analyses.

Radioembolization bridging treatment had been applied in 42 patients while 131 patients had received other forms of bridging treatment or none at all. Both groups were comparable with regards to common recipient and donor demographics. The overall prevalence of hepatic artery complications was 9.52% in the radioembolization group and 8.40% in the control group (p 0.7610). Biliary complications were significantly more frequent in the control group (18.32% vs. 4.76%, p 0.0445). Multivariable analysis did not detect any factors significantly associated with an increased risk of hepatic artery or biliary complications.

In conclusion, radioembolization is not associated with higher odds of hepatic artery or biliary complications following liver transplantation. Radioembolization as a bridge to transplantation may successfully be applied without comprimising successful liver transplantation.

CITATION INFORMATION: Radunz S, Treckmann J, Saner F, Müller S, Theysohn J, Paul A, Benkö T. Hepatic Artery and Biliary Complications in Liver Transplant Recipients with Radioembolization Bridging Treatment for Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Am J Transplant. 2017;17 (suppl 3).

« Back to 2017 American Transplant Congress