19 patients (3.7%). Long-term success was observed in 77% of patients with AS. In patients with NAS, partial long-term responses could be achieved in 63% of patients. Five patients (6.2%) required a percutaneous and 6 (7.4%) patients a surgical approach.In conclusion, the long-term outcome for patients with post-liver transplant biliary strictures after endoscopic treatment is excellent, especially for patients with AS. Development of NAS reduces graft but not patient survival after endoscopic therapy. Liver Transpl 12:718-725, 2006.

Except for one severe interventional complication (hepatic infarct), RFA presented as a technically feasible and safe therapeutic option for the palliative treatment of malignant biliary obstruction. The good results of stent patency and survival in this study should be proven in prospective (controlled) trials to further quantify the efficacy of this promising new technique.

No abstract