Endoscopic management of the liver transplant patient

Abstract

Endoscopy plays a major role in the pre-liver transplant evaluation to assess the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding from portal hypertension and to provide primary prophylaxis of varices in those patients intolerant to medical therapy. Endoscopy also plays a vital role in providing hemostasis of active upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Colonoscopy is useful for managing premalignant conditions such as chronic ulcerative colitis in both the pretransplant and posttransplant period. In the post-transplant period, endoscopic therapy of biliary complications using ERCP allows successful nonoperative treatment. While this review emphasized endoscopic management of biliary complications, the role of other disciplines, particularly interventional radiology, is vital to produce the best outcome of posttransplant biliary complications. Copyright © 2005 by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.