Leak-Stratified Management of Early Bile Leaks After Liver Transplantation: A Narrative Review of Leak Characteristics, Patient Stability, and the Limited Evidence on Intervention Timing in the First 14 Postoperative Days
Narrative review evaluates leak characteristics and patient stability in managing early bile leaks post-transplant, suggesting a framework for intervention.
Key Points
To determine if leak characteristics and patient stability provide more reliable guidance than intervention timing for managing early bile leaks following liver transplantation.
Conducted a structured narrative review using AI-assisted semantic search and PubMed/MEDLINE.
Included 37 sources based on a PICO framework with two independent reviewers screening the materials.
Focused on leak characteristics and patient stability for management insights rather than solely on timing.
No direct studies compared intervention timing within the first 14 postoperative days.
Endoscopic success rates ranged from 80% to 98% across different timing windows, indicating high effectiveness regardless of when the procedure was performed.