Blocked or Clogged Bile Duct

Hi. I had a liver transplant about 2 years ago. One of my post transplant issues was not a totally blocked but a very narrowed bile duct. I had no symptoms but it showed up on the post transplant scans. I had to fly back to
Mayo AZ (from CO) and they did a procedure on me hoping it would be enough. Subsequent scans said no joy. So I had to fly down a second time and they put a stent in me. None of the treaments/attempts were painful but I had to go under and a hassle flying down to AZ. Mayo and my insurance co offered me to have it done in Denver by local doctors or to fly down and have Mayo do it. We choose that both times. The stent worked and I have had no further issues with that the last 6 months. Best of luck

Thank you. I was reading that one of the possible treatments was the stent. So glad it has been working for you. Do you have any stomach pain now? Congrats on 2 years post transplant. My husband is 2 years post transplant as well. Amazing what can be done.

@lsheerin Nope. No stomach pain or anything else re the bile duct. It is possible it could narrow again or more but the sent is doing its job as best they can tell. Nothing else is scheduled except for a yearly scan. Agreed totally amazing. I am a person of faith but also of science. Mayo did great and I am still standing. Best of luck to you and your husband.

Were your labs abnormal? Your liver enzymes?

They will probably do an MRCP, which is a specialized MRI to examine that area.

I also had a CT scan, I’m not sure which one they saw the narrowing though. My guess is the MRCP.

If it’s blocked, clogged, or narrow, then they will most likely be able to identify the issue and proceed from there.

My bile duct was narrow. They performed an ERCP and conducted an endoscopic balloon dilation, I believe.

I did not have a transplant, but I do have pancreatic problems.

@azsunshine7 It been over a year from my first procedure but now that azsunshine7 mentions it I now recall .....an ERCP and conducted an endoscopic balloon dilation,..... was the first procedure they tried on me. It widened the duct temporarily, enough to send me home, but then narrowed again after I returned to Denver. But they say that procedure often suffices without further intervention. Best of luck to all.

His Alkaline Phosphates is high. The rest of the liver tests seem ok, but the Envarsus level is low. I have written to his Dr. to see. I know we will have to wait for the MRI tomorrow, which I hope is the MRCP. I did not see the actual order, they faxed it to the radiologist. I'm just nervous. As you all know, that transplant is an ordeal to go thru. I'm not the one that had it, but it took the life out of me.

Make sure he follows directions before the mri. I don’t think he is supposed to eat and there are restrictions on liquids.

My Alkaline Phosphates were through the roof.

Best of luck.

I have experienced quite a journey with narrowing and clogged bile ducts post transplant.

I am 18 months post transplant and have had 8 ercps. I appear to be an unusual case.

My first one was 3 weeks post transplant. Unfortunately it clogged in 3 days and I went septic.

Since then I’ve had mixed luck with stents. They work but mine have tended to migrate and get clogged.

Symptoms: itchiness, stomach pain with increasing intensity.

We have learned that when that happens check liver function tests to see if they are elevated.

If stents clog it can happen quickly.

We hav found single covered metal stents to be the best for recalcitrant structures like mine.

Good luck. Stents really do solve the problem. I’ve been an outlier.