[Bile duct injuries at laparoscopic cholecystectomy: early repair results]

Timing of surgical repair of bile duct injuries after laparoscopic cholecystectomy: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

The surgical management of bile duct injuries (BDIs) after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is challenging and the optimal timing of surgery remains unclear. The primary aim of this study was to systematically evaluate the evidence behind the timing of BDI repair after LC in the literature.

AIM

To assess timing of surgical repair of BDI and postoperative complications.

METHODS

The MEDLINE, EMBASE, and The Cochrane Library databases were systematically screened up to August 2021. Risk of bias was assessed via the Newcastle Ottawa scale. The primary outcomes of this review included the timing of BDI repair and postoperative complications.

RESULTS

A total of 439 abstracts were screened, and 24 studies were included with 15609 patients included in this review. Of the 5229 BDIs reported, 4934 (94%) were classified as major injury. Timing of bile duct repair was immediate (14%, n = 705), early (28%, n = 1367), delayed (28%, n = 1367), or late (26%, n = 1286). Standardization of definition for timing of repair was remarkably poor among studies. Definitions for immediate repair ranged from < 24 h to 6 wk after LC while early repair ranged from < 24 h to 12 wk. Likewise, delayed (> 24 h to > 12 wk after LC) and late repair (> 6 wk after LC) showed a broad overlap.

CONCLUSION

The lack of standardization among studies precludes any conclusive recommendation on optimal timing of BDI repair after LC. This finding indicates an urgent need for a standardized reporting system of BDI repair.

Laparoscopic end-to-end biliary reconstruction with T-tube for transected bile duct injury during laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Purpose

This report describes the laparoscopic end-to-end biliary reconstruction with T-tube for transected bile duct injury (BDI) during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Methods

We performed a retrospective descriptive analysis for all patients with a transected BDI at a single institution. We collected and analyzed data for injury site and type, reconstruction methods, conversion rate, previous intervention, and outcomes.

Results

Between January 2014 and December 2017, 2,901 patients underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy at a single institution. Among them, 8 patients experienced a transected BDI during laparoscopic cholecystectomy, so the surgeon performed laparoscopic end-to-end biliary reconstruction with T-tube. Our patient series consisted of 6 women (75%) and 2 men (25%) with a mean age of 48.3 years (median, 49 years; range, 29–77 years). Two cases were converted to open surgery. The most common injured site was the common bile duct (5 of 8, 62.5%). The most common injury type, using Bismuth's classification system, was type I (3 of 8, 37.5%). The mean operating time was 136.8 minutes (median, 135.0 minutes; range, 0–180.0 minutes). The mean hospital stay was 7.0 days (median, 4.5 days, range: 3.0–21.0 days). The mean follow-up was 36.4 months (median, 34.0 months; range, 16.0–63.0 months). We observed one postoperative complication during the follow-up period. The patient had an anastomosis site leakage and was cured after reoperation.

Conclusion

Laparoscopic end-to-end biliary reconstruction with T-tube for transected BDI during laparoscopic cholecystectomy seems to be safe and feasible in selected patients. However, long-term follow-up to identify complications from bile duct stricture remains important.

Bile duct injury: to err is human; to refer is divine

A 42-year-old woman sustained complete transection of common hepatic duct during routine laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The surgery was being performed at a rural setting, and the injury was identified intraoperatively. The surgeon sought the opinion of an expert biliary surgeon via telephone and discussed the possibility of an immediate end-to-end bile duct repair. Since he lacked the experience of doing biliary-enteric anastomosis, he was advised to place a subhepatic drain and transfer the patient to the hepatobiliary centre for definitive surgery. At the referral centre, the patient was evaluated and planned an immediate biliary repair. On exploration, she was found to have a major type, Strasberg E5 injury. The transected ducts were small in calibre and required double Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy over transanastomotic stents. The postoperative recovery was uneventful. Transanastomotic stents were removed after 6 months, and the patient remained perfectly well at a follow-up of 1 year.

Magnetic resonance imaging-guided three-dimensional real-time bile duct reconstruction and end-to-end anastomosis under laparoscopy: A case report

In laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC), the anatomical variation of gallbladder canal should be noted. Bile duct injury is one of the most serious complications of LC, which might lead to serious complications. This case because of an intraoperative accidental cut to right anterior inferior lobe bile duct which joins to the cystic duct, after confirming by intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging-guided real-time three-dimensional bile duct reconstruction and performing end-to-end anastomosis of the right anterior inferior lobe bile duct and the gallbladder tube under laparoscopy, the patient was discharged 5 days after surgery, was followed up for 4 months and was disease-free.

End-to-end ductal anastomosis in biliary reconstruction: indications and limitations

End-to-end ductal anastomosis is a physiologic biliary reconstruction that is commonly used in liver transplantation and less frequently in the surgical treatment of iatrogenic bile duct injuries. Currently, end-to-end ductal anastomosis is the biliary reconstruction of choice for liver transplantation in most adult patients. In recent years, it has also been performed for liver transplantation in children and in select patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis. The procedure is also performed in some patients with iatrogenic bile duct injuries, as it establishes physiologic bile flow. Proper digestion and absorption as well as postoperative endoscopic access are possible in patients who undergo end-to-end ductal anastomosis. It allows endoscopic diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in patients following surgery. This anastomosis is technically simple and associated with fewer early postoperative complications than the Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy; however, end-to-end ductal anastomosis is not possible to perform in all patients. This review discusses the indications for and limitations of this biliary reconstruction, the technique used in liver transplantation and surgical repair of injured bile ducts, suture types and use of a T-tube.

Hepaticojejunostomy vs. end-to-end biliary reconstructions in the treatment of iatrogenic bile duct injuries

BACKGROUND

Retrospective comparison of short- and long-term results and quality of life in patients treated for iatrogenic bile duct injuries (IBDI) with Roux-Y hepaticojejunostomy (HJ) or end-to-end ductal anastomosis (EE).

METHODS

Between January 1990 and March 2005, 94 patients underwent reconstructive surgery for IBDI: 49, Roux-Y HJ, and 45, EE.

RESULTS

Early postoperative complications were observed in 12 (24.5%) patients undergoing HJ and three (6.7%) undergoing EE (p = 0.0239). Reoperations in the early postoperative period were performed in four (8%) patients after HJ and in zero patients after EE. Following HJ, one (2%) hospital death occurred due to acute circulatory insufficiency. Long-term results were evaluated in 69 (72%) patients. Postoperative mean weight gain was significantly higher after EE than HJ (p = 0.0191). Recurrent stricture was observed in two (5.3%) patients after HJ and three (9.6%) after EE (p = 0.6509). Terblanche long-term results were comparable in both groups (p = 0.3173). Good Karnofsky quality of life was comparable in both groups (p = 0.8377).

CONCLUSIONS

More early complications occurred after HJ than after EE. Long-term results were comparable after both reconstructive methods. After EE, patients achieved a higher weight gain than after HJ. Quality of life in both groups was comparable.

[Iatrogenic biliary injuries during cholecystectomy]

AIM OF THE STUDY

To analyze our experience with biliary injuries during cholecystectomy in order to determine associated risk factors, morbidity, and results after reconstruction.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Review of the series of patients referred to our department for biliary injury during cholecystectomy over a 9-year period. Items regarding the type of lesion, risk factors, management, morbidity, and late results were recorded.

RESULTS

Fifteen patients were referred to our department for bile duct injury during cholecystectomy between 1997 and 2005 (14 by laparoscopy and four by laparotomy; nine women and nine men). The main surgical indication was biliary colic (n=8). Three patients were operated on in an emergency setting (for acute cholecystitis). In nine patients the gallbladder wall was inflammatory. Intraoperative cholangiography was performed in nine patients, but revealed just one injury. Lateral injury to the bile duct was the most frequent type of lesion. In nine patients, the injury was detected intraoperatively and a biliary drainage was left in place; five of them had a synchronic repair and three required later reconstruction. Nine patients had a delayed identification of biliary injury; six of them required a biliodigestive anastomosis. Two patients died, three had several episodes of acute cholangitis after reconstruction and two presented incisional hernia.

CONCLUSION

An inflammatory environment is the main risk factor for biliary injury during cholecystectomy. Bile duct injury is more frequent with laparoscopic cholecystectomy but can also occur with an open approach. Intraoperative cholangiography does not prevent biliary injuries nor detect them accurately. Biliary drainage can reduce morbidity for intraoperatively detected injuries and may be a sensitive approach for the surgeon with no hepatobiliary experience. Morbidity is increased in patients with delayed identification of the injury.