Brief clinical report: duodenal laceration presenting as massive hematemesis and multiple intraabdominal abscesses after laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Postcholecystectomy Duodenal Injuries, Their Management, and Review of the Literature

Backgrounds

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is the gold standard for treating gallstones; however, it is not free of complications. Postcholecystectomy duodenal injuries are rare but challenging complications after cholecystectomy. The objective of this study was to analyze the management of postcholecystectomy duodenal injuries and to review the related literature.

Materials and methods

An observational and retrospective study was conducted. We included all patients with postcholecystectomy duodenal injuries treated at a reference center, from January 2019 to December 2023. In addition, a review of the literature was carried out.

Results

Fifteen patients were found, mostly women; with gallbladder wall thickening on ultrasound (mean of 8 mm). The majority were emergency (n = 12, 80%) and LCs (n = 8, 53.33%). Cholecystectomies were reported to be associated with excessive difficulty (n = 10, 66.66%). The most injured duodenal portion was the first portion (n = 9, 60%), and blunt dissection was the most common mechanism of injury (n = 7, 46.66%). Most of these injuries were detected in the operating room (n = 9, 60%), and treated with primary closure (n = 11, 73.33%). Three patients with delayed injuries died (20%). According to the literature reviewed, 93 duodenal injuries were found, mostly detected intraoperatively, in the second portion, and treated with primary closure. A minority of patients were treated with more complex procedures, for a mortality rate of 15.38%.

Conclusion

Postcholecystectomy duodenal injuries are rare. Most of these injuries are detected and repaired intraoperatively. However, a high percentage of patients have high morbidity and mortality.

How to cite this article

Diaz-Martinez J, Pérez-Correa N. Postcholecystectomy Duodenal Injuries, Their Management, and Review of the Literature. Euroasian J Hepato-Gastroenterol 2024;14(1):44-50.

Duodenal injury post laparoscopic cholecystectomy: Incidence, mechanism, management and outcome

AIM: To study the etiopathogenesis, management and outcome of duodenal injury post laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC).

METHODS: A Medline search was carried out for all articles in English, on duodenal injury post LC, using the search word duodenal injury and LC. The cross references in these articles were further searched, for potential articles on duodenal injury, which when found was studied. Inclusion criteria included, case reports, case series, and reviews. Articles even with lack of details with some of the parameters studied, were also analyzed. The study period included all the cases published till January 2015. The data extracted were demographic details, the nature and day of presentation, potential cause for duodenal injury, site of duodenal injury, investigations, management and outcome. The model (fixed or random effect) for meta analyses was selected, based on Q and I² statistics. STATA software was used to draw the forest plot and to compute the overall estimate and the 95%CI for the time of detection of injury and its outcome on mortality. The association between time of detection of injury and mortality was estimated using χ² test with Yate’s correction. Based on Kaplan Meier survival curve concept, the cumulative survival probabilities at various days of injury was estimated.

RESULTS: Literature review detected 74 cases of duodenal injury, post LC. The mean age of the patients was 58 years (23-80 years) with 46% of them being males. The cause of injury was due to cautery (46%), dissection (39%) and due to retraction (14%). The injury was noted on table in 46% of the cases. The common site of injury was to the 2^nd part of the duodenum with 46% above the papilla and 15% below papilla and in 31% to the 1^st part of duodenum. Duodenorapphy (primary closure) was the predominant surgical intervention in 63% with 21% of these being carried out laparoscopically. Other procedures included, percutaneous drainage, tube duodenostomy, gastric resection, Whipple resection and pyloric exclusion. The day of detection among those who survived was a mean of 1.6 d (including those detected on table), compared to 4.25 d in those who died. Based on the random effect model, the overall mean duration of detection of injury was 1.6 (1.0-2.2) d (95%CI). Based on the fixed effect model, the overall mortality rate from these studies was 10% (0%-25%). On application of the Kaplan Meier survival probabilities, the cumulative probability of survival was 94%, if the injury was detected on day 1 and 80% if detected on day 2. In those that were detected later, the survival probabilities dropped steeply.

CONCLUSION: Duodenal injuries are caused by thermal burns or by dissection during LC and require prompt treatment. Delay in repair could negatively influence the outcome.