Endoscopic management of postcholecystectomy biliary leaks

SPHINCTEROTOMY ALONE VERSUS SPHINCTEROTOMY AND BILIARY STENT PLACEMENT IN THE TREATMENT OF BILE LEAKS: 10 YEAR EXPERIENCE AT A QUATERNARY HOSPITAL

BACKGROUND

Hepatobiliary surgery and hepatic trauma are frequent causes of bile leaks and this feared complication can be safely managed by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). The approach consists of sphincterotomy alone, biliary stenting or a combination of the two but the optimal form remains unclear.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to compare sphincterotomy alone versus sphincterotomy plus biliary stent placement in the treatment of post-surgical and traumatic bile leaks.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 31 patients with the final ERCP diagnosis of "bile leak". Data collected included patient demographics, etiology of the leak and the procedure details. The treatment techniques were divided into two groups: sphincterotomy alone vs. sphincterotomy plus biliary stenting. We evaluated the volume of the abdominal surgical drain before and after each procedure and the number of days needed until cessation of drainage post ERCP.

RESULTS

A total of 31 patients (18 men and 3 women; mean age, 51 years) with bile leaks were evaluated. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was the etiology of the leak in 14 (45%) cases, followed by conventional cholecystectomy in 9 (29%) patients, hepatic trauma in 5 (16%) patients, and hepatectomy secondary to neoplasia in 3 (9.7%) patients. The most frequent location of the leaks was the cystic duct stump with 12 (38.6%) cases, followed by hepatic common duct in 10 (32%) cases, common bile duct in 7 (22%) cases and the liver bed in 2 (6.5%) cases. 71% of the patients were treated with sphincterotomy plus biliary stenting, and 29% with sphincterotomy alone. There was significant difference between the volume drained before and after both procedures (P<0.05). However, when comparing sphincterotomy alone and sphincterotomy plus biliary stenting, regarding the volume drained and the days needed to cessation of drainage, there was no statistical difference in both cases (P>0.005).

CONCLUSION

ERCP remains the first line treatment for bile leaks with no difference between sphincterotomy alone vs sphincterotomy plus stent placement.

A rare case of biliary leakage after laparoscopic cholecystectomy-diagnostic evaluation and nonsurgical treatment: a case report

Although laparoscopic cholecystectomy has become a gold standard in treatment of symptomatic cholelithiasis, it is associated with higher risk of intraoperative lesions and primarily lesions of biliary ducts. In small percentage of cases biliary fistulas occur, most commonly after leakage from cystic duct stump or accessory bile ducts – Luschka’s duct. We report of a patient who had episodes of abdominal pain following routine laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute calculous gallbladder. Results of conducted diagnostics verify the presence of biliary fistula caused by obstruction of bile pathways by stagnant pus and microcalculi of common bile duct, with development of biloma presumably caused by pressure injection of contrast material during ERCP procedure. Endoscopic sphincterectomy via ERCP enabled healing of formed biliary fistula, whilst continuous percutaneous ultrasound guided drainage of biloma was method of choice in later treatment of our patient. It is important to note that diagnostic evaluation of biliary fistula is very challenging and that timely nonsurgical treatment is of great benefit for patient.