Frontiers in Surgery (Oct 2023)

Clinical presentation, management and outcomes of bile duct injuries after laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a 15-year single-center experience in Vietnam

  • Hung Quang Vu,
  • Hung Quang Vu,
  • Duc Trong Quach,
  • Duc Trong Quach,
  • Bac Hoang Nguyen,
  • Bac Hoang Nguyen,
  • Anh-Tuan Quan Le,
  • Anh-Tuan Quan Le,
  • Nhan Quang Le,
  • Hai Minh Pham,
  • Ngoc-Huy Thai Tran,
  • Dang-Khoa Hang Nguyen,
  • Ngoc-Sang Thi Duong,
  • Toan Van Tran,
  • Binh Long Pham

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fsurg.2023.1280383
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10

Abstract

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ObjectivesTo evaluate the clinical presentation, management, and outcomes of bile duct injuries (BDIs) after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC).MethodsThis is a case series of 28 patients with BDIs after LC treated at a tertiary hospital in Vietnam during the 2006-2021 period. The BDI's clinical presentations, Strasberg classification types, management methods, and outcomes were reported.ResultsBDIs were diagnosed intraoperatively in 3 (10.7%) patients and postoperatively in 25 (89.3%). The BDI types included Strasberg A (13, 46.4%), D (1, 3.6%), E1 (1, 3.6%), E2 (4, 14.3%), E3 (5, 17.9%), D + E2 (2, 7.1%), and nonclassified (2, 7.1%). Of the postoperative BDIs, the injury manifested as biliary obstruction (18, 72.0%), bile leak (5, 20.0%), and mixed scenarios (2, 8.0%). Regarding diagnostic methods, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) was more useful in bile leak scenarios, while multislice computed tomography, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, and percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography were more useful in biliary obstruction scenarios. All 28 BDIs were successfully treated. ERCP with stenting was very effective in the majority of Strasberg A BDIs. For more complex BDI types, hepaticocutaneous jejunostomy was a safe and effective approach. The in-hospital morbidities included postoperative pneumonia (2, 10.7%) and biliary-enteric anastomosis leakage (1, 5.4%). There was no cholangitis or anastomotic stenosis during the follow-up after discharge (median 18 months).ConclusionsThe majority of BDIs are type A and diagnosed postoperatively. ERCP is effective for the majority of Strasberg A BDIs. For major and complex BDIs, hepaticocutaneous jejunostomy is a safe and effective approach.

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