Laparoscopic posterior sectoral bile duct injury: the emerging role of nonoperative management with improved long-term results after delayed diagnosis

Variant Biliary Anatomy in Biological Siblings

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the standard of care for cholecystolithiasis but carries an increased risk of biliary injury compared to open cholecystectomy. Complications from laparoscopic cholecystectomy can be related to several factors. These include - (i) technical factors that depend on the skill of the surgeon, (ii) pathologic factors such as associated inflammation and adhesions, and (iii) anatomic factors such as biliary anatomy. Aberrant biliary anatomy is a major cause of bile duct injury during surgery. To the best of our knowledge familial aberrant biliary anatomy has not been previously reported in the literature. We report a case series of two biological sisters with isolated posterior right duct syndrome and present a brief literature review of this medical condition.

Delayed, recurrent bile leak from isolated right posterior sectoral duct injury after laparoscopic cholecystectomy: An unusual presentation

Bile leak after cholecystectomy is associated with significant comorbidity. Biliary duct variant anatomy can complicate identification and management. We report a very rare presentation of recurrent delayed bile leaks years after laparoscopic cholecystectomy secondary to missed right posterior sectoral bile duct injury. Surgical intervention was required after the failure of conservative management.

The Role of the Interventional Radiologist in Bile Leak Diagnosis and Management

Bile leaks are rare but potentially devastating iatrogenic or posttraumatic complications. This is being diagnosed more frequently since the advent of laparoscopic cholecystectomy and propensity toward nonsurgical management in select trauma patients. Timely recognition and accurate characterization of a bile leak is crucial for favorable patient outcomes and involves a multimodal imaging approach. Management is driven by the type and extent of the biliary injury and requires multidisciplinary cooperation between interventional radiologists, endoscopists, and hepatobiliary/transplant surgeons. Interventional radiologists have a vital role in both the diagnosis and management of bile leaks. Percutaneous interventional procedures aid in the characterization of a bile leak and in its initial management via drainage of fluid collections. Most bile leaks resolve with decompression of the biliary system which is routinely done via endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticography. Some bile leaks can be definitively treated percutaneously while others necessitate surgical repair. The primary principle of percutaneous management is flow diversion away from the site of a leak with the placement of transhepatic biliary drainage catheters. While this can be accomplished with relative ease in some cases, others call for more advanced techniques. Bile duct embolization or sclerosis may also be required in cases where a leaking bile duct is isolated from the main biliary tree.

Isolated aberrant right cysticohepatic duct injury during laparoscopic cholecystectomy: Evaluation and treatment challenges of a severe postoperative complication associated with an extremely rare anatomical variant

A typical bile duct branching patterns represent one of the major causes of bile duct injury (BDI) during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). The most common classified variations of bile duct branching, involve the right posterior sectoral duct (RPSD) and its joining with the right anterior or left hepatic duct. Variant bile duct anatomy can rarely be extremely complex and unclassified. This report describes an extremely rare case of an isolated injury to an aberrant right hepatic duct formed by the joining of ducts from segments V, VII, and VIII draining into the cystic duct (cysticohepatic duct) during LC, associated with an inferior RPSD opening to left hepatic duct. Detailed evaluation of both endoscopic and magnetic cholangiograms established the diagnosis. Bile duct injury was subsequently managed surgically by a demanding Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy. This extremely rare case aims to serve as a useful reminder of the consistent inconsistency of biliary anatomy, alerting surgeons to beware of variant bile duct branching patterns during open or LC that constitute a dreadful pitfall for severe and life-threatening bile duct injuries.

Iatrogenic bile duct injury: impact and management challenges

Iatrogenic bile duct injuries (BDIs) after laparoscopic cholecystectomy, being one of the most common performed surgical procedures, remain a substantial problem in gastrointestinal surgery with a significant impact on patient's quality of life. The primary aim of this review was to discuss the classification of BDIs, the proposed methods to prevent biliary lesions, the associated risk factors, and the management challenges depending on the timing of recognition of the injury, its extension, the patient's clinical condition, and the availability of experienced hepatobiliary surgeons. Early recognition of BDI is of paramount importance and limiting the diagnosis delay is crucial for an optimal postoperative outcome. The therapeutic management depends on the type and gravity of the biliary lesion, and includes endoscopic, radiologic, and surgical approaches.

Management of Segmental Bile Duct Injuries After Cholecystectomy: a Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Injuries to segmental or aberrant bile ducts are encountered less commonly than their major bile duct counterparts and present a unique diagnostic and therapeutic challenge, since the nature of this injury involves a transected bile duct that loses its communication with the main ductal system. In this systematic review, we aim to pool available data on this particular type of biliary injury in an effort to outline available diagnostic and therapeutic modalities and evaluate their efficacy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

An extensive literature search was performed on MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science to identify isolated segmental or aberrant bile duct injuries.

RESULTS

A total of 21 studies were included in this systematic report. Ten studies reported non-operative management of patients, while 12 reported operative management of included patients. Outcomes of interest were the choice of treatment interventions and their success. Overall, 23 patients were managed non-operatively with a 91% success rate and 30 patients were managed operatively with a 90% success rate.

CONCLUSION

Non-operative management might be a viable alternative to surgery. Hepatobiliary surgeons should be encouraged to publish their results in treating these rare injuries to further elucidate the role and efficacy of such an approach.

Presence of Aberrant Anatomy Is an Independent Predictor of Bile Duct Injury During Cholecystectomy

The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of an aberrant anatomy diagnosed with MR cholangiography on the occurrence of bile duct injury. Although many authors report that aberrant anatomy is a strong risk factor for the occurrence of bile duct injury during cholecystectomy, no reports have examined the incidence of aberrant anatomy and its association as an independent risk factor for bile duct injury while controlling for potential confounding factors. This study involved 1289 patients. All images of MR cholangiography were reviewed and the findings, including the presence of aberrant anatomy, thickening of the gallbladder wall, and cystic duct stones—which may be related to the occurrence of bile duct injury—were recorded. The surgical outcome was compared according to the presence or absence of an aberrant anatomy and the predictive factors for bile duct injury were investigated. Aberrant anatomy was present in 11.2% of cases. The incidence of bile duct injury was significantly higher in patients with aberrant anatomy compared with patients without (3.5% versus 0.3%). By multivariate analysis, the presence of an aberrant anatomy and thickening of the gallbladder wall was an independent predictor for bile duct injury occurrence [odds ratio (OR) =16.56, P = 0.001; OR = 10.96, P = 0.006, respectively]. The presence of an aberrant anatomy and thickening of the gallbladder wall is an independent risk factor for the occurrence of bile duct injury.

Iatrogenic, blunt, and penetrating trauma to the biliary tract

Iatrogenic and traumatic bile leaks are uncommon. However, given the overall increase in number of hepatobiliary surgeries and the paradigm shift toward nonoperative management of patients with liver trauma, they have become more prevalent in recent years. Imaging is essential to establishing early diagnosis and guiding treatment as the clinical signs and symptoms of bile leaks are nonspecific, and a delay in recognition of bile leaks portends a high morbidity and mortality rate. Findings suspicious for a bile leak at computed tomography or ultrasonography include free or contained peri- or intrahepatic low density fluid in the setting of recent trauma or hepatobiliary surgery. Hepatobiliary scintigraphy and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) with hepatobiliary contrast agents can be used to detect active or contained bile leak. MRCP with hepatobiliary contrast agents has the unique ability to reveal the exact location of bile leak, which often governs whether endoscopic management or surgical management is warranted. Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography and fluoroscopy via an indwelling catheter that is placed either percutaneously or surgically are useful modalities to guide percutaneous transhepatic biliary drain placement which can provide biliary drainage and/or diversion in the setting of traumatic biliary injury. Surgical treatment of a bile duct injury with Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy is warranted if definitive treatment cannot be accomplished through percutaneous or endoscopic means.

Iatrogenic biliary injuries: identification, classification, and management

Because it offers several advantages over open cholecystectomy, laparoscopic cholecystectomy has largely replaced open cholecystectomy for the management of symptomatic gallstone disease. The only potential disadvantage is a higher incidence of major bile duct injury. Although prevention of these biliary injuries is ideal, when they do occur, early identification and appropriate treatment are critical to improving the outcomes of patients suffering a major bile duct injury. This report delineates the key factors in classification (and its relationship to mechanism and management), identification (intraoperative and postoperative), and management principles of these bile duct injuries.

Postcholecystectomy bile duct injury and its sequelae: pathogenesis, classification, and management

A bile duct injury sustained during cholecystectomy can change the life of patients who submit themselves to a seemingly innocuous surgery. It has far-reaching medical, socioeconomic, and legal ramifications. Attention to detail, proper interpretation of variant anatomy, use of intraoperative cholangiography, and conversion to an open procedure in cases of difficulty can avoid/lessen the impact of some of these injuries. Once suspected, the aims of investigation are to establish the type and extent of injury and to plan the timing and mode of intervention. The principles of treatment are to control sepsis and to establish drainage of all liver segments with minimum chances of restricturing. Availability of expertise, morbidity, mortality, and quality of life issues dictate the modality of treatment chosen. Endoscopic intervention is the treatment of choice for minor leaks and provides outcomes comparable to surgery in selected patients with lateral injuries and partial strictures. A Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy (HJ) by a specialist surgeon is the gold standard for high strictures, complete bile duct transection and has been shown to provide excellent long-term outcomes. Percutaneous intervention is invaluable in draining bile collections and is useful in treating post-HJ strictures. Combined biliovascular injuries, segmental atrophy, and secondary biliary cirrhosis with portal hypertension are special circumstances which are best managed by a multidisciplinary team at an experienced center for optimal outcomes.