Endoscopic management of postoperative bile leaks

BACKGROUND: Significant bile leak as an uncommon complication after biliary tract surgery may constitute a serious and difficult management problem. Surgical management of biliary fistulae is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Biliary endoscopic procedures have become the treatment of choice for management of biliary Gstulae. METHODS: Ninety patients presented with bile leaks after cholecystectomy ( open cholecystectomy in 45 patients, cholecystectomy with common bile duct exploration in 20 and laparoscopic cholecystectomy in 25). The presence of bile leaks was confirmed by ERCP and the appearance of bile in percutaneous drainage of abdominal collections. Of the 90 patients with postoperative bile leaks, 18 patients had complete transaction of the common bile duct by ERCP and were subjected to bilioenteric anastomosis. In the remaining patients after cholangiography and localization of the site of bile leaks. therapeutic procedures like sphinctero-tomy, biliary stenting and nasobiliary drainage ( NBD ) were performed. If residual stones were seen in the common bile duct, sphincterotomy was followed by stone extraction using dormia basket. Nasobiliary drain or stents of 7F size were placed according to the standard techniques. The NBD was removed when bile leak stopped and closure of the fistula confirmed cholangiographically. The stents were removed after an interval of 6-8 weeks. RESULTS: Bile leaks in 72 patients occurred in the cystic duct (38 patients), the common bile duct (30 ), and the right hepatic duct (4). Of the 72 patients with post-operative bile leak, 24 had associated retained common bile duct stones and 1 had ascaris in common bile duct. All the 72 patients were subjected to therapeutic procedures including sphincterotomy with stone extraction followed by biliary stenting (24 patients), removal of ascaris and biliary stenting (1), sphincterotomy with biliary stenting (18), sphincterotomy with NBD (12), biliary stenting alone (12), and NBD alone (5). Bile leaks stopped in all patients at a median interval of 3 days (range 3-16 days) after endoscopic in- terventions. No difference was observed in efficacy and in time for the treatment of bile leak by sphincterotomy with endoprosthesis or endoprosthesis alone in patients with bile leak after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Post-cholecystectomy bile leaks occur most commonly in the cystic duct and associated common bile duct stones are found in one-third of cases. Endoscopic therapy is safe and effective in the management of bile leaks and fistulae after surgery. Sphincterotomy with endoprosthesis or endoprosthesis alone is equally effective in the management of postoperative bile leak.     

Biliary stenting alone versus biliary stenting plus sphincterotomy for the treatment of post-laparoscopic cholecystectomy biliary leaks: a prospective randomized study

OBJECTIVE: Although various endoscopic techniques have been proved effective in treating post-cholecystectomy biliary leaks, the choice of the best method remains controversial. The aim of this prospective study was to compare the efficacy and safety of biliary stenting alone with biliary stenting plus sphincterotomy for the treatment of post-cholecystectomy biliary leaks. METHODS: Patients with post-laparoscopic cholecystectomy leaks were randomized into two groups. The first group included 24 patients who were treated with a 7 Fr biliary stent alone, and the second group included 28 patients who underwent an endoscopic sphincterotomy followed by insertion of a 10 Fr biliary stent. RESULTS: Endoscopic therapy was successful in all patients (100%). Clinical improvement was observed after 2-6 days. Patients remained hospitalized for 4-12 days. Stents were removed after 6.7 (6-8) weeks. The overall complication rate was 4.16% for the first group and 10.71% for the second (P=0.615). No complications were recorded during the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic therapy of biliary leaks with a small-diameter biliary stent alone is as effective and safe as endoscopic sphincterotomy followed by insertion of a large-diameter stent.     

ENDOSCOPIC SPHINCTEROTOMY ALONE IN THE MANAGEMENT OF LOW‐GRADE BILIARY LEAKS DUE TO CHOLECYSTECTOMY

Aim: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is important in the diagnosis and management of postoperative bile leaks. Endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) alone, ES with stent or nasobiliary drain (NBD) placement and stent or NBD without ES are the methods of choice. In the present study, we aimed to show the efficacy of ES alone in the management of low‐grade (LGL) cystic duct stump (CDS) leaks due to cholecystectomy. Methods: Between September 2005 and January 2008, ES was carried out on 31 patients with LGL from the CDS due to cholecystectomy who were referred to the endoscopy unit of Izmir Ataturk Training and Research Hospital. Biliary leakage was detected by biliary discharge from a tube drain inserted during the operation. In cases of retaining common bile duct stones, balloon extraction was carried out. If bile discharge continued, a stent was introduced for cessation of the leak as a second procedure. Results: The success rate of ES alone was 87.1% (27 of 31 patients). In four patients (12.9%), ES alone was inadequate, therefore a stent was placed. The biliary leak ceased gradually and stopped in all patients at a mean of 11 (7–21) days. Balloon extraction of retained stones was carried out in six patients (19.6%). In two (6.5%) patients, mild hemorrhage and in two patients self‐limited pancreatitis was seen (6.5%) as complications. Conclusion: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is essential in the management of postoperative biliary leaks. Endoscopic sphincterotomy alone can be the initial procedure in the treatment of LGL from the CDS due to cholecystectomy.     

Nasobiliary tube management of postcholecystectomy bile leaks

BACKGROUND: Endobiliary stenting is the traditional form of endoprosthetic drainage for biliary leaks. Nasobiliary tubes offer the advantage of easy removal and interval tube cholangiograms to assess leak resolution. AIM: To determine the efficacy of nasobiliary tube drainage in patients with postcholecystectomy biliary leaks and provide our experience with management of biliary leak using nasobiliary drains. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective study of 24 patients who were treated for postcholecystectomy biliary leaks in a tertiary referral center from 1998 to 2002. These patients were managed with either nasobiliary tube (NBT) alone or NBT + endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES). RESULTS: Twenty-four patients (mean age, 57.5 years; 50% women) had postcholecystectomy leak noted on ERCP. Twenty patients were managed by NBT+ES and 4 patients had NBT placement alone. In the NBT+ES group, 2 patients pulled their NBT out, but 18 patients had complete leak resolution in 3 to 9 days. In the NBT group, all patients had complete leak resolution in 4 to 12 days. Using an intention-to-treat analysis, 22 of 24 (92%) patients were successfully treated with NBT treatment over 3 to 12 days. CONCLUSIONS: ERCP with NBT placement is an effective and safe treatment modality in the management of postcholecystectomy biliary leaks.     

Endoscopic therapy for bile leak based on a new classification: results in 207 patients

BACKGROUND: Bile leak is among the most common complications of cholecystectomy. Endoscopic therapy is empiric; a systematic approach to management of bile leak has not been established. METHODS: The severity of bile leak was classified by endoscopic retrograde cholangiography into low grade (leak identified only after intrahepatic opacification) or high grade (leak observed before intrahepatic opacification). Therapy was based on this distinction: biliary sphincterotomy alone for low-grade leaks and stent placement for high-grade leaks. The success of this strategy in consecutive patients treated between 1989 and 1999 was reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 207 patients (127 women, 80 men; median age 57 years) with bile leak were referred for endoscopic management; 134 had undergone laparoscopic, and 72 had open cholecystectomy. Patients presented at a median of 9 days (range 1-50 days) after surgery. Symptoms included pain (56%), jaundice (16%), fever (11%), and abdominal distension (7%). Persistent percutaneous drainage was present in 48%. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography identified the leak site in 204 patients: cystic duct stump, 159 patients (78%); duct of Luschka, 26 (13%); other, 19 (9%). Of 104 patients with low-grade leaks, 75 had sphincterotomy alone; improvement occurred in 68 patients (91%). Subsequent treatment was required in 7 patients (6 stent, 1 surgery). Stents were placed in the remaining 29/104 patients for the following reasons: biliary stricture (11/29); coagulopathy, precluding sphincterotomy (8/29); severe sepsis (3/29); inadequate drainage after prior sphincterotomy (2/29); and unclear reasons (5/29). Of 100 patients with high-grade leaks, 97 had stent placement. Persistent leakage necessitated another stent insertion in 4 patients. Closure of the leak was documented by endoscopic retrograde cholangiography in all 97 patients. Three patients with leaks not amenable to endoscopic treatment were referred for surgery. Bile-duct stones were identified in 41 patients (28, low-grade group; 13, high-grade group) and were extracted in all cases. Overall, complications occurred in 3 patients (2 pancreatitis, 1 perforation) and were managed conservatively with no mortality. CONCLUSIONS: A simple, practical endoscopic classification system for bile leak after cholecystectomy is proposed. This classification has clinical relevance for selection of optimal endoscopic management.     

Treatment of biliary leakages after cholecystectomy and importance of stricture development in the main bile duct injury.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Endoscopic treatment of biliary leakages after cholecystectomy, though widely accepted, has some restrictions. The efficacy and safety of endoscopic treatments in this patient group are evaluated in this study, and the problem of biliary stricture development in time after biliary ductal injuries is also emphasized. METHODS: Seventy-four patients (20 male, 54 female, mean age 50.9+/-21 years) referred for ERCP between 1992-2002 were included in the study. Minor leakages (cystic duct leaks, accessory bile duct leaks) were managed by nasobiliary drainage +/- endoscopic sphincterotomy; major leakages were managed by nasobiliary drainage +/- endoscopic sphincterotomy +/- stenting. RESULTS: Twenty-seven patients with cystic duct leaks and 6 patients with accessory bile duct leaks were successfully treated with nasobiliary drainage. Endoscopic treatment could not be performed on patients with total bile duct obstruction (7 patients) and aberrant bile duct injury (7 patients). All leakages from main bile ducts were closed (27 patients). Six of 27 patients had strictures at the beginning and they were treated by stenting. Twenty-one patients had no strictures at the beginning. Eight of 21 were treated by stenting and only 1 of them developed biliary stricture. Seven of 13 patients who had been treated by nasobiliary drainage developed biliary strictures. There were no mortalities due to procedure. CONCLUSIONS: ERCP is an effective and safe method for diagnosis and management of bile leakages after cholecystectomy. Stricture development in the main bile duct leakages was an important complication.     

Endoscopic management of bile leaks after blunt abdominal trauma

Background and Study Aims:  Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticography (ERCP) has been found to be useful for the diagnosis and treatment of post-traumatic bile leaks, but data on outcome after therapeutic ERCP is limited. We performed a prospective study on evaluation of ERCP for diagnosis and treatment of bile leaks following blunt abdominal trauma.
Patients and Methods:  Ten patients of bile leaks following blunt abdominal trauma were evaluated for modes of injury, clinical presentations, investigations, ERCP findings, modes of therapy and outcome. The time interval between trauma and ERCP, ERCP and healing of bile leak and complications of ERCP were also recorded.
Results:  Ten patients (age 21.9 ± 14.5 years, 6 males) presented 24.6 ± 17.1 days following trauma. The modes of injury were motor vehicle accident ( n  = 6), and fall from height ( n  = 4). The ERCP revealed bile leak from the right hepatic duct ( n  = 7), both right and left hepatic ducts ( n  = 1), mid-common bile duct ( n  = 1), and peripheral branches of right hepatic duct ( n  = 1). Procedures for ERCP included endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) with stenting in nine patients and ES with nasobiliary drainage in one patient. Bile leak resolved in all the patients in 8.5 ± 8.2 days. Biliary stents and the nasobiliary drain were removed after 36.4 ± 16.2 days of their insertion and all the patients remain asymptomatic for follow up of 33 ± 20.8 months.
Conclusions:  Therapeutic ERCP procedures like endoscopic sphincterotomy with stenting or nasobiliary drainage are effective in management of bile leaks following blunt abdominal trauma.     

State of the art on endotherapy of biliary injuries

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) plays a first role both in the diagnosis and treatment of postoperative biliary leaks as well as of benign strictures. The goal of the endoscopic treatment of biliary leaks is the elimination of the transpapillary pressure gradient, but the choice of the best approach remains to be established. ES should be sufficient to treat the leaks without an associated lesion of the extrahepatic bile ducts. In these cases, placement of a NBD for two to three days has the advantage to allow checking the healing. Placement of a plastic stent is indicated for leaks of the main ducts to remodel the healing process and try to prevent the development of strictures. An endoscopic attempt should be also considered in severely injured bile ducts especially in those cases unfit for surgery. Benign biliary strictures have been traditionally treated by surgical repair but today endoscopy represents the preferred treatment since the stricture can be completely and permanently dilated in a big proportion of patients. The use of rendezvous procedures by combining ERCP and PTC may increase the number of potential candidates for non-operative treatment. The advantages of endoscopy are its simplicity, repeatability and minimal invasiveness; furthermore, surgery after endotherapy is always possible.     

The role of ERCP in diagnosis and management of accessory bile duct leaks after cholecystectomy.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) plays an important role in the management of bile leaks after cholecystectomy. Although most leaks occur from the cystic duct stump, clinically significant leakage from accessory bile ducts is less common and has not been investigated systematically. We report our experience with endoscopic diagnosis and treatment of accessory bile duct leaks after cholecystectomy. METHODS: Patients with accessory bile duct leaks were identified from a computerized database. Hospital charts and cholangiograms were reviewed to determine the outcome of diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. RESULTS: Of 86 patients with postcholecystectomy leaks, 15 (17%) were diagnosed with accessory bile duct leaks. ERCP established the diagnosis of accessory bile duct leaks in 11 of 15 patients (73%); percutaneous fistulography (2) and percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (2) were diagnostic in 4 patients. Endoscopic therapy led to resolution of the leak in 12 patients. One patient underwent successful percutaneous biliary drainage, and two patients required surgical repair. CONCLUSIONS: Accessory bile ducts are rare sites of significant bile leakage after cholecystectomy. ERCP identifies the leak in the majority of patients; percutaneous fistulography or percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography may help clarify the diagnosis if ERCP is nondiagnostic. Most patients can be successfully treated with endoscopic stenting. If endoscopic therapy fails, percutaneous drainage or surgical repair needs to be considered.     

The role of endoscopic treatment in postoperative bile leaks

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Bile leak is among the most common and serious complications of biliary tract surgery. The aim of this non-randomized study was to evaluate the role of endoscopic intervention as an accepted treatment for this complication. METHODOLOGY: An endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) database was reviewed retrospectively to identify all cases of bile leak related to cholecystectomy (laparoscopic or open). Patients' records and endoscopy reports were reviewed. Moreover, structured telephone interviews were conducted to collect data. RESULTS: Twenty-four patients, 4 males and 20 females, with a median age of 54 (range 28-76 years) with suspected postcholecystectomy bile leaks were referred for ERCP performed 3-73 days after operation (mean 9.5 days). All but one case had high-grade bile-like liquid outflowing from the original drainage tubes or the fistulous tract of T-tube. One patient presented with bilious ascites, 17 patients had sudden or gradual abdominal pain, 3 jaundice, 2 abdominal pain with fever, and 1 nausea and vomiting. ERCP was successful in all cases, and revealed leakage from the cystic stump in 10 cases, from a common bile duct (CBD) defect in 6, from a common hepatic duct defect in 3, from the gallbladder bed in 2, from a T-tube track in 1, and complete CBD transection in 2 patients. Seventeen patients were successfully treated by endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) plus endoprosthesis, 3 by stent placement without sphincterotomy, 2 with complete transection by proximal hepaticojejunostomy, and 2 patients with leakage from the cystic stump and a CBD defect were operated after unsuccessful endoscopic intervention. CONCLUSIONS: ERCP is recommended as a safe and efficacious intervention to detect and treat postoperative bile leaks. ES plus endoprosthesis is effective for the treatment of bile leakage. Endoscopic stenting without sphincterotomy may be offered as a primary option in young patients with postoperative bile leaks.     

Outcome of early endoscopic biliary drainage in the management of bile leaks after hepatic resection

BACKGROUND: Bile leaks are a major cause of morbidity and mortality after liver resection. Endoscopic stent insertion is the treatment of choice, although the optimal timing of stent placement has not been established. This study reviewed the outcome of early endoscopic biliary stent insertion for treatment of bile leaks after hepatic resection. METHODS: One hundred fifteen patients underwent hepatic resection in a single unit from July 1995 to December 2000. The type of liver resection, clinical presentation of bile leaks, findings on ERCP, and outcomes after stent placement were recorded. RESULTS: Twenty patients (17%) had bile leaks; 15 had bile in surgical drains but were asymptomatic, and 5 had clinical evidence of a subphrenic collection. In one patient the leak closed spontaneously. The remaining 19 patients underwent ERCP. Fifteen had a leak from a peripheral biliary radical and an endoscopic stent was inserted. Two had a hepatic duct stump leak and were treated by nasobiliary drainage followed by stent insertion. In the remaining 2 patients cholangiography did not demonstrate a leak but a plastic stent was inserted. ERCP was performed a median of 6 days (range 5 to 10 days) after surgery. There was no ERCP-related complication. Median hospital stay in the 95 patients without a bile leak was 10 days (range 4-30 days) compared with 15 days (range 10-41 days) for those with bile leaks (NS). Stents were removed endoscopically at 6 weeks with no persistent leaks detected. There were no late biliary complications (median follow-up 26 months, range 12-72 months). CONCLUSIONS: Early endoscopic biliary stent insertion is effective in the management of bile leakage after hepatic resection.     

Rendezvous procedure for the treatment of bile leaks and injury following segmental hepatectomy

BackgroundEndoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is a minimally invasive procedure used for the evaluation and management of biliary injuries. At times, ERCP fails and percutaneous modalities may be required. Rendezvous procedures are combined endoscopic and percutaneous techniques that have been used to restore anatomic continuity and biliary drainage in cases where retrograde and/or transhepatic access alone has failed either due to anatomic variation or traumatic injury with biloma formation.AimsTo assess if the Rendezvous technique plays a role in establishing biliary continuity in patients with a bile leak after segmental hepatectomy.MethodsWe herby present a series of 3 patients who had complex bile leaks after segmental liver resection and underwent a combined percutaneous and endoscopic Rendezvous procedure to establish biliary continuity.ResultsThis technique was successful in restoring biliary continuity and avoiding hepaticojejunostomy in 2 of the 3 patients.ConclusionThe Rendezvous technique may play a role in establishing biliary continuity in patients with biliary leak secondary to hepatic surgery.     

Sphincterotomy in the treatment of biliary leakage

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Endoscopic procedures such as sphincterotomy and endobiliary stenting have proved useful to solve postoperative bile leakage. We have assessed the outcome of a series of such patients initially treated with endoscopic sphincterotomy, having reserved stent placement for treatment failures only. METHODOLOGY: Twenty-five consecutive patients referred for endoscopic assessment of postoperative bile leaks and fistulas after cholecystectomy (n = 15), orthotopic liver transplantation (n = 9) and hepatic resection due to cystic hydatid disease (n = 1) underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and sphincterotomy using a standard papillotome. Sphincterotomy was followed by stone extraction using a Dormia basket if common bile duct lithiasis were present. RESULTS: Bile leaks healed early after endoscopic sphincterotomy in 22 out of 25 patients (88%). Common bile duct stones were also retrieved in 6 of these patients. Bile duct stenosis due to surrounding pancreatic inflammation was demonstrated in two of the patients in which sphincterotomy failed to stop bile leakage. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic sphincterotomy alone should at present be considered a highly effective treatment to resolve postsurgical bile leaks unless bile strictures are present.     

Endoscopic management of biliary leaks. The answer for the future

Bile duct diseases and biliary leaks are not uncommon complications and their management is challenging. Majority of bile leaks occur secondary to trauma, major liver, gallbladder and biliary tract surgeries. Early recognition of bile leaks by imaging combined with a high clinical suspicion is required. Bile leaks can be managed either conservatively, or through percutaneous drainage, or endoscopically or by surgical intervention. The innovations in endoscopic techniques have expanded the horizons for managing patients with bile leaks irrespective of their etiology. Endoscopic interventions through biliary sphincterotomy alone, biliary stenting with or without sphincterotomy, and nasobiliary drainage with or without sphincterotomy, use of self expanding covered metal stents and the recent use of biodegradable stents have been very effective in the management of all kinds of biliary leaks. All endoscopic techniques are based on the principle that eliminating the rise in pressure inside the bile duct by promoting decompression in the form of stent placement/sphincterotomy promotes healing of bile leaks. Further future developments in endoscopic techniques are expected to improve their effectiveness in managing patients with bile leaks.     

Necessity of a repeat cholangiogram during biliary stent removal after postcholecystectomy bile leak

PURPOSE:

To assess the need for repeat endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC) in patients undergoing biliary stent removal after management of postcholecystectomy bile leak.

METHODS:

A retrospective analysis of the Clinical Outcomes Research Initiative endoscopy database at PennState Milton S Hershey Medical Center (Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA) identified all patients referred for ERC with an indication of postcholecystectomy bile leak from January 2001 to June 2010. Baseline demographics, location of bile leak, size of biliary stent placed, duration of stenting, bile leak persistence, and the presence of stone, sludge or strictures on repeat ERC were analyzed.

RESULTS:

A total of 81 patients underwent ERC for management of bile leaks after cholecystectomy. One patient was excluded due to a complete transection of the common bile duct necessitating immediate surgical intervention. Fourteen (17.5%) patients underwent open cholecystectomy, 46 (57.5%) underwent laparoscopic procedures and 10 (12.5%) procedures were converted from a laparoscopic to an open approach intraoperatively. Of the 80 patients, 47 (58.7 %) had a cystic duct leak, 11 (13.7 %) had a right hepatic duct leak, 11 (13.7%) had a common bile duct leak, five (6.2%) had a gallbladder fossa leak, four (5%) had a common hepatic duct leak and the remaining two (2.5%) had a left hepatic duct leak. All 80 patients underwent biliary stenting as part of management for their bile leak. Fifty-seven of the 80 patients (71.2%) had a 10 Fr stent placed, with the remainder undergoing placement of a 7 Fr stent. Seventy-five (93.7%) patients underwent biliary sphincterotomy during the initial ERC. Sixty-nine patients underwent repeat ERC after a mean duration of 8.2 weeks (range 0.4 to 18.5 weeks). Eleven patients had no reviewable records regarding a repeat procedure performed for stent removal. Three patients required an early repeat ERC due to suspicion of cholangitis and, hence, were excluded from the final analysis. Of the 66 patients included in the final analysis, 61 (92.4%) had resolution of their bile leak on repeat ERC. All patients had resolution of their bile leak by the third ERC. Fifteen patients (22.7%) had an abnormality on repeat cholangiography (persistent leak in four, stones in three, sludge in seven, and a combination of leak and stone in one) that required further endoscopic intervention including balloon sweep or additional stenting.

CONCLUSION:

Although the majority of postcholecystectomy bile leaks resolve after biliary stent placement, a sizeable percentage (22.7%) of patients had abnormalities on subsequent cholangiograms that required further intervention. These findings suggest the need for a repeat ERC at the time of biliary stent removal in the management of postcholecystectomy bile leaks.     

Postsurgical Bile Leaks: Endoscopic Obliteration of the Transpapillary Pressure Gradient is Enough

Objectives: Bile leaks are a well documented complication of biliary surgery, occurring more frequently with laparoscopic procedures. Endoscopic therapy with a long biliary endoprosthesis traversing the site of the leak is effective. We have evaluated the hypothesis that equalizing biliary and duodenal pressures with a short trans-papillary stent in is an equally effective therapy for bile leaks.
Methods: Thirty one consecutive patients presenting over a 52-month period with postsurgical bile leaks were evaluated. Patients had been treated with long endoprostheses (stents or nasobiliary tubes), sphincterotomy, or short transpapillary stents. The success, complication rate, need for additional therapy, and hospitalization time of each therapeutic approach werc determined.
Results: Endoscopic therapy was successful in all 25 patients in whom a bile leak could be documented. The clinical success, need for radiological drainage, length of hospitalization, and incidence of pancreatitis were similar for all methods of treatment.
Conclusions: These results confirm that endoscopic therapy is highly successful in the treatment of postoperative bile leaks and suggest that the mechanism of healing is the equalization of bile duct and duodenal pressures, allowing flow of bile into the duodenum. The endoscopic placement of short transpapillary stents without sphincterolomy is a temporary, effective, and technically simple method of pressure equalization. This should be considered as the primary therapy for most postoperative bile leaks.     

Endoscopic treatment of chronic pancreatitis

OBJECTIVES: Endoscopy offers an alternative to surgery for the treatment of ductal complications in patients with chronic pancreatitis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of endoscopic treatment on pain, cholestasis and pseudocysts in these patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-nine patients (37 M, 2 F, mean age 44), were included in the study. All patients had at least one of the following criteria demonstrated by imaging tests: dilatation of the main pancreatic duct (MPD) with or without stricture (N = 13), bile duct stricture (N = 12), or pancreatic pseudocyst (N = 14) with pancreatic duct stricture (N = 11) or biliary stricture (N = 3). Pancreatic or biliary sphincterotomy, insertion of pancreatic or biliary stent, pseudocyst drainage with stent placement were performed according to ductal abnormalities. Patients were evaluated early and followed up during the stenting period, and after stent removal. RESULTS: Patients underwent a median of 3.5 endoscopic procedures with an interval of 2.2 months between 2 stenting sessions. A pancreatic or biliary stent was inserted in 25 patients with ductal abnormalities and in 11 patients with pseudocysts. Endoscopic pseudocyst drainage was performed in 6 cases. The mean stenting time was 6 months (range: 3-21). Mean follow-up after stent removal was 9.7 (2-48) months. Complications of endoscopic treatment were encountered in 7% of patients with no deaths. Pain relief was achieved after the first endoscopic procedure and during the overall stenting period in all patients. Recurrence of pain was observed after stent removal in 5/11 patients, requiring surgery in 4. Cholestasis decreased and biochemical values normalized within one month after biliary stenting. Recurrence of cholestasis was observed early after stent removal in 4/9 patients who required complementary surgical treatment. No recurrence of pancreatic pseudocyst was observed after endoscopic drainage and stent removal during the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic treatment of pain from pancreatic pseudocysts or ductal strictures is effective in the short-term and in the period of ductal stenting. However, the optimal duration of the latter remains to be determined.     

The role of endoscopy in noniatrogenic injuries of the liver

Traumatic noniatrogenic biliary injuries, unlike iatrogenic injuries, are usually complex in nature and are frequently associated with other multiorgan trauma and infection. Bile leaks following these injuries are an important source of short-and long-term morbidity. Repeat surgery for primary repair of complex bile leaks is difficult and can be complicated by anastomotic leakage and biliary stricture formation. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) was initially used only as a diagnostic technique to guide surgical repair in this setting. However, with the high success rates observed in treatment of iatrogenic bile leaks, ERCP has emerged as a nonoperative treatment option for noniatrogenic biliary leaks as well. Recent data show that ERCP is effective in managing bile leaks after blunt and sharp liver injuries, using transpapillary stenting, endoscopic sphincterotomy, or both, with greater than 80% healing rates. The evidence is not clear regarding which ERCP maneuver—endoscopic sphincterotomy, transpapillary stenting, or both—should be used.     

Endoscopic Management of Bile Leakage after Liver Transplantation

Background/Aims

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) can be an effective treatment for bile leakage after liver transplantation. We evaluated the efficacy of endoscopic treatment in liver transplantation in patients who developed bile leaks.

Methods

Forty-two patients who developed bile leaks after liver transplantation were included in the study. If a bile leak was observed on ERCP, a sphincterotomy was performed, and a nasobiliary catheter was then inserted. If a bile leak was accompanied by a bile duct stricture, either the stricture was dilated with balloons, followed by nasobiliary catheter insertion across the bile duct stricture, or endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage was performed.

Results

In the bile leakage alone group (22 patients), endoscopic treatment was technically successful in 19 (86.4%) and clinically successful in 17 (77.3%) cases. Among the 20 patients with bile leaks with bile duct strictures, endoscopic treatment was technically successful in 13 (65.0%) and clinically successful in 10 (50.0%) cases. Among the 42 patients who underwent ERCP, technical success was achieved in 32 (76.2%) cases and clinical success was achieved in 27 (64.3%) cases.

Conclusions

ERCP is an effective and safe therapeutic modality for bile leaks after liver transplantation. ERCP should be considered as an initial therapeutic modality in post-liver transplantation patients.     

Endoscopic Management of Postoperative Biliary Leaks: Review of 77 Cases and Report of Two Cases with Biloma Formation

Biliary leaks are uncommon complications of abdominal surgery. Left untreated, they may result in significant morbidity and mortality. The traditional treatment has been surgical, but several authors have reported successful endoscopic management. We review 77 cases of endoscopically managed postoperative biliary leaks reported in the literature over the past 15 yr. Endoscopic treatment was technically successful in 95% of cases, and resulted in biliary leak healing in 82%. Cystic stump leaks had a better prognosis for healing compared with common bile duct or hepatic duct leaks. We also present two additional cases of postoperative biliary leaks with biloma formation successfully treated with endoscopic stent placement. Our experience lends additional support to endoscopic management as the preferred approach to postoperative biliary leaks.