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目的探讨多层螺旋CT(MSCT)平扫、增强并结合瘘管造影对肛瘘进行定位诊断的临床应用价值。方法2004年7月至2006年5月间温州医学院附属第一医院对32例临床疑诊为肛瘘的病人使用16层螺旋CT扫描和瘘管造影。原始图像采用多平面重建(MPR)和容积重建(VR)技术进行三维重建,后处理图像由放射科专业医生完成。将术前获取的影像学资料与显微肛瘘手术和随访结果进行比较。结果MSCT上4例未发现肛瘘,5例为单纯性肛瘘,23例为复杂性肛瘘,均经过手术证实,肛肠专科检查将8例复杂性肛瘘误诊为单纯性肛瘘。MSCT上低位肛瘘6例,高位肛瘘22例,均经过手术证实,其中肛肠专科检查将8例高位肛瘘误诊为低位肛瘘,MSCT上3例括约肌外瘘误诊为括约肌上瘘。MSCT对术前内口、支管、脓腔评价的准确率分别为62.1%、89.3%、100.0%。MSCT后处理重建技术中,MPR包括曲面重建(CPR)可清晰显示瘘管的具体位置及其与肛管内外括约肌、肛提肌的关系,VR能三维再现瘘管的形态和走行特点。结论MSCT平扫、增强并结合瘘管造影是一种有效而可靠的对肛瘘进行定位诊断的检查方法,可以为手术提供有效依据。     

Course of enterovesical fistulas in Crohn's disease

Enterovesical fistulas occurred in 38 of 683 patients (5.6 percent) with Crohn's disease admitted to The Mount Sinai Hospital between 1960 and 1977. There were 22 ileovesical fistulas, 8 colovesical fistulas, and 8 fistulas of combined ileal and colonic origin. These cases fell into three different pathophysiologic categories: 16 patients presented with sepsis after a mean duration of 7 years of Crohn's disease, 19 presented without sepsis after a mean of 10 years of disease, and 3 elderly cancer patients presented with an average 25 years disease duration. Sepsis was usually due to deep pelvic or lower quadrant abscess with spontaneous rupture into the bladder. Nonseptic fistulization was a later, more gradual process, reflecting slow penetration into the bladder from a site of chronic cicatrizing bowel disease. Cancer was a very late complication, arising in each patient from an excluded loop. Although medical treatment was successful in delaying surgery in 6 patients and obviated surgery altogether in 2 patients, 36 of 38 patients (95 percent) eventually required operation. Postoperative mortality in this series was limited to two patients (5 percent) with preoperative intraabdominal abscess and sepsis. Five other deaths, unrelated to urinary complications, were caused by intestinal cancer in three patients and by intestinal complications of recurrent Crohn's disease in two patients. The urologic course of patients with enterovesical fistula was completely benign. All operated patients were cured of their enterovesical fistulas, and no urologic sequelae developed. Subsequent reoperations that were required in 45 percent of these patients were all for recurrent bowel disease and not for fistula or other urologic problems.     

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??Three-dimensional endoanal ultrasound for the locational diagnosis of anal fistula: a preliminary application study BEI Shao-sheng??DING Ke, WANG Jian-xin, et al??Department of Anorectal Surgy??the Second Hospital of Shandong University??Jinan 250033??China Corresponding author??DING Ke??E-mail??dingke@163.com Abstract Objective To evaluate the effectiveness and applied value of three-dimensional (3D)-Endoanal ultrasound combined with hydrogen peroxide angiography for the locational diagnosis of anal fistula. Methods 3D-endoanal ultrasound examination was performed in 17 patients with clinically suspected anal fistulas between November 2008 and January 2009 at the Second Hospital of Shandong University and results were compared with surgical findings. Results Seventeen patients were confirmed by 3D-endoanal ultrasound examination. Nine patients had simple fistulas. Eight patients had complex fistulas. At the same time 7 patients had low located fistulas, and 10 patients had high located fistulas including 8 patients with trsphincter fistulas, 1 patient with inter sphincter fistula and 1 patient with extra-sphincter fistula. All patients were confirmed by operation. But on surgery’s professional examination 1 case with high located fistulas was remisdiagnosed as low located fistulas.3D-Endoanal ultrasound had a accuracy of 90.9%. The 3D shape and track of fistula could be well shown the site of anal fistula and its relationship with the phincter complex and the levator animuscle. Conclusion 3D-Endoanal ultrasound examination combined with fistulography is a very effective and reliable method for the locational diagnosis of anal fistula.     

Duodenosigmoidal fistula in a patient with Crohn's disease]

The development of enteral fistulas - internal and external - is common in Crohn's disease with a frequency of about 45 % in large series of patients. Most internal fistulas arise in the small bowel, but internal large bowel fistulas occur in about one fourth of all patients with fistulas in Crohn's disease. Colonic gastroduodenal fistulas do occur, but are very rare. Of the 35 cases of colonic-duodenal fistulas that we found in the literature, most have been described to involve either a previous ileocolostomy site or the ascending or transverse colon. There are only three cases displaying sigmoidoduodenal fistulas. To these we add a fourth case with this report. A 42-year-old woman presented with upper abdominal pain, loss of appetite and regurgitations with a foul smell as well as abdominal gas complaints. A duodenosigmoidal fistula was diagnosed by local application of contrast and the fistula tract was excised in typical fashion by resection of the colonic fistula and primary closure of the duodenum. The patient experienced a good recovery with relief of symptoms.     

Surgical disconnection of cortical venous reflux as a treatment for Borden type II dural arteriovenous fistulae

Summary Objective. The presence of cortical venous reflux is recognized as an indicator of increased risk of intracranial hemorrhage and neurological deficits in cranial dural arteriovenous fistulas. Its disconnection is well accepted as a treatment for fistulas with direct cortical reflux (Borden type III), but the role of disconnection of the cortical venous reflux in the management of fistulas that involve the venous sinus and cortical venous reflux (Borden type II) is still a matter of debate. We analyze the experience of the Toronto Brain Vascular Malformation Study Group in the management of these lesions by simple cortical venous reflux disconnection and its impact in the future risk of bleeding. Methods. From June 1984 to August 2004, 347 patients with dural arteriovenous fistulas, either cranial or spinal, were evaluated by the group. Fifty-three patients had a Borden type II dural arteriovenous fistulas. Twenty-five patients were submitted to simple surgical disconnection of the dural arteriovenous fistulas, two were lost for follow-up. There were 15 females and 8 males, with mean age at diagnosis of 53.9 years. Follow-up time was 112.6 patient-years, from 2 months to 11 years, mean 4.9 years. Endovascular treatment was attempted in all patients, but no disconnection was possible. Twelve patients had their fistulas completely occluded by endovascular means, but are not analyzed here. There were four complications from the 93 endovascular procedures, and 3 from the 27 surgical procedures. Two patients required a repeated surgical procedure. No episode of intracranial hemorrhage or worsening neurological deficit was seen after disconnection of the cortical venous reflux in 4.9 years of follow-up. Conclusion. Simple surgical disconnection of the cortical venous reflux maybe an option in the management of patients with Borden type II dural arteriovenous fistulas. This procedure is a much smaller surgical undertaking and is associated with fewer complications than attempts to resect or pack the whole fistula, especially if located in the skull base.     

Systematic Management of Postoperative Enterocutaneous Fistulas: Factors Related to Outcomes

Background Most enterocutaneous fistulas are postoperative in origin. Sepsis, malnutrition, and hydroelectrolytic deficit are still the most important complications to which patients with postoperative enterocutaneous fistulas (PEF) are exposed. Knowledge of prognostic factors related to specific outcomes is essential for therapeutic decision-making processes. Methods We reviewed files of all consecutive patients with PEF treated in our hospital during a 10-year period. Our aim was to identify factors related to spontaneous closure, need for operative treatment, and mortality. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed. Results A total of 174 patients were treated. The most frequent site of origin was the small bowel (90 patients: 48 jejunal, and 42 ileal), followed in frequency by the colon (50 patients). Postoperative enterocutaneous fistula closure was achieved in 151 patients (86%), being spontaneous in 65 (37%) and surgical in 86 (49%). Factors that significantly precluded spontaneous closure were jejunal site, multiple fistulas, sepsis, high output, and hydroelectrolytic deficit at diagnosis or referral. Origin of PEF at our hospital was the only factor significantly associated with spontaneous closure. The most frequent operative indication was PEF persistence without sepsis. Factors significantly associated with the need for operative treatment were high output, jejunal site, and multiple fistulas. Closure was achieved in 84% of patients who underwent operation. A total of 23 patients died (13%). Factors associated with mortality were serum albumin <3.0 g/dl (at diagnosis or referral), high output, hydroelectrolytic deficit, multiple fistulas, jejunal site, sepsis, and a complex fistulous tract. Conclusions In spite of advances in management of PEF, the associated morbidity and mortality remain high. Among several variables influencing outcome, our multivariate analysis disclosed high output, jejunal site, multiple fistulas, and sepsis as independent adverse factors related to non-spontaneous closure, need for operative treatment, and/or death.     

Experience with central high flow arteriovenous fistulas in patients requiring chronic parenteral chemotherapy or hemodialysis

Fifty central high flow arteriovenous fistulas were constructed using bovine arterial heterograft during the past four years to provide vascular access in forty-four patients requiring cyclic infusion chemotherapy or chronic hemodialysis. Overall long-term patency of thirty-six axillary-axillary and fourteen axillary-internal jugular fistulas was approximately 80 per cent, and of those fistulas that failed, 87 per cent were successfully revised. All failures occurred within the first year after construction and were confined to the group of patients receiving cyclic infusion chemotherapy. Most of the failures could be directly related to constant rather than intermittent use of the fistulas. Complications other than graft occlusion occurred in three patients and prompted surgical intervention—in one patient for brachial artery thrombosis, in one for unilateral facial edema after axillary-internal jugular fistula, and in one for aneurysmal degeneration of the midsegment of one axillary-axillary graft. There was no operative mortality, and there were no septic, hemorrhagic, or significant wound healing complications in this high risk group of patients. Hemodynamic evaluations of both acute and chronic fistulas showed an approximate 20 per cent increase in cardiac output, cardiac index, and right ventricular stroke work index which were subjectively and objectively well tolerated in those patients studied. Ease and comfort of cannulation of these fistulas for blood sampling, infusion chemotherapy, and hemodialysis were uniformly acceptable to both nurses and patients.Central high flow arteriovenous fistulas have proved a safe, durable, well tolerated means of providing vascular access in patients whose usual routes have been exhausted but who remain candidates for cyclic infusion chemotherapy or chronic hemodialysis.     

尿道下裂术后复发尿瘘的影响因素及处理

目的：探讨尿道下裂术后再发尿瘘的各项相关因素在尿瘘修复的影响．方法：回顾性总结1997年1月~2008年6月收治的106例尿道下裂术后复发尿瘘患者临床资料。统计并分析尿瘘位置、瘘口大小．瘘口数目、尿痿修补次数等相关观察指标,采用合适的术式进行尿瘘修补。结果：84例一次修复完成,一次手术成功率79．2％f22例再次出现尿瘘。其中1例同时并发尿道狭窄．需进一步治疗。不同的尿瘘位置与手术成功率差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）,瘘口的大小、数目不影响手术成功率（P〉0．05）,术前修补的次数与手术成功率差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。结论：屎瘘的位置,大小、数目和手术修补次数等因素．不影响手术成功率。术前对患者的尿瘘位置、瘘口大小、痿口数目及局部条件的不同需制定明确的方案。选择合适的术式及术中的精细操作是最重要的因素．     

Closure of a bronchopleural fistula using a fibrin-glue coated collagen patch

Bronchopleural fistulas can occur as a life-threatening sequelae after pulmonary resection. Two bronchopleural fistulas more than 3 mm in diameter were successfully treated by using a fibrin-glue coated collagen patch at the site of bronchopleural fistula under flexible bronchoscopic observation. This is the first report of the bronchoscopic closure of bronchopleural fistulas by using a fibrin-glue coated collagen patch. This treatment would be recommended for patients with a postoperative bronchopleural fistula with an orifice that is more than 3 mm in diameter.     

Treatment of 27 postoperative enterocutaneous fistulas with the long half-life somatostatin analogue SMS 201-995.

Twenty-seven patients with postoperative enterocutaneous fistulas were treated with parenteral nutrition and SMS 201-995 (100 micrograms/8 hours, subcutaneously), a long half-life somatostatin analogue. At the time SMS 201-995 was started, 11 patients had low output fistulas (less than 1000 ml/48 hours), 11 patients had high output fistulas (above 1000 ml/48 hours), and 5 patients had fistulas sitting in large abdominal wall defects. Within 24 hours of treatment, a mean reduction of 55% of the fistula output was observed. Fistula site or output before treatment had no influence on the magnitude of output reduction. Spontaneous closure was achieved in 77% of the patients after a mean of 5.8 +/- 2.7 days of treatment with this drug. Two patients died (7.4%). Pain at the injection site was referred by 15% of the patients but no other side effects were observed. Glucose intolerance was not observed. SMS 201-995 has been shown to be very useful in the conservative treatment of enterocutaneous fistulas because of its ability to rapidly reduce fistula output and accelerate spontaneous closure.     

Vascular access for chronic hemodialysis using modified bovine arterial graft arteriovenous fistula

Modified bovine arterial graft arteriovenous fistulas were used for access to the circulation for hemodialysis in thirty-six patients whose forearm vessels were unsuitable for Brescia-Cimino fistulas. Twenty-seven of thirty-one thigh fistulas and three of five forearm fistulas are still functioning well. Most of the complications were minor and may be preventable. Thigh heterografts provided excellent blood flow for dialysis and have been the most successful alternative for patients who have repeated shunt or fistula failures.     

Pre-operative assessment of anal fistulas using endoanal ultrasound

Objective To study the accuracy of endoanal ultrasound in pre‐operative assessment of cryptoglandular anal fistulas, with respect to the site of the internal opening, type and depth of the fistula tract. Patients and methods A consecutive series of 151 patients with anal sepsis underwent pre‐operative endoanal ultrasound assessment of a suspected anal fistula. Hydrogen peroxide was used to define the tract when there was doubt as to the course of the fistula. All patients subsequently had surgical exploration under anaesthesia, irrespective of findings at sonography. The site of the internal opening, depth and type of fistula were recorded at surgery, and concordance with the ultrasound was assessed. Results One hundred and forty‐five patients were subsequently shown to have a fistula at surgical exploration. Type of fistula: Two thirds were transsphincteric (63%) and one third were inter sphincteric (32%), with a few submucosal, and supra sphincteric fistulas. Ultrasound correctly predicted surgical findings in 82% of patients (124/151). Concordance was highest for transsphincteric fistulas (87%). Internal opening: Accuracy of predicting the site of the internal opening was 93% (140/151). The commonest site for the internal opening was the midline posteriorly (49%), followed by the midline anteriorly (25%), the rest lay laterally. Fistula depth: Ultrasound and surgical assessment of the depth of fistulas was concordant in 120 of 145 patients (83%). Conclusions Endoanal ultrasound has a high accuracy of predicting the site of internal opening of an anal fistula. Endoanal ultrasound is able to assess the type and depth of a fistula. This information is useful for pre‐operative planning of fistula treatment.     

The use of topical intranasal fluorescein in endoscopic endonasal repair of cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea

BackgroundThe CSF rhinorrhea is a kind of common clinical disease. The preoperative diagnosis and intraoperative localization of CSF fistulas are critical to treatment of CSF rhinorrhea. At present, intrathecal fluorescein regarding endoscopic transnasal cerebrospinal leakage repair is a common method for localization of the fistula; however, it has some disadvantages because it needs a specific endoscope, and the trauma from lumbar puncture as well as the potential complications of intrathecal fluorescein, as a result, widely limited its clinical use. Topical intranasal fluorescein can avoid the above-mentioned shortcoming. The aim of this work was to describe the use of topical fluorescein in the intraoperative localization of CSF fistulas and to screen its use in preoperative diagnosis of CSF rhinorrhea.MethodsFifteen patients with CSF rhinorrhea were treated with an endoscopic endonasal technique. Topical intranasal 5% fluorescein for preoperative diagnosis and intraoperative localization of the site of the leak was placed in middle turbinate meatus, the roof of the ethmoid plate, and sphenoethmoidal recesses. A change in the color of the fluorescein from brown to green fluorescence denoted the presence of CSF, and the site of the leak could be traced. The accuracy rate of diagnosis and leak site identification was made by comparison with glucose analysis, intraoperative findings, and follow-up.ResultsThe cause of the leak was accidental trauma in 5 patients and spontaneous in 10 patients. The preoperative use of fluorescein-soaked cotton was 100% accurate in diagnosing CSF rhinorrhea. The intraoperative use of topical intranasal fluorescein was also 100% accurate in locating the site of the CSF fistula when compared with the surgical findings. It had achieved 100% success rate in sealing the CSF fistulas in our 15 patients with no recurrence detected during the follow-up period (mean, 2-24 months). No complications have been reported.ConclusionIn the presence of a clinically diagnosed CSF leakage and location of the leakage fistula, topical fluorescein is a very easy, sensitive, safe, and highly accurate tool in the intraoperative localization of the site and extent of CSF fistulas. It should be considered as a viable noninvasive alternative to intrathecal fluorescein.     

Supradiaphragmatic Ligation of the Thoracic Duct in Intractable Chylous Fistula

Spontaneous closure of a chylous fistula is usual, but the rare intractable fistula may lead to disastrous nutritional and immunological consequences. We report the surgical management of 5 patients with intractable fistulas with daily drainage averaging 2,060 ml.Conservative therapy failing, the 5 patients underwent 6 ligations of the thoracic duct. A limited posterolateral thoracotomy was used in 3, full right thoracotomy in 2, and left thoracotomy in 1. Ligations were carried out immediately above the diaphragm, and not at the fistula site, by a mass ligature technique encircling all tissue between the azygos vein and aorta. The ligation achieved immediate cessation of drainage in four of five initial procedures and in the fifth patient, at a second operation.High-output thoracic duct fistulas may be handled by supradiaphragmatic ligation of the thoracic duct. Identification of the fistula site or the dissection of the thoracic duct itself is avoided by this technique.     

Pericholecystic fistula: a study of 64 cases

Spontaneous biliary fistulas are found quite often. Although previously considered as a contraindication to laparoscopic surgery, they are now being treated laparoscopically with all its advantages. Of 8015 patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy, 64 patients were diagnosed preoperatively; conversion to open surgery was required in 8 patients. The highest incidence of pericholecystic fistulas was found in the >60-year age group. The postoperative stay ranged from 3 to 8 days. All the patients were well at follow up. Laparoscopic management of pericholecystic fistulas is possible with low morbidity and no mortality.     

重症急性胰腺炎相关性消化道瘘的发生与预防探讨

目的：探讨重症急性胰腺炎（SAP）相关性消化道瘘的发生与预防。 方法：回顾2000年1月—2012年1月收治的23例SAP并发消化道瘘患者的临床资料,分析SAP相关性消化道瘘的发生部位、发生时间,患者胰腺病变范围特点和并发消化道瘘与引流管置入情况。 结果：全组23例患者中结肠瘘11例（47.8%）,十二指肠瘘7例（30.4%）,小肠瘘4例（17.4%）,胃瘘1例（4.3%）;消化道瘘多发生在SAP术后1~2周内;患者腺病变累及范围大,常累及胰头、十二指肠、结肠等;16例患者的消化道瘘与引流管放置有关。 结论：SAP并发消化道瘘不仅与解剖因素、胰外炎症侵犯、手术创伤等相关,而且与SAP自然病程相关,预防消化道瘘还需从SAP的整体治疗来考虑。     

Enterovesical fistulas in crohn disease

Fistulous communication between the intestinal tract and the bladder is uncommon in Crohn disease. Only 2 per cent of patients afflicted with this disease present with bladder symptoms. Five patients with a mean age of thirty years presented with a prolonged history of bowel disease but a short history of urinary symptoms. Only three patients presented with pneumaturia and fecaluria. None of the fistulas could be demonstrated radiographically. Cystoscopy disclosed the fistulous site as well as acute and chronic inflammation of the bladder. Small-bowel resection with excision of the fistula, partial bladder resection, and diverting ileostomy were performed as a first stage. Ileostomy closure was done two to four weeks later.     

Recurrent Crohn's disease in the ileocolonic anastomosis complicated with duodenal fistula

Duodenal fistulas in patients with Crohn's disease are rare, and up to one hundred cases were described in the medical literature. We report an additional case of a 40-year-old male who underwent an ileo-ascending colectomy 13 years ago for Crohn's disease and was admitted to our unit with palpable abdominal mass and persistent cutaneous fistula. Preoperative fistulography and barium enema demonstrated Crohn's disease recurrence in the site of the ileocolonic anastomosis and external fistula communicating with the pre-anastomotic ileum. At surgery, Crohn's disease recurrence in the site of ileocolonic anastomosis with ileo-cutaneous fistula was confirmed and an additional ileo-duodenal fistula was detected incidentally. The patient underwent resection of the affected bowel and simple closure of the duodenal fistula with omental pedicle graft transposition between the duodenum and the ileocolonic anastomosis. Postoperative period was uneventful. We review the literature and discuss the incidence and treatment strategy of duodenal fistulas complicating recurrent Crohn's disease in the site of the ileocolonic anastomosis. The authors highlight that simple closure of the duodenal defects is appropriate only for small duodenal fistulas and omental transposition between ileo-colonic anastomosis and duodenum during the primary and repeated resection should be considered as an effective prevention method of duodenal fistulas formation.     

Role of the martius procedure in the management of urinary-vaginal fistulas

BACKGROUND: Urinary-vaginal fistula is one of the most common and dreaded complications of obstetric trauma in developing countries. Management of these fistulas is complicated by the presence of substantial urethral loss and the tendency of the repair to break down. STUDY DESIGN: We retrospectively studied 46 patients with urinary-vaginal fistulas operated on in our institution over 5 years. Most of the patients had obstetric trauma as the causative factor. Twelve patients had urethrovaginal and 34 had vesicovaginal fistulas. Of the 12 patients with urethrovaginal fistulas, 8 underwent a Martius procedure and 4 were treated with simple anatomic repair. Of the 34 patients with vesicovaginal fistulas, 13 underwent a Martius procedure and 21 were treated with anatomic repair. Nineteen patients had recurrent fistulas and 17 had multiple fistulas. RESULTS: Only one patient with a urethrovaginal fistula treated with a Martius procedure had recurrence, compared with three of four of the patients having anatomic repair. None of the patients with vesicovaginal fistulas treated with a Martius flap had recurrence, compared with 4 of 21 in the anatomic-repair group (19.05%). Thirteen patients with single fistulas (7 urethrovaginal and 6 vesicovaginal) treated with a Martius procedure healed well without failure, compared with 1 failure among 16 fistulas (1 urethrovaginal and 15 vesicovaginal) in the anatomic-repair group. In the group of patients with multiple fistulas, the Martius flap also showed a definite advantage. Eight patients with multiple fistulas were offered the Martius flap. The procedures were successful in all but one, compared with six failures out of nine treated with anatomic repair. None of the patients having primary treatment with the Martius flap had postoperative recurrence, compared with 3 of 18 having anatomic repair (16.67%). Only 1 of 12 patients with recurrent fistulas undergoing Martius flap repair had failure (8.33%), compared with 4 of 7 undergoing anatomic repair (57.14%). None of the patients treated with the Martius procedure experienced dyspareunia postoperatively, compared with 33.33% of the patients treated with anatomic repair. CONCLUSIONS: The overall success rate was far better and the complication rate (especially incontinence and dyspareunia) was considerably less with the Martius procedure. We recommend the Martius procedure for urethrovaginal and vesicovaginal fistulas, especially those that are recurrent or multiple.     

PERCUTANEOUS MICROCOIL EMBOLIZATION OF INTRAPERITONEAL INTRAHEPATIC AND EXTRAHEPATIC BILIARY FISTULAS

Background : Persistent intraperitoneal biliary fistulas are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Percutaneous drainage, stenting, and endoscopic sphincterotomy or embolization of biliary radicals have largely replaced the need for hepatic resection or biliary reconstruction in managing such fistulas. When endoscopy is contraindicated, a previously undescribed technique of percutaneous embolization of intrahepatic and extrahepatic biliary fistula following penetrating liver trauma, and orthotopic liver transplant and its application in three patients, will be discussed. Methods : Embolization procedures were performed by an interventional radiologist. Percutaneous trans-hepatic cholangiography via a standard right-side approach or via tube cholangiography was initially performed and the fistula defined. Coaxial catheter systems were used (5 Fr angiography catheters and Tracker 18 infusion catheters), and were positioned within the biliary tree as close as possible to the origin of the fistula. Embolization was performed using vascular Embolization 28 coils (WA Cook) 2–3 mm × 2 cm coils, straight Hilal 18 embolization coils (WA Cook) 5–7 cm, as well as Gelfoam (Upjohn) 1 mm pellets, and Histoacryl (B. Braun) 0.25–1 mL. Occlusion of the duct was confirmed by a selective intrahepatic cholangiogram. In cases of multiple fistulas several embolizations were performed at subsequent procedures. Follow-up is over 13 months without adverse event. Results : The technique was used in the three cases and was successful in all. A peripheral biliary fistula required embolization twice and two cystic leaks were cured after a single attempt. Conclusions : Percutaneous embolization of biliary fistulas provides a management option in cases where conservative treatment has failed and other techniques are relatively contraindicated. The technique is effective and safe in skilled hands, and avoids major surgery. The long-term effect of microcoils in the biliary tree is unknown.