Late follow-up following internal drainage of choledochal cysts reassessment of necessity for reoperation

To evaluate late results in children who had been treated with an internal drainage procedure for a choledochal cysts, we carried out follow-up examinations and performed endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Internal drainage procedures were performed on a total of 17 patients prior to 1972. The follow-up period ranged from 18 to 30 years. ERCP was performed on 8 of 10 patients followed up. All had dilatation of the common bile duct; 7 had an anomalous pancreatobiliary junction; and there were no carcinomas detected. The procedures consisted of choledochocystoduodenostomy (CCD) in 12 patients, choledochocystojejunostomy (Roux-Y) (CCJRY) in 4, and cholecystoduodenostomy (CYD) in 1. Of the 12 patients who were treated with CCD, 3 were lost to follow-up, 3 died of liver cirrhosis, and 6 survived. Five of the 6 surviving patients needed a reoperation for cholangitis; in 1 of these severe atypical abnormalities of the cyst were found on pathologic examination. Of the 4 patients who were treated with CCJRY, 1 died of liver cirrhosis but the 3 survivors had an asymptomatic postoperative course common bile duct and an anomalous pancreatobiliary junction noted during the current work-up. The patient who was treated with CYD needed another operation for choledocholithiasis. Our conclusions for following patients who were treated with an internal drainage procedure in childhood are twofold: (1) for patients who had CCD, cyst excision is recommended; and (2) for patients who had CCJRY performed at the age of 10 years or less, cautious observation is recommended as long as the patient remains asymptomatic.Offprint requests to: Masafumi Naito