The outcome of major biliary tract injury with leakage in laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Background: Concern has been expressed regarding the increased rates of biliary tract injury (BTI) at laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The aim of the present investigation was to analyze the outcome of laparoscopic biliary tract injury with leakage. Methods: Sixteen patients having major laparoscopic BTI with leakage were treated. Thirteen of them were referred to our institution for further treatment. The follow-up was complete and focused on clinical outcome and biochemical analysis. Results: Eight BTI were identified at the time of laparoscopic cholecystectomy, and the procedure was converted to a laparotomy. In eight additional patients, BTI was recognized postoperatively. In this group one patient died because of lately diagnosed biliary peritonitis, whereas in the seven surviving patients nine attempts to repair the BTI and eight other interventions were performed. In the conversion group 14 attempts to repair the BTI and 11 other interventions were needed to completely solve the problems. Final restoration of the BTI was done by Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy in 11 patients and suture repair with T-tube drainage of the bile duct in 4. During a median follow-up time of 63 months, three patients suffered from recurrent segmental cholangitis. In the other patients, neither clinical nor biochemical evidence of biliary disease has been found up to this writing. Conclusions: Laparoscopic BTI has a high morbidity and mortality rate that seems comparable to BTI at open cholecystectomy. The number of attempts to repair the BTI as well as additional interventions is too high, but in this patient series the final outcome seemed to be similar after BTI recognized during and after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Received: 3 December 1997/Accepted: 28 May 1998