A review of the management of iatrogenic bile duct injuries

Injuries to the extrahepatic biliary tree occurring during cholecystectomy or other upper gastrointestinal surgical procedures are not uncommon. The consequences are often catastrophic. We report the results of a personal series of bile duct repairs from a tertiary referral centre over a twenty-one year period. A total of 33 patients were referred. Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography was the radiological investigation of choice to outline the biliary system. Percutaneous transhepatic dilatation was performed in six patients and 22 patients had either primary surgical repair, or reconstruction of their biliary tree performed by hepaticojejunostomy with an 80cm Roux-en-Y limb. Of these only two have required revision surgery. We recommend early referral of patients with recognised iatrogenic injuries to specialist hepatobiliary units with no attempt at repair prior to referral.