Is there a place for endoscopic management in postcholecystectomy iatrogenic bile duct injuries?

In this editorial we comment on the article by Emara et al published in the recent issue of the World Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery.Previously,surgery was the primary treatment for bile duct injuries(BDI).The treatment of BDI has advanced due to technological breakthroughs and minimally invasive procedures.Endoscopic and percutaneous treatments have largely supplanted surgery as the primary treatment for most instances in recent years.Patient management,including the specific technique,is typically impacted by local knowledge and the kind and severity of the injury.Endoscopic therapy is a highly successful treatment for postoperative benign bile duct stenosis and offers superior long-term outcomes compared to surgical correction.Based on the damage features of BDI,therapeutic options include endoscopic duodenal papillary sphincterotomy,endoscopic nasobiliary drainage,and endoscopic biliary stent implantation.

Post-cholecystectomy iatrogenic bile duct injuries:Emerging role for endoscopic management

Post-cholecystectomy iatrogenic bile duct injuries(IBDIs),are not uncommon and although the frequency of IBDIs vary across the literature,the rates following the procedure of laparoscopic cholecystectomy are much higher than open cholecystectomy.These injuries caries a great burden on the patients,physicians and the health care systems and sometime are life-threatening.IBDIs are associated with different manifestations that are not limited to abdominal pain,bile leaks from the surgical drains,peritonitis with fever and sometimes jaundice.Such injuries if not witnessed during the surgery,can be diagnosed by combining clinical manifestations,biochemical tests and imaging techniques.Among such techniques abdominal US is usually the first choice while Magnetic Resonance Cholangio-Pancreatography seems the most appropriate.Surgical approach was the ideal approach for such cases,however the introduction of Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio-Pancreatography(ERCP)was a paradigm shift in the management of such injuries due to accepted success rates,lower cost and lower rates of associated morbidity and mortality.However,the literature lacks consensus for the optimal timing of ERCP intervention in the management of IBDIs.ERCP management of IBDIs can be tailored according to the nature of the underlying injury.For the subgroup of patients with complete bile duct ligation and lost ductal continuity,transfer to surgery is indicated without delay.Those patients will not benefit from endoscopy and hence should not do unnecessary ERCP.For low–flow leaks e.g.gallbladder bed leaks,conservative management for 1-2 wk prior to ERCP is advised,in contrary to high-flow leaks e.g.cystic duct leaks and stricture lesions in whom early ERCP is encouraged.Sphincterotomy plus stenting is the ideal management line for cases of IBDIs.Interventional radiologic techniques are promising options especially for cases of failed endoscopic repair and also for cases with altered anatomy.Future studies will solve many unsolved issues in the management of IBDIs.

Iatrogenic bile duct injuries from biliary tract surgery

BACKGROUND:Cholecystectomy is the most commonly performed procedure in general surgery.However,bile duct injury is a rare but still one of the most common complications.These injuries sometimes present variably after primary surgery.Timely detection and appropriate management decrease the morbidity and mortality of the operation. METHODS:Five cases of iatrogenic bile duct injury(IBDI) were managed at the Department of Surgery,First Affiliated Hospital,Xi’an Jiaotong University.All the cases who underwent both open and laparoscopic cholecystectomy had persistent injury to the biliary tract and were treated accordingly. RESULTS:Recovery of the patients was uneventful.All patients were followed-up at the surgical outpatient department for six months to three years.So far the patients have shown good recovery. CONCLUSIONS:In cases of IBDI it is necessary to perform the operation under the supervision of an experienced surgeon who is specialized in the repair of bile duct injuries,and it is also necessary to detect and treat the injury as soon as possible to obtain a satisfactory outcome.

New classification of acute bile duct injuries

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Timing of surgical repair of bile duct injuries after laparoscopic cholecystectomy: A systematic review

BACKGROUND The surgical management of bile duct injuries(BDIs)after laparoscopic cholecystectomy(LC)is challenging and the optimal timing of surgery remains unclear.The primary aim of this study was to systematically evaluate the evidence behind the timing of BDI repair after LC in the literature.AIM To assess timing of surgical repair of BDI and postoperative complications.METHODS The MEDLINE,EMBASE,and The Cochrane Library databases were systematically screened up to August 2021.Risk of bias was assessed via the Newcastle Ottawa scale.The primary outcomes of this review included the timing of BDI repair and postoperative complications.RESULTS A total of 439 abstracts were screened,and 24 studies were included with 15609 patients included in this review.Of the 5229 BDIs reported,4934(94%)were classified as major injury.Timing of bile duct repair was immediate(14%,n=705),early(28%,n=1367),delayed(28%,n=1367),or late(26%,n=1286).Standardization of definition for timing of repair was remarkably poor among studies.Definitions for immediate repair ranged from<24 h to 6 wk after LC while early repair ranged from<24 h to 12 wk.Likewise,delayed(>24 h to>12 wk after LC)and late repair(>6 wk after LC)showed a broad overlap.CONCLUSION The lack of standardization among studies precludes any conclusive recommendation on optimal timing of BDI repair after LC.This finding indicates an urgent need for a standardized reporting system of BDI repair.

Mechanism of Dynamic Near-infrared Fluorescence Cholangiography of Extrahepatic Bile Ducts and Applications in Detecting Bile Duct Injuries Using Indocyanine Green in Animal Models

Fluorescence intraoperative cholangiography（IOC） is a potential alternative for identifying anatomical variation and preventing iatrogenic bile duct injuries by using the near-infrared probe indocyanine green（ICG）. However, the dynamic process and mechanism of fluorescence IOC have not been elucidated in previous publications. Herein, the optical properties of the complex of ICG and bile, dynamic fluorescence cholangiography and iatrogenic bile duct injuries were investigated. The emission spectrum of ICG in bile peaked at 844 nm and ICG had higher tissue penetration. Extrahepatic bile ducts could fluoresce 2 min after intravenous injection, and the fluorescence intensity reached a peak at 8 min. In addition, biliary dynamics were observed owing to ICG excretion from the bile ducts into the duodenum. Quantitative analysis indicated that ICG-guided fluorescence IOC possessed a high signal to noise ratio compared to the surrounding peripheral tissue and the portal vein. Fluorescence IOC was based on rapid uptake of circulating ICG in plasma by hepatic cells, excretion of ICG into the bile and then its interaction with protein molecules in the bile. Moreover, fluorescence IOC was sensitive to detect bile duct ligation and acute bile duct perforation using ICG in rat models. All of the results indicated that fluorescence IOC using ICG is a valid alternative for the cholangiography of extrahepatic bile ducts and has potential for measurement of biliary dynamics.

Iatrogenic Bile Duct Injuries after Cholecystectomy, Is the Laparoscopic Approach a Good Idea?

Objective: The treatment of iatrogenic bile duct injuries is still a challenge for hepatobiliary and general surgeons. Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy, one of the most appropriate techniques for the treatment of circumferential lesions, either occurring less than 2 cm from the bifurcation or in the bifurcation of the common hepatic duct, requires experience in advanced laparoscopy and hepatobiliary surgery. This study aims to present the results of laparoscopic hepaticojejunostomy (LHJ) for the treatment of iatrogenic bile duct injuries (IBDI). Methods: A retrospective study analyzing the medical records of patients diagnosed with IBDI and treated using LHJ of patients at the Hospital S?o José do Avaí (HSJA). Sex, age, previous cholecystectomy technique, signs and symptoms, postoperative complications, length of stay, injury classification, and time elapsed from injury to diagnosis were analyzed. Magnetic resonance cholangiography (MRC), endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) or intraoperative cholangiography. Results: From March 2006 to December 2018, six patients underwent LHJ. In five cases (83.33%), the primary operation was a laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) and in one patient (13.66%) open cholecystectomy. The most frequent clinical sign was jaundice. The mean surgical time was 153.2 minutes (range: 115 to 206 minutes), and the hospital stay was 3 to 7 days (mean: 4.16 days). One patient had infection of the umbilical trocar incision and one patient presented with stenosis of the hepaticojejunal anastomosis and was treated with radioscopic pneumatic dilatation. Conclusion: LHJ for circumferential and total IBDI either diagnosed early (during surgery) or late, may be a safe and effective option, with similar results to the conventional technique, a low complication rate and all the known advantages of minimally invasive surgery.

Classification of iatrogenic bile duct injury

BACKGROUND: Iatrogenic bile duct injury continues to be an important clinical problem, resulting in serious morbidity, and occasional mortality, to patients. The ease of management, operative risk, and outcome of bile duct injuries vary considerably, and are highly dependent on the type of injury and its location. This article reviews the various classification systems of bile duct injury. DATA SOURCES: A Medline, PubMed database search was performed to identify relevant articles using the keywords 'bile duct injury', 'cholecystectomy', and 'classification'. Additional papers were identified by a manual search of the references from the key articles. RESULTS: Traditionally, biliary injuries have been classified using the Bismuth's classification. This classification, which originated from the era of open surgery, is intended to help the surgeons to choose the appropriate technique for the repair, and it has a good correlation with the final outcome after surgical repair. However, the Bismuth's classification does not encompass the whole spectrum of injuries that are possible. Bile duct injury during laparoscopic cholecystectomy tends to be more severe than those with open cholecystectomy. Strasberg's classification made Bismuth's classification much more comprehensive by including various other types of extrahepatic bile duct injuries. Our group, Bergman et al, Neuhaus et al, Csendes et al, and Stewart et al have also proposed other classification systems to complement the Bismuth's classification. CONCLUSIONS: None of the classification system is universally accepted as each has its own limitation. Hopefully, a universally accepted comprehensive classification system will be published in the near future.

Non-image diagnosis of bile duct injury during laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Objective: To evaluate the role of simple non-imagetechnique in intraoperative diagnosis of bile duct in-jury (BDI).Methods: BDI was highly suspected at the original la-paroscopic cholecystectomy (LC) when the following 3abnormal findings were noted: the 'cystic duct' stump(the common bile duct stump actually) markedly re-tracted down to the duodenum; bile leakage from theporta hepatis; abnormal mucosal patch attached to the'cystic duct' stump of the removed gallbladder. Allcases of suspected BDI were converted to have laparo-tomy. Image techniques such as intraoperative cholan-giography or ultrasonography were not utilized forrecognition of BDI in all 9 patients.Results: BDI in 4 of the 9 patients was suspected ac-cording to 1-3 abnormal intraoperative findings de-scribed above. The four patients were subjected imme-diately to converted laparotomy. Abnormal findingswere not observed or misinterpreted in the other 5misdiagnosed patients.Conclusions: Timely recognizing whether BDI occursshould be considered as a routine procedure ofLC. Negligence of operators to the abnormalities of theoriginal LC, is the main cause of misdiagnosis forBDL. Simple non-image approaches such as close ob-servation of these abnormalities can make timely diag-nosis for most BDIs during the original LC.

Impact of referral pattern and timing of repair on surgical outcome after reconstruction of post-cholecystectomy bile duct injury:A multicenter study

Background:Bile duct injury(BDI)after cholecystectomy remains a significant surgical challenge.No guideline exists to guide the timing of repair,while few studies compare early versus late repair BDI.This study aimed to analyze the outcomes in patients undergoing immediate,intermediate,and delayed repair of BDI.Methods:We retrospectively analyzed 412 patients with BDI from March 2015 to January 2020.The patients were divided into three groups based on the time of BDI reconstruction.Group 1 underwent an immediate reconstruction(within the first 72 hours post-cholecystectomy,n=156);group 2 underwent an intermediate reconstruction(from 4 days to 6 weeks post-cholecystectomy,n=75),and group 3 underwent delayed reconstruction(after 6 weeks post-cholecystectomy,n=181).Results:Patients in group 2 had significantly more early complications including anastomotic leakage and intra-abdominal collection and late complications including anastomotic stricture and secondary liver cirrhosis compared with groups 1 and 3.Favorable outcome was observed in 111(71.2%)patients in group 1,31(41.3%)patients in group 2,and 157(86.7%)patients in group 3(P=0.0001).Multivariate analysis identified that complete ligation of the bile duct,level E1 BDI and the use of external stent were independent factors of favorable outcome in group 1,the use of external stent was an independent factor of favorable outcome in group 2,and level E4 BDI was an independent factor of unfavorable outcome in group 3.Transected BDI and level E4 BDI were independent factors of unfavorable outcome.Conclusions:Favorable outcomes were more frequently observed in the immediate and delayed reconstruction of post-cholecystectomy BDI.Complete ligation of the bile duct,level E1 BDI and the use of external stent were independent factors of a favorable outcome.

Microvessel density at different levels of normal or injured bile duct in dogs and its surgical implications

BACKGROUND:Ischemic recurrent stricture after surgical repair for iatrogenic bile duct injury(BDI)remains a challenge in clinical practice.The present study was designed to investigate whether ischemia is universal and of varied severity at different levels of the proximal bile duct after BDI. METHODS:A total of 30 beagle dogs were randomly divided into control,BDI,and BDI-repaired groups.The BDI animal model was established based on the classic pattern of laparoscopic cholecystectomy-related BDI.The animals were sacrificed on postoperative day 15,and bile duct tissue was harvested to assess microvessel density(MVD)at selected levels of the normal,post-BDI and BDI-repaired bile duct with the CD34 immunohistochemistry technique. RESULTS:In the control group,MVD at level H(high level) was remarkably higher than that at level L(low level).No significant difference was found between MVDs at levels H and M(middle level),as well as at levels M and L.However, the tendency was noted that the closer the level to the hilus, the greater the MVD at that level.In both the BDI and BDI-repaired groups,MVDs at level H were generally greater than those at level L,despite the unremarkable differences between MVDs at neighboring levels.In these two groups,a similar tendency of MVD distribution to that in the control group was found;the closer the level to the injury site,the lower was the MVD at that level.Moreover,compared with the MDVs at the levels M and L in the control group,MVDs at the corresponding levels in the BDI and BDI-repaired groups were all remarkably reduced(P<0.05).In addition,MVDs at all three levels in the BDI group significantly declined further after BDI repair.CONCLUSIONS:After BDI,universal ischemic damage in the injured proximal bile duct develops close to the injury site, while close to the hilus,ischemia is relatively slight.High hepaticojejunostomy,rather than low biloenterostomy or end-to-end duct anastomosis,should be recommended for BDI repair.Great care should be taken to protect the peribiliary plexus during repair.

Extrahepatic bile duct reconstruction in pigs with heterogenous animal-derived artificial bile ducts:A preliminary experience

BACKGROUND Extrahepatic biliary duct injury(BDI)remains a complicated issue for surgeons.Although several approaches have been explored to address this problem,the high incidence of complications affects postoperative recovery.As a nonimmunogenic scaffold,an animal-derived artificial bile duct(ada-BD)could replace the defect,providing good physiological conditions for the regeneration of autologous bile duct structures without changing the original anatomical and physiologic conditions.AIM To evaluate the long-term feasibility of a novel heterogenous ada-BD for treating extrahepatic BDI in pigs.METHODS Eight pigs were randomly divided into two groups in the study.The animal injury model was developed with an approximately 2 cm segmental defect of various parts of the common bile duct(CBD)for all pigs.A 2 cm long novel heterogenous animal-derived bile duct was used to repair this segmental defect(group A,ada-BD-to-duodenum anastomosis to repair the distal CBD defect;group B,ada-BD-to-CBD anastomosis to repair the intermedial CBD defect).The endpoint for observation was 6 mo(group A)and 12 mo(group B)after the operation.Liver function was regularly tested.Animals were euthanized at the above endpoints.Histological analysis was carried out to assess the efficacy of the repair.RESULTS The median operative time was 2.45 h(2-3 h),with a median anastomosis time of 60.5 min(55-73 min).All experimental animals survived until the endpoints for observation.The liver function was almost regular.Histologic analysis indicated a marked biliary epithelial layer covering the neo-bile duct and regeneration of the submucosal connective tissue and smooth muscle without significant signs of immune rejection.In comparison,the submucosal connective tissue was more regular and thicker in group B than in group A,and there was superior integrity of the regeneration of the biliary epithelial layer.Despite the advantages of the regeneration of the bile duct smooth muscle observed in group A,the effect on the patency of the ada-BD grafts in group B was not confirmed by macroscopic assessment and cholangiography.CONCLUSION This approach appears to be feasible for repairing a CBD defect with an ada-BD.A large sample study is needed to confirm the durability and safety of these preliminary results.

Recovery from a biliary stricture of a common bile duct ligature injury:A case report

BACKGROUND Cholecystectomy is a common elective procedure for cholecystic diseases,including cholecystitis and cholelithiasis.Common bile duct injury is a major complication in both open and laparoscopic cholecystectomy(LC).The number of cholecystectomies performed has increased due to popularization and application of the laparoscopic technique,which has led to an increase in the number of bile duct injuries.CASE SUMMARY A 65-year-old man presented to the General Surgery Department with a complaint of repeated right upper quadrant pain for 2 years that had worsened over the previous day.The patient had a history of gallstones and hypertension.A LC was performed;it was found that a biliary stricture of 53 h duration was caused by a ligature injury of the common bile duct during the LC.Another laparoscopic exploration was performed,and the stricture was released.CONCLUSION LC is a common surgical procedure,but if a complication occurs,it is important for the surgeon to consider another exploratory surgery.

Application of a new-type sutureless anastomosis stent to the primary reconstruction of the bilioenteric continuity after acute bile duct injury in dogs

Objective： To evaluate the effect of a new-type sutureless magnetic bilioenteric anastomosis stent that was used to reconstruct the bilioenteric continuity （primarily under the circumstances of severe inflammation after acute bile duct injury in dogs ）. Methods： Establishing an animal model of acute bile duct injury with severe inflammation and bile peritonitis in dogs. The newtype sutureless magnetic bilioenteric anastomosis stent was used to reconstruct the bilioenteric continuity primarily. Results： The experiment group anastomosis healed well with a mild local inflammation reaction, and the collagen lined up in order without the occurrence of observable bile leakage and infection. Conclusion： It was safe and feasible to use the new-type anastomosis stent to reconstruct the bilioenteric continuity primarily under the circumstances of severe inflammation after acute bile duct injury in dogs.

Alterations in fibrinolytic system proteins PAI-1,MMP-3,MMP-8,TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 in post-cholecystectomy bile duct injury

Introduction: In bile duct injuries (BDI), cholestasis and cholangitis can alter the fibrinolytic system by promoting an increase of extracellular matrix depositions which favor an imbalance between metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs). Materials and Methods: Levels of PAI-1, MMP-3, MMP-8, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 in 35 patients with post-cholecystectomy BDI by complete biliary obstruction were measured and compared to a healthy control group. Sirius red staining and immune staining for MMP-3 and MMP-8 were also undertaken in liver biopsies. Results: Levels of PAI-1, TIMP-1, TIMP-2 and MMP-8 were higher in BDI than healthy controls: 15 ± 2 ng/mL vs 7.1 ± 2 ng/mL (p 0.024);539 ± 64 ng/mL vs 256 ± 13 ng/mL (p p p 2 vs. 22865.7 ± 3865 μm2 in healthy controls (p 2 vs. 30744.2 ± 5810.2 μm2 (p 2 vs. 116337.9 ± 24803.3 μm2 (p 0.55). These results suggest an imbalance between fibrogenic/fibrinolytic protein levels. Interestingly, expression of the fibrinolytic protein MMP-8 was increased in serum and liver biopsies in BDI. Conclusion: We found an imbalance of profibrogenic molecules which promote extracellular matrix deposition. The over-expression of fibrinolytic proteins such as MMP-8 could limit liver fibrosis, preventing hepatic dysfunction in post-cholecystectomy BDI.

Mirizzi syndrome:Problems and strategies

Mirizzi syndrome is a serious complication of gallstone disease.It is caused by the impacted stones in the gallbladder neck or cystic duct.One of the features of Mirizzi syndrome is severe inflammation or dense fibrosis at the Calot’s triangle.In our clinical practice,bile duct,branches of right hepatic artery and right portal vein clinging to gallbladder infundibulum are often observed due to gallbladder infundibulum adhered to right hepatic hilum.The intraoperative damage of branches of right hepatic artery occurs more easily than that of bile duct,all of which are hidden pitfalls for surgeons.Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography(MRCP)and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP)are the preferable tools for the diagnosis of Mirizzi syndrome.Anterograde cholecystectomy in Mirizzi syndrome is easy to damage branches of right hepatic artery and bile duct due to gallbladder infundibulum adhered to right hepatic hilum.Subtotal cholecystectomy is an easy,safe and definitive approach to Mirizzi syndrome.When combined with the application of ERCP,a laparoscopic management of Mirizzi syndrome by well-trained surgeons is feasible and safe.The objective of this review was to highlight its existing problems:(1)low preoperative diagnostic rate,(2)easy to damage bile duct and branches of right hepatic artery,and(3)high concomitant gallbladder carcinoma.Meanwhile,the review aimed to discuss the possible therapeutic strategies:(1)to enhance its preoperative recognition by imaging findings,and(2)to avoid potential pitfalls during surgery.

Near-infrared cholangiography with intragallbladder indocyanine green injection in minimally invasive cholecystectomy

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy(LC)remains one of the most commonly performed procedures in adult and paediatric populations.Despite the advances made in intraoperative biliary anatomy recognition,iatrogenic bile duct injuries during LC represent a fatal complication and consist an economic burden for healthcare systems.A series of methods have been proposed to prevent bile duct injury,among them the use of indocyanine green(ICG)fluorescence.The most commonly reported method of ICG injection is the intravenous administration,while literature is lacking studies investigating the direct intragallbladder ICG injection.This narrative mini-review aims to assess the potential applications,usefulness,and limitations of intragallbladder ICG fluorescence in LC.Authors screened the available international literature to identify the reports of intragallbladder ICG fluorescence imaging in minimally invasive cholecystectomy,as well as special issues regarding its use.Literature search retrieved four prospective cohort studies,three case-control studies,and one case report.In the three case-control studies selected,intragallbladder near-infrared cholangiography(NIRC)was compared with standard LC under white light,with intravenous administration of ICG for NIRC and with standard intraoperative cholangiography(IOC).In total,133 patients reported in the literature have been administered intragallbladder ICG administration for biliary mapping during LC.Literature includes several reports of intragallbladder ICG administration,but a standardized technique has not been established yet.Published data suggest that NIRC with intragallbladder ICG injection is a promising method to achieve biliary mapping,overwhelming limitations of IOC including intervention and radiation exposure,as well as the high hepatic parenchyma signal and time interval needed in intravenous ICG fluorescence.Evidence-based guidelines on the role of intragallbladder ICG fluorescence in LC require the assessment of further studies and multicenter data collection into large registries.

Three-dimensional identification of the cystic infundibulum-cystic duct junction: a technique for identification of the cystic duct in laparoscopic cholecystectomy

OBJECTIVE: The main cause of bile duct injury (BDI) at laparoscopic cholecystectomy is misidentification of the common bile duct as the cystic duct (CD). The aim of this article is to introduce a modified technique, i. e., three-dimensional identification of the cystic infundibulum (CI)-CD junction, to prevent misidentification-induced BDI during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. METHODS: The Cl was extensively dissected to expose its anterior, interior-superior and inferior-dorsal aspects. With the CI nearly circularly dissected out, the CI and the appearance-indicated CI-CD junction might be three-dimensionally identified and the reality of the CI-CD junction as well as the reality of the CD could be precisely judged. RESULTS: Overall 10 BDIs were documented in this group. Since BDI occurred in 8 of 4382 patients receiving laparoscopic cholecyxtectomy, the technique for prevention of mixidentification-induced BDI was established. Among the late batch of 7618 patients, only two BDIs were noted. CONCLUSIONS: Three-dimensional identification of the CI-CD junction is a reliable, feasible and relatively low experience-dependent technique to prevent most of misidentification-induced BDI.

Right anterior segmental hepatic duct emptying directly into the cystic duct in a living donor

A 35-year-old mother was scheduled to be the living donor for liver transplantation to her second son,who suffered from biliary atresia complicated with biliary cirrhosis at the age of 2 years.The operative plan was to recover the left lateral segment of the mother's liver for living donor transplantation.With the use of cholangiography at the time of surgery,we found the right anterior segmental duct(RASD) emptying directly into the cystic duct,and the catheter passed into the RASD.After repairing the incision in the cystic duct,transplantation was successfully performed.Her postoperative course was uneventful.Biliary anatomical variations were frequently encountered,however,this variation has very rarely been reported.If the RASD was divided,the repair would be very difficult because the duct will not dilate sufficiently in an otherwise healthy donor.Meticulous preoperative evaluation of the living donor's biliary anatomy,especially using magnetic resonance cholangiography and careful intraoperative techniques,is important to prevent bile duct injury and avoid the risk to the healthy donor.

Initial management of suspected biliary injury after laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Although rare,iatrogenic bile duct injury(BDI)after laparoscopic cholecystectomy may be devastating to the patient.The cornerstones for the initial management of BDI are early recognition,followed by modern imaging and evaluation of injury severity.Tertiary hepato-biliary centre care with a multidisciplinary approach is crucial.The diagnostics of BDI commences with a multiphase abdominal computed tomography scan,and when the biloma is drained or a surgical drain is put in place,the diagnosis is set with the help of bile drain output.To visualize the leak site and biliary anatomy,the diagnostics is supplemented with contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging.The location and severity of the bile duct lesion and concomitant injuries to the hepatic vascular system are evaluated.Most often,a combination of percutaneous and endoscopic methods is used for control of contamination and bile leak.Generally,the next step is endoscopic retrograde cholangiography(ERC)for downstream control of the bile leak.ERC with insertion of a stent is the treatment of choice in most mild bile leaks.The surgical option of re-operation and its timing should be discussed in cases where an endoscopic and percutaneous approach is not sufficient.The patient's failure to recover properly in the first days after laparoscopic cholecystectomy should immediately raise suspicion of BDI and this merits immediate investigation.Early consultation and referral to a dedicated hepatobiliary unit are essential for the best outcome.