Right hepatic lobectomy for bile duct injury associated with major vascular occlusion after laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Abstract:

A 57-year-old woman underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) for cholelithiasis. Continuous bile leak was observed beginning on the first postoperative day. Postoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiography revealed bile leak through the common hepatic duct, and severe stenosis of the hepatic confluence. A total of three percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) catheters were inserted to treat obstructive jaundice and cholangitis. The patient was referred to our hospital for surgery 118 days after LC. Cholangiography through the PTBD catheters demonstrated a hilar biliary obstruction. Celiac arteriography revealed obstruction of the right hepatic artery, and transarterial portography showed occlusion of the right anterior portal branch. On the basis of the cholangiographic and angiographic findings, we performed a right hepatic lobectomy with hepaticojejunostomy to resolve the bile duct obstruction and address the problem of major vascular occlusion. The patient's postoperative recovery was uneventful and she remains well 25 months after hepatectomy. We discuss a treatment strategy for bile duct injury suspected after LC, involving early investigation of the biliary tree and prompt intervention.