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Biliary tract injuries

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  • Published:
Hellenic Journal of Surgery

Abstract

Injury to the extrahepatic biliary tract occurs frequently due to damage inflicted during upper abdominal operations, cholecystectomy being the commonest situation followed by other upper abdominal surgeries, and less often due to blunt or penetrating abdominal injury. Most traumatic extrahepatic biliary tract injuries are caused by penetrating trauma and are usually discovered during laparotomy. Diagnosis is made by noting the accumulation of bile in the upper quadrant. The gallbladder is the most commonly injured structure. Regardless of the type of biliary injury and/or management, wide and adequate drainage is essential. Any upper abdominal operation can result in biliary tract injuries. Cholecystectomy is the procedure most implicated in biliary tract injuries because it is one of the most common elective surgeries performed worldwide. If not managed properly, bile duct injuries can lead to life-threatening complications. Identification and management of biliary tract injuries demand precise judgement, expertise, timely and appropriate intervention and prevention of complications. This study aims to present detailed information and an update on biliary tract injuries.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lady Hardinge medical college, New Delhi, India

    Poras Chaudhary, Rajeev Kumar & Mohinder P. Arora

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  1. Poras Chaudhary
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  2. Rajeev Kumar
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  3. Mohinder P. Arora
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Correspondence to Poras Chaudhary.

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Chaudhary, P., Kumar, R. & Arora, M.P. Biliary tract injuries. Hellenic J Surg 87, 149–155 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13126-015-0200-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13126-015-0200-y

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