Bile leak from duct of Luschka after liver transplantation

Abstract

Background: We report a case of bile leak from an accessory duct of Luschka during cholecystectomy during liver transplantation.

Methods: Radiological findings suggested that the collection was septated. An intra-operative cholangiogram was obtained by cannulation of the accessory hepatic duct.

Results: An infected biloma with Clostridium perfringens was drained surgically. The bile leak that emanated from the gall bladder fossa was found to communicate with an accessory right hepatic duct draining a segmental duct in the right liver lobe. The bile leak resolved completely after direct suture of the accessory duct.

Conclusions: Excessive use of electrocautery to the liver bed during donor cholecystectomy may injure subcapsular ducts in the gallbladder fossa. In liver transplantation, dissection should be kept close to the serosal lining of the gall bladder, preserving the areolar tissue in the gall bladder bed, to avoid injury to the duct of Luschka.