Current management of postoperative complications and benign biliary strictures

Abstract

Postoperative complications after surgery of the biliary tract are usually amenable to endoscopic treatment. Such complications are most frequent after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Bile leaks and bile duct strictures are the two main biliary injuries. Bile leaks are usually detected during the early postoperative period and can be treated by endoscopic drainage of the biliary tree (endoscopic sphincterotomy with or without nasobiliary drain). Postoperative biliary strictures are usually identified months or years after surgery. Endoscopic placement of an increasing number of plastic stents can achieve morphologic disappearance of the stricture and persistent dilation on long-term follow-up in most cases.