Cholecystectomy-related bile duct and vasculobiliary injuries

Abstract

Background: Combined vasculobiliary injury is a serious complication of cholecystectomy. This study examined medium- to long-term outcomes after such injury.

Methods: Patients referred to this institution with Strasberg type E bile duct injuries were identified from a prospectively maintained database (1990-2010). Long-term outcomes were evaluated by chart review.

Results: Sixty-three patients were referred with bile duct injury alone (45 patients) or vasculobiliary injury (18). Thirty patients (48 per cent) had septic complications before transfer. Twenty-six patients (41 per cent) had long-term biliary complications over a median follow-up of 96 (range 12-245) months. Nine patients (3 with bile duct injury, 6 with vasculobiliary injury) required further interventions after a median of 22 (8-38) months; five required biliary surgical revision and four percutaneous dilatation of biliary strictures. Vasculobiliary injury and injury-related sepsis were independent risk factors for treatment failure: hazard ratio 7·79 (95 per cent confidence interval 2·80 to 21·70; P < 0·001) and 4·82 (1·69 to 13·68; P = 0·003) respectively.

Conclusion: Outcome following bile duct injury repair was worse in patients with concomitant vasculobiliary injury and/or sepsis.