Classification and Management of Bile Duct Injuries: Editorial

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com/1948-9366office World J Gastrointest Surg 2011 April 27; 3(4): 43-48


wjgs@wjgnet.com ISSN 1948-9366 (online)
doi:10.4240/wjgs.v3.i4.43 © 2011 Baishideng. All rights reserved.

EDITORIAL

Classification and management of bile duct injuries

Miguel Angel Mercado, Ismael Domínguez

Miguel Angel Mercado, Ismael Domínguez, Department of © 2011 Baishideng. All rights reserved.
Surgery, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición
“Salvador Zubirán”, P.C.14000 México, DF, Mexico Key words: Bile duct injury; Hepatojejunoanastomosis;
Author contributions: Mercado MA and Domínguez I were Biliary repair; Hepatectomy; Cholangitis
both responsible for the design, conception, drafting and final ap-
proval of this paper. Peer reviewers: Grigory G Karmazanovsky, Professor, Depart-
Correspondence to: Miguel Angel Mercado, MD, Department ment of Radiology, Vishnevsky Istitute of Surgery, B Serpuk-
of Surgery, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición hovskaya street 27, Moscow 117997, Russia; Imtiaz Ahmed
“Salvador Zubirán”, Vasco de Quiroga 15 Colonia Sección XVI Wani, PhD, Shodi Gali, Amira Kadal, Srinagar, India
Tlalpan, P.C.14000 México, DF,
Mexico. miguel.mercadod@quetzal.innsz.mx
Mercado MA, Domínguez I. Classification and management of
Telephone: +52-55-739321 Fax: +52-55-739321
bile duct injuries. World J Gastrointest Surg 2011; 3(4): 43-48
Received: February 23, 2011 Revised: March 25, 2011
Accepted: April 1, 2011 Available from: URL: http://www.wjgnet.com/1948-9366/full/
Published online: April 27, 2011 v3/i4/43.htm DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4240/wjgs.v3.i4.43

Abstract INTRODUCTION
To review the classification and general guidelines for Bile duct injuries (BDI) take place in a wide spectrum
treatment of bile duct injury patients and their long term of clinical settings. The mechanisms of injury, previ-
results. In a 20-year period, 510 complex circumferen- ous attempts of repair, surgical risk and general health
tial injuries have been referred to our team for repair at status importantly influence the diagnostic and thera-
the Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición peutic decision-making pathway of every single case. A
“Salvador Zubirán” hospital in Mexico City and 198 else- multidisciplinary approach including internal medicine,
where (private practice). The records at the third level surgery, endoscopy and interventional radiology special-
Academic University Hospital were analyzed and divided ists is required to properly manage this complex disease.
into three periods of time: GⅠ-1990-99 (33 cases), G BDI may occur after gallbladder, pancreas and gastric
Ⅱ- 2000-2004 (139 cases) and GⅢ- 2004-2008 (140
surgery, with laparoscopic cholecystectomy responsible
cases). All patients were treated with a Roux en Y hepa-
for 80%-85% of them[1-3]. Although not statistically sig-
tojejunostomy. A decrease in using transanastomotic
nificant, BDI during laparoscopic cholecystectomy is
stents was observed (78% vs 2%, P = 0.0001). Partial
twice as frequent compared to injuries during an open
segment Ⅳ and Ⅴ resection was more frequently car-
ried out (45% vs 75%, P = 0.2) (to obtain a high bilio-
procedure (0.3% open vs 0.6% laparoscopic)[4]. BDIs are a
enteric anastomosis). Operative mortality (3% vs 0.7%, complex health problem and, although they usually occur
P = 0.09), postoperative cholangitis (54% vs 13%, P in healthy young people, the effect on the patient’s quality
= 0.0001), anastomosis strictures (30% vs 5%, P = of life and overall survival is substantial[5]. The two most
0.0001), short and long term complications and need frequent scenarios are bile leak and bile duct obstruction.
for reoperation (surgical or radiological) (45% vs 11%, Most of BDIs after laparoscopic cholecystectomy are
P = 0.0001) were significantly less in the last period. recognized transoperatively or in the immediate postop-
The authors concluded that transition to a high volume erative period[6,7]. Bile leak scenario is easily recognized
center has improved long term results for bile duct inju- during the first postoperative week. Constant bile ef-
ry repair. Even interested and tertiary care centers have fusion is documented through surgical drains, surgical
a learning curve. wounds or laparoscopic ports. Patients usually complain

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Mercado MA et al . Bile duct injury classification and management

of diffuse abdominal pain, nausea, fever and impaired staples. It has a prevalence of 2% with a concomitant he-
intestinal motility. In addition, bile collections, peritonitis, patic artery injury in 18% of cases. T-tube related injuries
leukocytosis and mixed hyperbilirubinemia may be part are included within this class.
of the clinical setting[8,9]. An obstructive pattern in liver Class Ⅲ is the most common (61% of cases) and rep-
function tests accompanied by jaundice is frequent in the resents the complete section of the common hepatic duct.
biliary obstruction scenario. Most of these patients have It is subdivided in to type Ⅲa, remnant common hepatic
a complex Strasberg E injury recognized in the transop- duct; type Ⅲb, section at the confluence; type Ⅲc, loss of
erative period. However, if not identified during the first confluence; and type Ⅲd, injuries higher than confluence
postoperative week, patients have an insidious evolution with section of secondary bile ducts. It occurs when the
with relapsing abdominal pain and cholangitis as well as common hepatic duct is confounded with the cystic duct,
bile collections. Jaundice is not always present immediate- leading to a complete section of the common hepatic
ly after bile duct injury. Some partial stenosis and isolated duct when resecting the gallbladder. A concomitant injury
sectorial right duct lesions (Strasberg B and C) present of right hepatic artery occurs in 27% of cases.
with abdominal pain, pruritus, general weakness, fever Class Ⅳ describes the right (68%) and accessory right
and intermittent alteration of liver function tests. (28%) hepatic duct injuries with concomitant injury of
Unfortunately, late diagnosis, multiple repair attempts the right hepatic artery (60%). Occasionally it includes
and neglected medical care in order to avoid legal entan- the common hepatic duct injury at the confluence (4%)
glements result in extension and increased complexity of besides the accessory right hepatic duct lesion. Class Ⅳ
bile duct repair. The late clinical course of bile duct injury has a prevalence of 10%[11,12].
leads to chronic liver disease, cirrhosis and portal hyper-
tension, with liver transplantation the last hope of cure. Strasberg classification
To our knowledge, the Strasberg classification of BDI is
the most complete and easy to understand. It divides in
BILE DUCT INJURY CLASSIFICATION to five groups (A to E) where the E class is analog to the
Bismuth-Corlette Bismuth classification, a complex bile duct injury with a
Multiple classifications have been developed before and complete section of the duct.
after the laparoscopic era. The Bismuth-Corlette classi- Only right and left partial injuries are not included
fication was introduced before laparoscopy. It is difficult in this classification. Despite the fact that the latter are
to apply in laparoscopic cholecystectomy as most of the infrequent injuries (8% and 4% respectively in our series),
technical factors and lesion mechanisms are completely it is important for the surgeon to be aware of them in
different to open surgery. It considers the complete sec- order to make a proper diagnosis and timely referral.
tion of the common bile duct and the length of the Class A represents a bile leak from the cystic duct or
proximal bile duct stump[10]. Nevertheless, most cases an accessory duct. In both conditions there is continuity
have late stenosis or bile duct obstruction which may with the common bile duct. Class B is the section of an
be included in this classification, representing a subtype accessory duct with no continuity with the common bile
Strasberg E and Stewart-Way Ⅲ-Ⅳ lesions. duct. Class C represents a leak from a bile duct with no
Type Ⅰ is a low injury with a stump length more than continuity with the common bile duct. Class D is a partial
2 cm. Type Ⅱ is a middle level injury with a stump length section of a bile duct with no complete loss of continuity
less than 2 cm. Type Ⅲ is a high level injury without with the rest of the bile duct system. Class E is a com-
common hepatic duct available but preserved confluence. plete section of the bile duct with subtypes according to
Type Ⅳ involves loss of hepatic confluence with no the length of the stump (E1-E5). It also includes the loss
communication between right and left ducts. of confluence and injury to accessory ducts[13].

Stewart-Way classification Hannover classification


This classification involves four strata based on the mech- This was published in 2007 but is poorly known in the
anism and anatomy of injury. world literature. It classifies injuries in relationship to the
Class Ⅰ refers to the incomplete section of bile duct confluence and also includes vascular injuries. It has five
with no loss of tissue. It has a prevalence rate of 7%. subtypes. Type A refers to cystic and/or gallbladder bed
The first mechanism of injury is a misleading recognition leaks. Type B is a complete or incomplete stenosis caused
of the common hepatic duct with the cystic duct but is by a surgical staple. Type C represents lateral tangential in-
rectified and results in only a small loss of tissue with no juries. Type D refers to complete section of the common
complete section of the bile duct. The second mecha- bile duct emphasizing their distance to the confluence as
nism refers to the lateral injury of the common hepatic well as the hepatic artery and portal vein concomitant in-
duct which results from the cystic duct opening extension juries. Type E is late bile duct stenosis at different lengths
during cholangiography. The former represents 72% and to the confluence[12].
the latter 28% of class Ⅰ cases.
Class Ⅱ is a lateral injury of the common hepatic duct
that leads to stenosis or bile leak. It is the consequence MANAGEMENT
of thermal damage and clamping the duct with surgical BDI must be treated according to the type of injury. The

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Mercado MA et al . Bile duct injury classification and management

Strasberg classification is a helpful tool to decide the best 5-0 absorbable stitches are used, a bile leak will develop
intervention for each case according to etiological mecha- during the first postoperative week with concomitant bile
nism of injury. collections. Management of these cases requires a mul-
tidisciplinary approach with endoscopy and radiological-
Strasberg A injury guided drainage as the first therapeutic options. Surgery
As Strasberg A injuries maintain continuity with the rest is the last resource of treatment when a loss of bile duct
of the bile ducts, they are easily treated through endo- tissue is present and migration of a Strasberg D to E in-
scopic intervention. The objective is to decrease intra- jury has taken place.
ductal pressure distal to the bile duct leak. If endoscopy
is not available, a T tube could be useful. Strasberg E injury
The last resource is to control the bile leak through This injury is defined by a complete loss of common
subhepatic drains and refer to a specialized center with and/or hepatic bile duct continuity. Devascularization
enough experience to treat BDI[14]. and loss of bile duct tissue obliges the surgeon to per-
It is difficult to prevent Strasberg A injury, except form a high-quality hepatojejunal anastomosis. The lat-
when the common bile duct obstruction is documented ter procedure guarantees well-perfused bile ducts and a
and properly treated before surgery. low tension anastomosis. The opposite is obtained when
choledoco-choledoco or hepato-duodenum anastomosis
Strasberg B injury are performed as devascularized ducts are used for the
Segmentary bile duct occlusion is the etiological factor reconstruction and the duodenum tends to move down-
in this type of injury. If mild pain and elevation of liver wards, increasing anastomotic tension, even if a Kocher
function tests are present with no clinical impairment, maneuver is performed well in advance[17].
conservative management is followed. The presence of The best postoperative outcomes are obtained when
moderate and severe cholangitis makes the drainage of the hepatic confluence is preserved, allowing a high-
the occluded liver segment necessary. Percutaneous drain- quality, wide, well vascularized hepatojejunal anastomosis.
age or surgical resections can be performed when cholan- Partial resection of Ⅳ and Ⅴ segments facilitates iden-
gitis is not controlled with medical treatment. tification of bile ducts and proper settling of the jejunal
Biliodigestive derivation of segmentary bile ducts is loop[17,18].
technically hard to perform with only anecdotal cases be- In the unfortunate situation of inadequate ducts to
ing reported[15]. Long term prognosis is poor and there is a perform a hepatojejunoanastomosis, the jejunal loop
higher probability of bile colonization and cholangitis[16]. must be sutured to the liver parenchyma including feru-
lized bile ducts within the anastomosis similarly to a Ka-
Strasberg C injury zai portoenterostomy[19]. Most of these cases are consid-
As in Strasberg B injury, an accessory right duct is sec- ered for liver transplant as postoperative outcomes after
tioned but the proximal stump is not detected and oc- portoenterostomy are disappointing[20].
cluded, with an unnoticed bile leak as a consequence. No
continuity exists with the rest of the bile duct system,
leaving endoscopy out of the therapeutic options. INSTITUTIONAL EXPERIENCE
Subhepatic collections are frequent in the postopera- A retrospective review of the database of patients who
tive setting. These must be drained in order to avoid bili- have had bile duct reconstruction at our hospital from
ary peritonitis and septic shock. 1991 to 2008 was conducted. The protocol was approved
It is common that the bile leak is occluded spontane- by the Institutional Committee for Human Investigation
ously with no other intervention maintaining a controlled at our hospital. All patients referred to our hospital are
bile leak through external drains. If this does not happen, evaluated by a multidisciplinary team and the best option
therapeutic options are the same that Strasberg B injury, available is chosen for each individual patient. In this re-
biliodigestive derivation to segmentary ducts (also with port only cases that were treated by means of surgery are
poor long term prognosis), percutaneous drainage and included. All cases were treated by means of Roux en Y
hepatectomy. hepatojejunostomy, whose technical aspect has evolved in
the last years[17,21]. Almost all the cases were performed by
Strasberg D injury one surgeon (MAM).
A partial injury of the common bile duct in its medial Based on Strasberg’s definition, some cases were re-
side characterizes this type. No complete loss of bile paired at the index operation (when the injury occurred,
duct continuity is present. If a small injury with no de- early primary repair), other cases with delayed primary
vascularization is present, a 5-0 absorbable monofilament repair (6 wk or more after the injury) and, in the great
suture to close the defect is adequate. In these rare cases, majority of cases (more than 90%), secondary repairs
external drainage must be left in place and mandatory (patients who had a prior attempt of reconstruction)[22].
endoscopic sphincterotomy and endoprothesis should be At the beginning of our experience, the Bismuth clas-
performed. sification was used[10]. From 1997 until now, the Strasberg
In the setting of a devascularized duct, even if small classification has been used more frequently[13]. In the

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Mercado MA et al . Bile duct injury classification and management

1990s, ultrasound was used as the main imaging method


with all the inherent limitations. Percutaneous cholangi-
ography was used selectively and MR cholangiography
has been used in the last decade as the most effective tool
of visualizing the biliary tree.
Although a Roux en Y hepatojejunostomy has been
used in every single case, the operative technique has
evolved greatly. At the beginning of our experience, an
end to side anastomosis with a transanastomotic stent
was used for E1-E3 injuries[16]. In cases with E-4 or E-5
injuries, a porto enterostomy was done with transhepatic
stents placed through the intestinal lumen. As we real-
ized that the end to side anastomosis was sometimes
jeopardized because of devascularization[4], we started to Figure 1 Side to side hepatojejunoanastomosis. An absorbable 5-0 mono-
filament interrupted stitches leaving the knots outside the anastomotic lumen.
perform the anastomosis at the confluence level where
well vascularized ducts were usually found. In order to
reach the confluence, the anastomosis was always done in Post operative complications also had significant
the anterior aspect of the ducts on order to preserve the changes. The rate of post operative long term cholangitis
circulation. In some cases lowering the hilar plate pro- dropped to 13% and the rate of stenosis of the anasto-
vided adequate ducts exposition for the anastomosis. In mosis to 5%. Although less frequent, no significant differ-
order to obtain a tension free, wide anastomosis (and as ences were found in the rate of postoperative abscesses,
a result having more room for the intestinal loop) partial fistula or biloma. Need for reoperation (surgical or radio-
resection of segments Ⅳ and Ⅴ was done[23]. Routine ex- logical) also dropped to 11%. Operation-related mortality
tension of the anterior opening of the common bile duct decreased to less than 1% in the last period of time.
with direction to the left duct was done, particularly for This study demonstrates that referral centers for bile
thin ducts[24]. duct injury repair, transitioning from low to high volume
The utilization of transhepatic and transanastomotic of cases, have a learning curve. Combining a high volume
stent decreased progressively so that they are placed only of cases with team experience, low mortality, acceptable
for cases in which a porto enterostomy has to be done. peri and post operative morbidity and good long term re-
Major hepatectomy was done in some cases in which a sults can be achieved.
duct was found with irreversible damage and/or the in- Winslow and Strasberg have recently stated that tech-
trahepatic biliary tree was affected because of major arte- nical aspects of repair are essential for early and long
rial injury (right hepatic artery)[25]. term success[22]. If the repair is done in well vascularized
In the last years, patients are scheduled for endoscopi- ducts, is done without tension and with the largest diam-
cal or radiological treatment, mainly done when conti- eter possible (achieved with the anterior opening of the
nuity of the bile ducts is shown and in some cases with duct), with epithelium to mucosa apposition using sutures
stenosed bilio enteric anastomosis that can be dilated that produce minimum reaction and complete biliary tree
by percutaneous intervention. We use MRI routinely to drainage, good long term results can be achieved.
evaluate the biliary tree and, seldom, we use percutaneous In the three periods analyzed, no differences were
cholangiography, mainly indicated in patients with chol- found in the general characteristics of the patients. In our
angitis, providing drainage and anatomical information. center, secondary repair is the most frequent scenario that
Through a subcostal incision the porta hepatis is we face. In many centers, patients with history of bilioen-
selectively dissected, preserving all the arterial branches teric anastomosis are treated radiologically with percutane-
found and the anterior aspect of the ducts is dissected ous dilation and/or transhepatic transanastomotic stent
free. This is enhanced with partial resection of segment placement for subsequent dilation. Most of the cases with
Ⅳ and Ⅴ parenchyma. The jejunal limb is anastomosed a stenosed bilioenteric anastomosis are surgically treated.
side to side with interrupted everted sutures of 5-0 hy- Indeed, the repair at the time of injury has not in-
drolysable monofilament suture (Figure 1). creased since our report about the repair in the acute
Table 1 summarizes the results of the cohort divided setting. Only 1-2 cases per year are repaired by our team
in three periods. No differences were found in gender, age at the index operation. Some cases are referred after con-
and type of operation (open or laparoscopic) in which the version, drainage and attempt of repair. These numbers
injury occurred. Most of the cases were secondary repairs certainly have a high variation according to the center, city
and no differences were found for a given period of time. and country analyzed. The best advice given to a surgeon
Partial segment Ⅳ and Ⅴ resection had a significant in- for a laparoscopic injury is that if he/she is not able to
crease. Usage of biliary transanastomotic stents decreased do the repair and/or no interested experienced surgeon
significantly. In the last period of time, only 2% of the is available, it is better not to convert and only place sev-
cases had a stent placed at the time of repair. The rate of eral silastic drains though the laparoscopic ports before
major hepatectomy remained without significant change. referring the patient to an interested center. Nevertheless,

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Mercado MA et al . Bile duct injury classification and management

Table 1 Summary the results of the cohort divided in three periods

1990-1999 2000-2004 2004-2008


N % N % N %
Total 33 100 139 100 140 100
Male 6 18 39 28 31 22
Female 27 82 100 72 109 78
Age (yr) 38 ± 11 43 ± 15 40 ± 13
Type of cholecystectomy - - - - - -
Open 27 82 104 75 89 63
Lap 6 18 35 25 51 36
Previous repair
0 17 51 72 52 71 51
1 13 39 58 41 60 42
2 2 6 8 6 10 7
3 1 3 3 2 1 0.7
>6 1 3 . . 1 0.7
SEG Ⅳ-Ⅴ resection 15 45 57 41 99 71
Transanastomotic stent 26 78 46 33 3 2
Hepatectomy at repair 1 3 3 2 1 0.7
Post op complications
Cholangitis 18 54 35 25 19 13
Stenosis 10 30 13 9 7 5
Abscesses 5 15 7 5 8 6
Fístula 3 9 6 4 4 3
Biloma 4 12 10 7 18 13
Reoperation 15 45 25 18 16 11
Hepatectomy post repair 1 3 2 1.5
Operative mortality 3 9 6 4 1 0.7

conversion is necessary in some cases in which bleed- stents. A wide anastomosis allows free flow of the pro-
ing control is mandatory and cannot be achieved though ducing low duct pressure and less opportunity of leak. It
the laparoscope. In some instances, after conversion, the also minimizes the risk of stricture and the need of sub-
injury is produced with the maneuvers related to achieve sequent instrumentation. Nevertheless, some cases with
hemostasis unfortunately. loss of confluence and complete destruction of the iso-
The technical evolution of the repair has had a sub- lated right and left hepatic duct need a portoenterostomy,
stantial variation through time. Nevertheless, in all our ex- with no probability of obtaining a wide, tension free non
perience, we have always done Roux en Y hepatojejunos- ischemic anastomosis that need ferulization of the ducts,
tomy. No end to end anastomosis of the transected duct they obtain long term patency.
or hepatoduodenostomy has been done. Although several These types of anastomosis have the worst long term
reports have good outcomes with this type of procedures, prognosis in our experience.
we do not favor them. Most of the injuries (result of the In the last period, the anastomosis was routinely done
combination of ischemic injury and/or loss of substance) high in the hilum with the final goal of obtaining a high
do not allow a tension free, well vascularized anastomosis quality bilioenteric anastomosis with all the above ex-
(as is the case of liver transplantation). The result is early plained requirements, particularly the circulatory status of
dehiscence and/or fistulization with late stenosis that in the ducts.
some cases in experienced groups has a good long term This goal is obtained by removing the segments Ⅳ
outcome[26]. Hepatoduodenostomy also has the same and Ⅴ (a small wedge at its base) that also allow the low-
disadvantages. Although a wide Kocher maneuver, the ering of the hilar plate when the parenchyma is retracted
anastomosis is not tension free. In these cases, when de- cephalically. Tissue resection is individually shaped ac-
hiscence or fistulization occurs, it results in a catastrophic cording to the anatomical condition of the liver. Some
outcome (biliary + duodenal fistula). In addition, direct cases have a well developed segment Ⅳ that not only
contact with gastric contents and food (vegetables and obstructs the dissection of the left duct but also does not
other fibers) can result in anastomotic dysfunction. allow the placement of the jejunal limb. The resection is
At the beginning of our experience, we used to place easy to achieve, allowing an anteroposterior view of the
transhepatic transanastomotic stents[16]. We agreed that confluence (instead of a caudocephalic view) that permit
leaks of a small bilioenteric anastomosis promote steno- a wide opening of a healthy left hepatic duct with well
sis and that low pressure of the bile ducts were desirable circulatory status suitable for a high quality anastomosis.
and a flow through the anastomosis was warranted by the In cases with isolated right and left hepatic ducts,
stents. neoconfluence is built and the hepatojejunoanastomosis
The opportunity to obtain a wide, non ischemic anas- is done.
tomosis at the hilar level began to restrict the usage of The better results obtained in the last period of time

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Mercado MA et al . Bile duct injury classification and management

are related to refinement in the technical aspects of re- 8 Brooks DC, Becker JM, Connors PJ, Carr-Locke DL. Manage-
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sion 468-471 trointest Surg 2007; 11: 296-302

S- Editor Wang JL L- Editor Roemmele A E- Editor Zheng XM

WJGS|www.wjgnet.com 48 April 27, 2011|Volume 3|Issue 4|

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