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Management of disconnected bile leaks often requires multidisciplinary management, especially because they are often complex injuries associated with high morbidity and mortality.
ERCP with sphincterotomy and stenting has emerged as a reliable treatment modality even in refractory or complex leaks with a resolution rate over 90%.
When surgery is not an option because of severe comorbidities, long-term percutaneous drain placement is typically the only option. We describe an alternative/endoscopic approach in this situation (Video 1, available online at www.giejournal.org).
Case
A 75-year-old woman with morbid obesity and multiple cardiac and pulmonary comorbidities was referred for endoscopic management of a disconnected segments 5 and 6 leak. She initially underwent a laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis during which an intraoperative bile leak was noted. The source could not be identified, and a Jackson Pratt drain was placed. An ERCP at an outside facility demonstrated a cystic duct remnant leak. A 10F plastic stent was placed, but the leak did not resolve and 2 weeks later she presented with a large biloma requiring 2 interventional radiology (IR)–guided drains (Figs. 1 and 2). Over the next 2 months she continued to have persistent drain output (500-600 mL of bile per day) with 2 unsuccessful ERCPs, including placement of a fully covered self-expandable metal stent (FCSEMS).
In the setting of an ongoing bile leak, she was transferred for consideration of surgery. Evaluation of the IR drains revealed the problem; there was a leak from disconnected segments 5 and 6 to the gallbladder fossa (Strasberg type E and Stewary-Way class IV injury) that had been undetected at surgery and a concomitant cystic duct remnant leak that had confounded the picture (Fig. 3). An IR rendezvous ERCP was performed with placement of a percutaneous drain into the common bile duct via the cystic duct remnant. However, this failed to heal the segments 5 and 6 leak but did maintain cystic duct remnant patency (Fig. 4). Six months later she was still deemed a poor surgical candidate for a right partial hepatectomy because of her severe comorbidities. Consequently, her management options included long-term percutaneous drainage or endoscopic intervention. We proceeded with endoscopy given the dyscosmesis she experienced with the drain.
Figure 3Tube check showing disconnected segments 5 and 6.
At ERCP, we cannulated the cystic duct remnant to go through the gallbladder fossa to segment 5 and 6 into which a 10-mm × 10-cm biliary FCSEMS (Viabil; Gore, Flagstaff, Ariz, USA) was placed. However, it fell short of the ampulla, requiring an overlapping (Fig. 5) 10-mm × 4-cm FCSEMS to allow duodenal drainage. Two days later the bile leak resolved, and the percutaneous drain was removed the following week after an indwell of over 8 months.
Figure 5ERCP before (A) and after (B) placement of a biliary fully covered self-expandable metal stent.
Five months later, at the follow-up ERCP for stent exchange, the 10-mm × 10-cm FCSEMS was firmly adherent as it traversed the gallbladder fossa and could not be removed. To facilitate breaking up what was thought to be granulation tissue holding the stent in place, a 10-mm × 8-cm biliary FCSEMS with a different design (Wallflex; Boston Scientific, Natick, Mass, USA) was placed to help with stent-in-stent removal.
Six weeks later both stents were successfully removed. Cholangioscopy at this time did not show adequate epithelialization of the newly created tract from the cystic duct remnant to segments 5 and 6 through the gallbladder fossa. Three 7F × 15-cm plastic stents were then placed for an additional 6 months and exchanged during 2 additional procedures (6 months apart). She was left stent-free after cholangioscopy confirmed epithelization (Fig. 6) of the tract and has remained asymptomatic without cholangitis and with normal liver function tests for the last 28 months.
Figure 6Cholangioscopy confirming epithelization of the tract.
When surgery is not an option for the management of a complex bile leak to the gallbladder fossa from an aberrant segments 5 and 6 leak, it is possible to get a durable response with reconnecting this via the cystic duct remnant through the gallbladder fossa. In a multidisciplinary setting, with adequate surgical backup, endoscopic therapy can offer durable and less-morbid therapy options in the treatment algorithm of biliary duct transection. Further studies are required to see if this is a viable long-term option to surgery in certain patients.
Disclosure
Dr Irani is a consultant for Boston Scientific and Gore. All other authors disclosed no financial relationships.
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