Post-cholecystectomy cystic duct stump leak: a preventable morbidity

Irshad Ahammed et al writes that “While major bile duct injury is the most serious complication following laparoscopic cholecystectomy, bile leak from the cystic duct stump remains the commonest morbidity.” This is a retrospective assessment of all patients who had a cholecystectomy over a 5-year period from April 2003 to March 2008.

Data related to bile leakage were obtained from the Unisoft endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography (ERCP) database.

Overall 2011 cholecystectomies were performed, of which 488 were done as emergency procedures. Thirteen patients had significant bile leakage, three of which were from accessory ducts, in one the source could not be identified and nine had a cystic duct stump leak (CDSL), which formed the basis of this study. Emergency cholecystectomies seem to have a higher incidence of CDSL Eight of the nine CDSL patients had successful ERCP and stenting. One had a percutaneous trans-hepatic cholangiography and stenting. CDSL following emergency laparoscopic cholecystectomy was up to threefold higher than after elective procedures.

CONCLUSION: The CDSL of 0.44% was comparable to the reported incidence in the literature. Endoscopic management remains the treatment of choice.

Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice.
For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

*Tune in later for STROKES.

Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com