Role of Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiography and Nasobiliary Drainage in the Management of Postoperative Biliary Leak

In order to assess the role of endoscopic retrograde cholangiography in evaluating the patients with post-operative biliary leak and of endoscopic nasobiliary drainage in its management, 36 patients with biliary leak seen over a period of 9 years were studied. Thirty-two had biliary leak following cholecystectomy, 3 following repair of liver trauma and 1 following choledochoduodenostomy. Patients presented at an interval of 4 days to 210 days (mean ± SEM, 32.4 ± 6.7 days) following laparotomy. Hyperbilirubinemia was noticed in only 13 patients (36.1%), while abdominal ultrasonogram showed ascites or biloma in 24 (66.7%). Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography showed the leak to involve the common bile duct in 55.6%, cystic duct in 33.3% and intrahepatic biliary radicles in 8.3%. Associated lesions included bile duct obstruction due to stricture or accidental ligature in 20%, bile duct stone in 20% and liver abscess in 2.8%. Endoscopic nasobiliary drainage using a 7 Fr pig-tail catheter was attempted in 14 patients and could be established in 12 of them. Bile duct leak sealed in all but one of these 12 patients after an interval of 3 days to 40 days (mean ± SEM, 12.2 ± 3.2 days). A single patient with large defect and a proximal bile duct stricture did not respond and required surgery. Common bile duct stones were removed by endoscopic sphincterotomy in 3 out of 4 patients. One patient with large stone required surgical choledocholithotomy. In conclusion, endoscopic retrograde cholangiography was safe and useful in confirming the presence of leak as well as its site, size and associated abnormalities. Endoscopic nasobiliary drainage proved an effective therapy in post-operative biliary leak and could avoid re-exploration in 71.4% patients.