Outcomes and quality of life after major bile duct injury in long-term follow-up

INTRODUCTION: Recently new standards for reporting outcomes of bile duct injury (BDI) have been proposed. It is unclear how these treatment outcomes are reflected in quality of life (QOL). The aim of this study was to report outcomes and QOL after repair of major BDI and compare repairs by hepatobiliary surgeon to repairs by non-hepatobiliary surgeons. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of patients treated for major (Strasberg E-type) BDI after cholecystectomy at a tertiary hepatobiliary center. Outcomes were assessed using Cho-Strasberg proposed standards. QOL was assessed using Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) and the gastrointestinal QOL-index (GIQLI). Patients undergoing uneventful cholecystectomy matched by age, urgency, and duration of follow-up were used as controls. RESULTS: Fifty-two patients with major BDI treated between 2000 and 2016 were included (42% male, median age 53 years). Thirty-seven (71%) patients attained primary patency (29 (83%) if primarily operated by a hepatobiliary surgeon). Actuarial primary patency rate (grade A result) at 1, 3, and 5 years was 58%, 56%, and 53% in the whole cohort, and 83%, 80%, and 80% in patients primary treated by a hepatobiliary surgeon, respectively. At 3-year follow-up 6 (11.5%) patients obtained grade B, 10 (19.2%) grade C, and 7 (13.5%) grade D result. QOL was similar in patients with BDI and controls (median SF-36 physical component 51.7 and 53.6, p = 1.0, mental component 53.3 and 53.4, p = 1.0, GIQLI 109.0 and 123.0, p = 0.174, respectively) at median 90 (IQR 70–116) months from cholecystectomy. QOL was similar regardless of outcome grade. CONCLUSION: First attempt to repair a severe BDI should be undertaken by a hepatobiliary surgeon. However, long-term QOL is not affected even by severe BDI, and QOL is not associated with the grade of the outcome.