Economics and safety of continuous and interrupted suture hepaticojejunostomy: An audit of 556 surgeries

BACKGROUNDS/AIMS: Hepaticojejunostomy (HJ) for bilioenteric continuity is generally performed with interrupted sutures. This study compares the safety, economics, short- and long-term outcomes of continuous suture hepaticojejunostomy (CSHJ) and interrupted suture hepaticojejunostomy (ISHJ). METHODS: A retrospective cohort analysis involving all HJs between January 2014 and December 2018 was conducted. Patients with type IV or V biliary strictures, duct diameter < 8 mm and/or associated vascular injury, and liver transplant recipients were excluded. Patient demographics, preoperative parameters including diagnosis, intra-operative parameters including type and number of sutures, suture time, and postoperative morbidity (based on Clavien-Dindo classification) were recorded. Patients were followed up to 60 months. McDonald&rsquo;s Grade A and B outcomes were considered favorable. Cost according to suture type and number (polydioxanone 3-0/5-0 mean cost, US$ 9.26/length; polyglactin 3-0/4-0 mean cost, US$ 6.56/length), and operation room charge (US$ 67.47/hour) were compared between the two techniques. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS ver. 22 software. RESULTS: A total of 556 eligible patients (468 patients undergoing ISHJ and 88 undergoing CSHJ; 47% [n = 261] with malignant and 53% [n = 295] with benign pathology) were analyzed. The two groups were similar. Number of sutures, cost, time, and postoperative bile leak were significantly higher in the ISHJ group. Bile leak occurred in 54 patients (6 CSHJ, 48 ISHJ). Septic shock-induced death occurred in 16 cases (3 CSHJ, 13 ISHJ). Morbidity and the anastomotic stricture rates were comparable in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: CSHJ is a safe, economical, and worthy of routine use.