1. A refined approach to the repair of postcholecystectomy bile duct strictures.
- Author
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Sutherland F, Launois B, Stanescu M, Campion JP, Spiliopoulos Y, and Stasik C
- Subjects
- Biliary Tract Surgical Procedures methods, Cholestasis etiology, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Retrospective Studies, Cholecystectomy adverse effects, Cholestasis surgery
- Abstract
Objective: To assess the results of a refined approach to repair of postcholecystectomy bile duct strictures., Design: An 11-year retrospective review of patients who had surgical repair of bile duct strictures developing late after cholecystectomy., Setting: A major university teaching hospital in France., Patients and Interventions: During an 11-year period from 1987 to 1997, 22 patients (mean [+/-SD] age, 55+/-15 years) were operated on for bile duct strictures after cholecystectomy (11 after laparoscopic surgery and 11 after open surgery). Thirteen (59%) of the 22 patients had previous repair. Most patients had episodic cholangitis (14 patients [64%]) and biochemical evidence of cholestasis (20 patients [91%]). There were 5 Bismuth type 1 strictures; 4, type 2; 7, type 3; 5, type 4; and 1, type 5. The average (+/-SD) time from initial surgery to repair was 6.3+/-9.6 years. Intraoperative cholangiography was used to plan the repair in 18 patients (82%). Fifteen patients (68%) were repaired with high Hepp-Couinaud hepaticojejunostomies. The last 4 patients had the hilum exteriorized by the posterior approach to improve access., Results: There was 1 intraoperative complication (bleeding) and 4 postoperative complications (biloma, fistula, and 2 cholangitis). There were no deaths; mean (+/-SD) length of stay was 12.8+/-5.8 days; and mean (+/-SD) follow-up was 4.8+/-3.3 years (range, 1-10.7 years). Three patients were reoperated on, 1 with an obstructed Roux-en-Y limb and the 2 others for incisional hernias. Eighteen patients remain well, 3 had sporadic recurrent cholangitis after surgery that resolved spontaneously, and 1 patient remains unwell requiring antibiotics to control cholangitis., Conclusions: Hepp-Couinaud hepaticojejunostomy without stenting remains a reliable repair of postcholecystectomy strictures. Intraoperative cholangiography and exteriorizing the hilum by the posterior approach are useful adjuncts to this technique.
- Published
- 1999
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