Laparoscopy-Assisted Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography: New Insight in Management of Iatrogenic Bile Duct Injury

Abstract

Bile duct injury (BDI) is a severe and sometimes life-threatening complication of cholecystectomy. Several series have described a 0.5% to 0.6% incidence of BDI during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. We received an emergency call from the operating theater by the surgery team to assess an iatrogenic BDI in a 58-year-old man with cirrhosis who presented for laparoscopic cholecystectomy. After many trials by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) the guide wire passed to the peritoneal cavity and failed to pass proximally. Laparoscopy resumed, and the surgeon tried to pass the flexible guide wire proximally unsuccessfully. Then, a decision to hold the sphincterotome by laparoscopy and passing it proximally in harmony with ERCP was taken, which was successful. A regular ERCP with 10F plastic stent insertion was carried out, and the perforation was secured by the inserted stent without any further surgical intervention. Laparoscopy-assisted ERCP may give new insights into the immediate repair of iatrogenic bile duct injuries.