Intrahepatic rupture secondary to duct exploration demonstrated by cholangiography.

Seven cases of iatrogenic rupture of the intrahepatic bile ducts were demonstrated on T-tube and/or operative cholangiography. This brings the total of documented case reports to 17. All patients had hepatic duct exploration with either the Fogarty balloon catheter and/or the biliary spoon and/or the biliary forceps and/or Bakes dilators. These extravasations usually occur from the right hepatic duct. The recognition of this entity is important because potentially serious complications may occur. Most of the previous cases of intrahepatic extravasation ascribed to excessive pressures of injection were probably surgically induced.