Endoscopic treatment of persistent thoracobiliary fistulae after penetrating liver trauma.

BACKGROUND

This study evaluated the outcomes of patients with complex or persistent thoracobiliary fistulae following penetrating liver trauma, who underwent endoscopic biliary intervention at a tertiary referral centre.

METHODS

All patients who underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC) and endoscopic biliary intervention for traumatic thoracobiliary fistulae between 1992 and 2008 were evaluated. Bile duct injuries were classified according to their biliary anatomic location on cholangiography and type of pulmonary communication.

RESULTS

Twenty-two patients had thoracobiliary (pleurobiliary, n = 19; bronchobiliary, n = 3) fistulae. The site of the bile duct injury was identified in 20 patients on cholangiography. These 20 patients underwent either sphincterotomy and biliary stenting (n = 18) or sphincterotomy alone (n = 2). In 17 patients the fistulae resolved after the initial endoscopic intervention. Three patients required secondary stenting with replacement of the initial stent. Three patients developed mild pancreatitis after stenting and one stent migrated and was replaced. All fistulae healed after endoscopic treatment. In 18 patients the stents were removed 4 weeks after bile drainage ceased. Three of the 22 patients required a thoracotomy for infected loculated pleural collections after initial catheter drainage.

CONCLUSIONS

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography is an accurate and reliable method of demonstrating post-traumatic thoracobiliary fistulae and endoscopic biliary intervention with sphincterotomy and stenting in this situation is safe and effective. Surgery in patients with thoracobiliary fistulae should be reserved for fistulae which do not heal after endoscopic biliary stenting or for patients who have unresolved pulmonary or intra-abdominal sepsis as a result of bile leak.