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Spontaneous perforation of the extrahepatic bile duct in an infant

L S Kasat1, S S Borwankar, M Jain

  • 1Department of Pediatric Surgery, KEM Hospital, Parel, Mumbai, India.

Insights

Spontaneous bile-duct perforation (SPBD) in a child caused biliary ascites and failure to thrive. Non-surgical management with peritoneal drainage successfully sealed the perforation, highlighting a conservative approach for SPBD without distal obstruction.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Hepatobiliary Surgery
  • Medical Imaging

Background:

  • Spontaneous bile-duct perforation (SPBD) is a rare condition in pediatric patients.
  • Biliary ascites and failure to thrive are significant clinical manifestations.
  • Accurate diagnosis is crucial for appropriate management.

Observation:

  • A 1.2-year-old male presented with gradual biliary ascites, mild icterus, and failure to thrive.
  • Technetium 99Tc HIDA scan and abdominal paracentesis confirmed SPBD.
  • No distal obstruction was identified.

Findings:

  • Peritoneal tube drainage for two weeks led to spontaneous sealing of the bile-duct perforation.
  • Conservative management was successful, avoiding the need for surgical intervention.
  • This case adds to the limited reported cases of SPBD in the English literature.

Implications:

  • Non-surgical management can be effective for SPBD in pediatric cases without distal obstruction.
  • Early diagnosis and conservative treatment may prevent the need for invasive procedures.
  • Further research into the pathogenesis and optimal treatment strategies for SPBD is warranted.

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