Bile duct injury in laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Bile duct injury is an unusual complication of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Although the exact incidence is yet to be determined, it does appear to be more common than bile duct injury during open cholecystectomy. Previous publications have attempted to document the incidence of bile duct injuries and methods to prevent it. We reviewed our experience with 11 bile duct injuries from laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Such injuries were manifested by abdominal pain, low-grade fever, and hyperbilirubinemia or biliary fistula. These patients' injuries were treated by using drainage or reexploration and ligation of cystic duct and subcholecystic duct leaks and Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy for common duct strictures and lacerations.