Retrievable biliary stent-graft management of refractory postoperative bile leakage

The authors report a case of a successful outcome after retrievable biliary stent-graft management in a patient with refractory postoperative bile leakage. A 52-year-old man who underwent a Whipple operation presented with postoperative bile leakage. A percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) catheter remained from the operation, and bile leakage persisted after 7 days of drainage with the catheter. A retrievable biliary stent-graft was placed; it was removed 14 days later. Cholangiography indicated patency of the anastomosis without contrast medium leakage, and the PTBD catheter was removed. There were no procedural-related complications.