Spontaneous rupture of intrahepatic biliary ducts with biliary peritonitis

Spontaneous rupture of intrahepatic biliary ducts is a rare cause of acute abdomen due to biliary peritonitis. We report a 92-year-old woman with 48-h history of upper abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting and peritoneal signs. CT scan showed free fluid in the abdomen and mild dilatation of the common bile duct. Exploratory laparotomy showed bile in the abdominal cavity with leak-age from a ruptured bile duct radicle in segment 3, as confirmed on intraoperative cholangiography. She underwent cholecystectomy, choledochotomy with removal of gallstones, repair of the perforation with primary suture and placement of a T-tube. She had an uneventful recovery.