Biliary spills and collections: causes, diagnosis, and multidisciplinary management

To evaluate the role of image-guided percutaneous interventions in patients with bile leaks and bile collections managed by a multidisciplinary team.

Selection criteria included those patients from February 1999 to August 2007 who had bile leaks and bile collections in whom an image-guided procedure was performed. Ultrasound (US), computed tomography (CT), and nuclear medicine studies were used for diagnostic imaging. Patients were evaluated and managed in a multidisciplinary fashion by gastroenterologists, surgeons, and interventionists. Parameters measured in the study were drainage indications, cause and location of the biliary injury, location and size of bile collections, volume of fluid drained, fluid microbiology results, duration of catheterization, and patient outcome. Patients were followed up by the interventionist on daily rounds while inpatients and at the interventional clinic as outpatients.

There were 31 patients who underwent image-guided percutaneous interventions as part of the management of bile leaks and bile collections. Causes of biliary injuries were surgical procedures, 18 patients (laparoscopic cholecystectomy, 11 patients; hepatectomy, 7 patients); abdominal trauma, 8 patients; percutaneous biliary procedures, 3 patients; liver abscess, 1 patient; gallbladder rupture, 1 patient. Bile collections were localized in 23 patients and diffuse in 8 patients. Localized collections were extrahepatic in 17 patients and intrahepatic in 6 patients. The size of the bile collections ranged from 4 to 12 cm (mean, 8 cm) in maximum diameter. The volume of fluid drained ranged from 25 mL to 4300 mL (mean, 915 mL). Microbiology studies showed sterile bile in 24 patients and bacterial infections in 7 patients. Duration of catheterization ranged from 3 days to 202 days (mean, 36 days). Of the 31 patients, 28 (90%) were cured from their condition and 3 (10%) patients died. Image-guided percutaneous interventions were able to resolve bile leaks and bile collections in 24 (86%) patients while 4 (14%) required additional procedures (endoscopic, 3 patients; surgery, 1 patient).

Under multidisciplinary management, image-guided interventions are effective for resolution of most bile spills and collections. Additional endoscopic and surgical procedures are necessary when the percutaneous approach fails.