Spontaneous perforation of the common bile duct in an adult

Spontaneous perforation of the bile duct is a rare disease in children and even rarer in adults. Although diagnostic techniques have advanced over the past years, yet most cases are diagnosed at operation. A 44-year-old woman presented with epigastric pain and vomiting of one-day duration. Abdominal distension with tenderness and guarding was present all over the abdomen. Abdominal ultrasonography showed free fluid in the peritoneal cavity with sluggish peristalsis. Abdominal and chest radiographs were normal. At laparotomy, common bile duct CBD was perforated at the junction of CBD and cystic duct. Cholecystectomy with CBD exploration was done and CBD was closed over a T-tube, and external drainage was carried out. The patient recovered well, and on the 12th postoperative day, a T-tube cholangiogram was performed which was normal. The T-tube was removed on the 14th postoperative day. One month after operation, the patient was well. Examining the patient with a suspicious thinking helps in early diagnosis and management of the patient.