Life-threatening complications of impacted common bile duct lithiasis. A case report

Impacted common bile duct (CBD) lithiasis poses therapeutical challenges and repeated attempts of removal may result in life-threatening complications. CASE REPORT. A 45 year-old female patient was admitted in emergency for right upper quadrant abdominal pain and jaundice. Clinical, lab data, abdominal ultrasound (US) and cholangio-MRI established the diagnosis of acute cholecystitis and obstructive jaundice due to distal CBD lithiasis. Endoscopic retrograde colangiopancreatography (ERCP) confirmed the presence of a distal CBD stone but extraction failed. The patient was operated on and surgical procedure consisted of cholecistectomy, intraoperative cholangiography and a side-to-side choledocho-duodenal anastomosis was performed because all attempts to extract the stone through choledocotomy or duodenotomy and enlargement of endoscopic shincterotomy failed. The postoperative course was endangered by a severe pancreatitis, a massive upper digestive bleeding and portal vein thrombosis that responded to conservative management in the intensive care unit. The patient was discharged after 34 days in good clinical condition and approximately 9 months later was readmitted electively for an incisional hernia. Apart from this, physical examination, lab tests and imagistic studies were normal; the patient was operated and rapidly discharged in good condition. In conclusion, the management of CBD lithiasis may be a serious challenge both for interventional endoscopists and surgeons and require a concerted team effort.