Complex Biliary Leaks: Effectiveness of Percutaneous Radiological Treatment Compared to Simple Leaks in 101 Patients

To assess the effectiveness of percutaneous radiological treatment for complex biliary leaks compared to simple biliary leaks.

We retrospectively analyzed 101 percutaneous treatments for bile leak performed from January 1994 to January 2012. Sixty (59%) bile leaks were classified as simple and 41 (41%) as complex based on a morphological classification that considered eight types of biliary wound on cholangiography images. The main treatment was percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD), and additional procedures were performed when required. The technical success of PTBD, leak healing, and recurrence, as well as complication rates were compared between the simple and complex leak groups.

Technical success of PTBP was achieved in 94/101 (93%) patients: 59/60 (98%) for simple leaks and 35/41 (85%) for complex leaks (p = 0.017). When PTBD internalization was achieved, leak healing was obtained in 80/94 (85%) patients: 52/59 (88%) for simple leaks and 28/35 (80%) for complex leaks (p = 0.37), with additional percutaneous procedures required in five patients with simple leaks and 13 patients with complex leaks (p = 0.001). There was no recurrence in 75/80 (94%) patients: 50/52 (96%) for simple leaks and 25/28 (89%) for complex leaks (p = 0.34). Major complications occurred in 28/101 (28%) patients: 16/59 (27%) for simple leaks and 12/41 (29%) for complex leaks (p = 0.82).

Once PTBD internalization is achieved, complex leaks heal as well as simple leaks.