Management of Postcholecystectomy Biliary Complications: A Narrative Review

Every year approximately 750,000 cholecystectomies are performed in the United States, most of those are performed laparoscopically. Postcholecystectomy complications are not uncommon and lead to increased morbidity and financial burden. Some of the most commonly encountered complications with laparoscopic cholecystectomy include biliary injury (0.08%-0.5%), bile leak (0.42%-1.1%), retained common bile duct stones (0.8%-5.7%), postcholecystectomy syndrome (10%-15%), and postcholecystectomy diarrhea (5%-12%). Endoscopy has an important role in the diagnosis and management of biliary complications and in many cases can provide definitive management. There is no consensus on the best therapeutic approach for biliary complications. Therefore, biliary complications should be approached by an experienced multidisciplinary team. It is important for the gastroenterologist to be familiar with the management of such complications (Visual Abstract, Supplemental Digital content 1, http://links.lww.com/AJG/B544).