Laparoscopic resection of choledochal cysts in adults: a series from Turkey

Choledochal cyst is a congenital disease in which surgical treatment is preliminary because of the potential for malignancy. In recent years, increase in technological developments and laparoscopic experience have popularised the use of laparoscopy in adult choledochal cyst surgery. This study aimed to present the results of eight adult patients undergoing laparoscopic choledochal excision surgery.

Patients who underwent laparoscopic choledochal cyst excision and hepatico-jejunostomy anastomoses between the years 2013 and 2018 were evaluated retrospectively. Demographic characteristics, preoperative and postoperative findings, pathological results and final condition of the patients were examined.

Of the eight patients, three were males and five were females. Median age was 41.5 years (22-49). One of the patients had Type IVa and the rest had Type I choledochal cysts. Laparoscopic choledochal cyst excision, cholecystectomy, and hepatico-jejunostomy anastomoses were performed on all of the patients. One patient was converted to open surgery. Three patients had postoperative biliary leakage. Duration of the operations was determined as median 330 (240-480) minutes and blood loss was 50 (10-100) mL. Hospitalization of the patients was median 6 (4-23) days and follow-up time was median 20 (2-65) months. In the late period, cholangitis occured in a patient who was treated with medical therapy and there was no mortality in the follow-up period.

We suggest that laparoscopic choledochal cyst excision in adults may be an alternative to open surgery due to the satisfactory results in the late period in spite of early problems like self-limiting bile leakage.