Total Hilar Exposure Maneuver for Repair of Complex Bile Duct Injury

The reconstruction of high-level bile duct injury is challenging because exposure of the hilar area is limited and sometimes inaccessible by the Hepp-Couinaud approach. We describe a maneuver for total hilar exposure to perform complex bile duct injury reconstruction. After adhesions surrounding the liver are divided, intraoperative ultrasonography is used to delineate the hilar and intrahepatic biliary anatomy. Surgical exposure of the biliary system is achieved by our maneuver, which consists of four steps: (1) identification of landmark structures, such as the base of the umbilical fissure, the inferior edge of segment 4b, the cystic-hilar plate junction, and the right anterior portal pedicle; (2) lowering of the hilar plate; (3) hepatotomy along the right anterior pedicle; and (4) connection of the hepatotomy to the base of segment 4b. This maneuver allows the liver to be flipped upward, which facilitates clear exposure of the hilar duct and preserves the liver parenchyma. The anterior parts of the right and left hepatic duct are then opened, a wide-hepaticojejunostomy anastomosis is achieved for biliary reconstruction, and a jejunal subcutaneous limb is created. We used this maneuver for treating complex bile duct injury in six cases; none of the patients has died, and two had Clavien-Dindo grade III complications, including surgical site infection and intra-abdominal collection. The total hilar exposure maneuver is thus feasible and safe. It provides excellent exposure of both hepatic ducts and is a good surgical alternative to the Hepp-Couinaud approach in cases of high-level injury.