Laparoscopic Resection of the Middle Bile Duct for Cholangiocarcinoma (with Video)

Surgical resection remains the sole approach to achieving long-term survival in cholangiocarcinoma cases. The universally recognised standard procedures for such cases include pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) or hemihepatectomy accompanied by bile duct reconstruction. Nevertheless, some patients may still attain curative intent through bile duct segmental resection (BDR). However, these procedures are still in the experimental stage and should only be recommended for carefully chosen patients.

A 57-year-old male patient was admitted to our department after two weeks of escalating jaundice and abdominal discomfort. Upon admission, his total bilirubin was recorded at 102 μmol/L, and his direct bilirubin was 87 μmol/L. His carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and alpha fetoprotein (AFP) levels were normal. Enhanced computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans revealed a thickened and enhanced biliary tree extending from the cystic duct junction to the common hepatic duct no vascular invasion indicated by three-dimensional reconstruction.

The patient underwent laparoscopic resection of the extrahepatic bile duct, accompanied by radical lymphadenectomy with skeletonisation and biliary reconstruction, was successfully conducted within 320 min, with a minimal blood loss of only 50 ml. The histological grading of the procedure was T2bN0M0 (stage II). The patient was discharged on the sixth postoperative day without complications. Following this, he underwent a regimen of single-agent capecitabine chemotherapy. After an 18-month follow-up period, no recurrence was observed.

Our experience suggests that in selected patients diagnosed with middle bile duct cholangiocarcinoma, laparoscopic resection could potentially reach the standard of lymphadenectomy through skeletonisation.