Long-Term Outcomes Following Surgical Repair for Post-cholecystectomy Biliary Strictures

Bile duct injuries (BDIs) are a serious complication of cholecystectomy. Strictures that form after major injuries ultimately require surgical repair. This study aimed to analyse our experience with the surgical repair of post-cholecystectomy biliary strictures (PCBS).

Patients who underwent surgical repair for PCBS between January 2013 and March 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. The strictures were classified using the Bismuth system. Delayed repair with Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy was performed using the Hepp-Couinaud technique. Outcomes were graded according to McDonald's criteria. Statistical analysis was performed to identify factors influencing the outcomes.

Sixty-eight patients underwent repair for PCBS. Forty-five patients presented within one month and eight patients presented late after six months. Presenting symptoms were jaundice, external biliary fistula, biliomas, cholangitis and peritonitis. Portal hypertension was present in two patients. The median interval for definitive repair was 22 weeks. The median hospital stay was 9.5 days. Eighteen patients had postoperative complications. One patient had postoperative mortality due to uncorrectable coagulopathy. With a median follow-up of 54 months, successful outcomes were achieved in 61 (90%) patients. Four patients had anastomotic strictures evident at two, four, five and eight years after repair. Portal hypertension and postoperative complications were the variables associated with poor outcomes.

BDIs following cholecystectomy are a devastating complication. Surgical repair for biliary strictures yields durable long-term outcomes with early identification and timely referral to a tertiary care centre where standardized techniques for biliary reconstruction are followed.