Laparoscopic management of complications following laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy has rapidly become the treatment of choice for symptomatic cholelithiasis. Although published morbidity and mortality rates compare favourably with open cholecystectomy, bile duct injuries occur far more frequently and technical complications unique to the laparoscopic approach account for a significant number of postoperative deaths. The majority of these complications are dealt with by laparotomy. Two technical complications encountered in a series of 170 patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy and their subsequent management are presented. One patient suffered a diathermy injury to the common hepatic duct and postoperative bile leak. This was managed successfully by repeat laparoscopy and peritoneal lavage combined with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and stenting of the hepatic duct. Another patient sustained a perforated duodenum complicated by peritonitis, subcutaneous wound infection and generalized sepsis. The perforation was repaired at a second laparoscopy using intracorporeal suturing and Tissucol. It is demonstrated that it is possible to deal with some of the technical complications of laparoscopic cholecystectomy with a combination of minimally invasive techniques, sparing the patient from the additional risk of laparotomy.