DELAYED REPAIR OF MAJOR BILE DUCT INJURIES – A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL EXPERIENCE

Background: Bile duct injuries remain a calamitous complication after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. An observational study was carried out to evaluate the outcome of a delayed repair carried out on major bile duct injuries and the complications associated with it. Materials and Methods: A total of 25 patients with a mean age of 46.40 ± 14.24 years with major bile duct injuries evident on magnetic resonance cholangiopancreaticography were included in the study. Results: Two patients (8%) presented with a bile leak, 3 (12%) with a wound infection and 2 (8%) patients with cholangitis. Conclusion: Bile duct injuries that require biliary reconstruction are commonly carried out by delayed intervention ensuring adequate optimization preoperatively. Less than half of patients (40%) experienced complications after undergoing surgery stressing that these injuries presented a substantial surgical challenge and hence, an early referral to an experienced hepatobiliary center is strongly recommended.