Accidental Lesions of the Common Bile Duct at Cholecystectomy

Sixty-five cases of accidental lesion of the choledochus at cholecystectomy reported from 51 Swedish hospitals to the Patients' Insurance Syndicate in Stockholm 1975-1981 were studied. The results were evaluated as to the time of detection and the primary surgical repair done. Fifty-five of the 65 lesions were detected and repaired at the cholecystectomy and ten were detected and repaired the first 10 days after the primary operation. In 38 of 55 lesions detected before surgery, an end-to-end choledochostomy was performed. Good results without further surgical intervention were achieved in 22%. The 17 other preoperatively detected lesions were treated with choledocho/hepaticoenterostomy, and good results were achieved without further surgical intervention in 54%. Of the ten patients in whom the lesions were detected after surgery, three were reconstructed with an end-to-end choledochostomy; all of these developed obstruction that led into further reoperations. In the remaining seven patients the lesions were repaired within 10 days with a choledocho/hepaticoenterostomy; three of them did not require further surgical intervention and four had to be reoperated. There was no mortality at the first repair, but two cases of hospital mortality at reoperations. However, the morbidity have been substantial for patients with as well as without obvious further surgical complications. The results indicate that in this selected group choledocho/hepaticoenterostomy should be the procedure of choice. However, the accumulated rate of biliary strictures increased with time, which requires a considerably longer follow-up to know the end results of this of avoidable complication to "a straightforward cholecystectomy."