title: Bile leakage after laparoscopic cholecystectomy: biliary anatomy revisited.
abstract: Bile leakage from the gall-bladder bed following laparoscopic cholecystectomy is recognized as a potential cause of major morbidity. This problem is usually attributed to division of ducts draining a portion of liver directly into the gall-bladder. The authors' experience, however, and a review of the literature suggests that injury to a superficial duct draining into the major hepatic ducts rather than the gall-bladder is the principal cause of this problem. Three patients with bile leakage demonstrated on postoperative biliary tract imaging are presented with a discussion of the literature.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Otago Medical School, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Pettigrew
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Van Rij
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001646:Bile; D001652:Bile Ducts / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000293:injuries*; D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*