title: A prospective study of bile leaks after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
abstract: Since laparoscopic cholecystectomy rapidly became the gold standard, there is an increased morbidity of 1% to 3% for clinically significant bile leaks with this procedure, as compared with open cholecystectomy (<1%). The identification of subclinical bile leaks using cholescintigraphy occurs in the range from 31.4% to 40% after elective open cholecystectomy. At this writing, no studies exist that document the rate of subclinical bile leaks after elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. In this study, 71 patients were evaluated using cholescintigraphy after elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. This study represents the first prospective look at the rate of subclinical bile leaks after laparoscopic cholecystectomy in elective cases, and the findings show an overall incidence of 7.3%, as compared with historical reports of 30% to 44% for open cholecystectomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Riverside Methodist Hospital, 3535 Olentangy River Road, Columbus, OH 43214, USA.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Hasl
authors.forename: O R
authors.initials: OR
authors.lastname: Ruiz
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Baumert
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gerace
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Matyas
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Kennedy
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D001646:Bile; D001649:Bile Duct Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D001652:Bile Ducts / Q000293:injuries; D001659:Biliary Tract / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000293:injuries*; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002764:Cholecystitis / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007902:Length of Stay; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging