Hepatobiliary scintigraphy in management of bile leaks in patients with blunt abdominal trauma.
BACKGROUND
Hepatobiliary scintigraphy (HBS) is a useful diagnostic tool in detecting the presence and site of bile leaks.


METHODS
We present a retrospective analysis of HBS carried out in 35 patients with blunt abdominal trauma over a period of 5 years from 2001 to 2006.


RESULTS
Twenty-three of 35 patients with blunt abdominal trauma had localized bile leaks and were managed conservatively. The bile leak was found to have completely resolved in the follow-up HBS. Two patients did not show any evidence of bile leak. Remaining 10 of 35 patients with blunt abdominal trauma showed active bile leak and were subjected to surgical management. Follow-up scans in these patients showed resolution of bile leaks and patent bilioenteric pathway. Clinical management decisions based on scintigraphic evidence led to less invasive drainage procedures over time and shorter hospital stay.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study thus suggests that HBS facilitates rapid and precise diagnosis of bile leaks.
Mittal
Bhagwant R
BR
Department of Nuclear Medicine, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India. brmittal@yahoo.com
Sunil
Hejjaji V
HV
Bhattacharya
Anish
A
Singh
Baljinder
B
D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001652:Bile Ducts / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004322:Drainage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*