Combined radiologic and endoscopic treatment (using the “rendezvous technique”) of a biliary fistula following left hepatectomy

Abstract

Despite the ongoing decrease in the frequency of complications after hepatectomy, biliary fistulas still occur and are associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. Here, we report on an unusual technique for managing biliary fistula following left hepatectomy in a patient in whom the right posterior segmental duct joined the left hepatic duct. The biliary fistula was treated with a combined radiologic and endoscopic procedure based on the “rendezvous technique”. The clinical outcome was good, and reoperation was not required.

Key Words: Left hepatectomy; Rendezvous technique; Biliary stent; Biliary fistula; Anatomic variation

Core tip: Despite the ongoing decrease in the frequency of complications after hepatectomy, biliary fistulas still occur and are associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. In most literature reports, surgical treatment is the gold standard for management of biliary fistula but is associated with greater morbidity. We report on an unusual technique for managing biliary fistula following left hepatectomy in a patient in whom the right posterior segmental duct joined the left hepatic duct. The biliary fistula was treated with a combined radiologic and endoscopic procedure based on the “rendezvous technique” without the need for reoperation.

INTRODUCTION

Thanks to better surgical techniques, anatomical knowledge and pre- and perioperative support, post-hepatectomy morbidity and mortality rates have fallen over the last 20 years.

Nevertheless, post-hepatectomy complications still occur. In particular, biliary fistula is present in 3%-10% of cases and is a real problem; reoperation of these patients is associated with a morbidity rate of 70%[1] and a mortality rate of around 7%[2]. Improved endoscopic and radiologic procedures have opened the way to less invasive treatments of fistulae[3]. Here, we report on the use of a combined radiologic and endoscopic procedure (based on the “rendezvous technique”) to treat biliary fistula following left hepatectomy in a patient in whom the right posterior segmental duct (RPSD) joined the left hepatic duct (LHD).

CASE REPORT

A 66-year-old man was referred to our institution for duodenal gastrinoma revealed by Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. Pre-operative endoscopic ultrasonography showed a tumor on the superior flexure and in a single retroportal lymph node. An endoscopic biopsy revealed the gastrinoma. A contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen evidenced a single lesion on segment IV of the liver, and a liver biopsy confirmed the presence of metastases of gastrinoma. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the liver showed that a metastasis had invaded the LHD (Figure 1). Octreotide scintigraphy confirmed uptake by the retroportal node and the liver metastasis.

Figure 1 Pre-operative imaging. A: Pre-operative MRI of the liver, showing liver metastases of gastrinoma (white star); B: Pre-operative CT scan of the abdomen, showing liver metastases of gastrinoma (black star); C: Pre-operative CT scan of the abdomen, showing the retroportal lymph node (black triangle); D: Upper endoscopy, showing the tumor on the superior duodenal flexure. MRI: Magnetic resonance imaging; CT: Computed tomography.

Before performing laparotomic surgery, an upper endoscopy enabled us to locate the gastrinoma. The surgical procedure started with a Kocher maneuver, in order to mobilize the first and second parts of the duodenum. Next, a duodenotomy on the superior duodenal flexure gave us access to the duodenal gastrinoma, which was then resected. The duodenotomy was then closed in two steps (using 3/0 monofilament, non-absorbable suture) via two half running sutures in the mucosal and then serosal planes. Lymphadenectomy was performed after closure of the duodenotomy (Figure 2).

Figure 2 Intraoperative findings. A: Duodenotomy, showing the gastrinoma on the superior duodenal flexure (white triangle), next to the pancreatic head (black star); B: The retroportal lymph node; C: Hepatotomy during left hepatectomy (1: Common bile duct; 2: Left hepatic duct, 3: Right hepatic duct, 4: Right posterior segmental duct, 5: Cystic duct).

Prior to the left hepatectomy, intra-operative cholangiography evidenced dilatation of the RPSD and the LHD and revealed confluence between these two ducts (Figure 3). Careful dissection enabled us to isolate the RPSD and its junction with the LHD. After bile duct isolation, various clamping maneuvers were performed (with intra-operative cholangiography), in order to check that the anterior and posterior sections of the right hepatic duct were intact (Figure 4). Left hepatectomy was performed with conservation of the RPSD, by clamping the LHD above the confluence. To check for leakage after left hepatectomy, we performed a methylene blue test. The left hepatectomy was performed without reconstructing the biliary ducts (which would have required hepaticojejunal anastomosis of the RPSD, for example).

Figure 3 Intraoperative cholangiography findings. A: Intraoperative cholangiography, showing dilatation of the right posterior segmental duct and its confluence with the left hepatic duct; B: A frontal view of the anatomic variation of the right posterior segmental duct and its junction with the left hepatic duct.

Figure 4 Correspondence between anatomic and radiologic features during left hepatectomy. A: Clamping downstream of the confluence of right posterior segmental duct with the left hepatic duct; B: Intraoperative cholangiography, showing the absence of opacification of the right posterior segmental duct; C: Clamping upstream of the confluence of the right posterior segmental duct with the left hepatic duct; D: Intraoperative cholangiography, showing opacification of the right posterior segmental duct.

The patient’s post-operative condition suggested the presence of a biliary fistula, which was diagnosed on post-operative day 10 and drained by inserting an external drain through an old drainage orifice; this also enabled irrigation of the biliary fistula. The fistula was well tolerated and did not require immediate reoperation. A contrast-enhanced CT scan of the abdomen and hepatobiliary scintigraphy confirmed the presence of a biliary fistula on the RPSD (Figure 5).

Figure 5 Liver scintigraphy, showing the biliary fistula (white arrow).

After a multidisciplinary team meeting (involving the surgeons, an endoscopist and a radiologist), we selected a combined radiologic and endoscopic treatment using the “rendezvous technique”. Firstly, the excluded RPSD was drained with an 8.5 French percutaneous catheter (Cook Ireland Ltd, Limerick, Ireland). Next, drainage allowed us to subsequently catheterize the main hepatic duct (via a transhepatic approach) and create a new prosthetic duct (using a percutaneous catheter). An 8-cm biliary fully-covered self-expanding metal stent (Zilver^®, Cook Ireland Ltd) was inserted, in order to decrease pressure on the biliary duct. In order to avoid migration, a 14-cm duodenal covered stent (Hanarostent^®, Life Partners Europe, Bagnolet, France) was positioned next to the biliary stent’s distal portion. Next, a 12-cm, 8.5 French plastic Cotton-Leung biliary stent (Cook Ireland Ltd) was placed into the covered self-expanding metal stent through the duodenal stent (in order to avoid migration of the latter) and located next to the inlet of the external drain (Figure 6). After bile flow through the external drain had fallen significantly (by day 7 following the combined procedure), the drain was clamped and then removed a few days later. The stents were removed 45 d after their implementation. One year after stent removal, the patient was symptom-free and clinical biochemical tests confirmed the absence of cholestasis. MRI of the liver showed a moderately dilated RPSD (Figure 7).

Figure 6 Rendezvous procedure. A: X-ray of the abdomen, showing catheterization of right posterior segmental duct and the common bile duct with external drainage (white triangle), the position of the covered biliary stent (black arrow) and the position of the covered duodenal stent (white arrow) next to the distal end of the biliary stent; B: Opacification of external drainage (white triangle), showing the continuity between the right posterior segmental duct and the common bile duct provided by the biliary stent (black arrow).

Figure 7 Magnetic resonance image of the liver 1 year after removal of the stents, showing moderate dilatation of right posterior segmental duct and continuity of the hepatic ducts.

DISCUSSION

With an incidence of between 3% and 10%, biliary fistulas are common complications of hepatectomy[4-8]. The risk of biliary fistula is greater still in patients with an anatomic variation. In our patient, the RPSD joined the LHD; this corresponds to D1 in the Couinaud classification, and is present in 6% to 16.8% of individuals[2,9,10].

The intra-operative discovery of this anatomic variation left us with two possible solutions: (1) left hepatectomy with maintenance of the RPSD; and (2) hepaticojejunal anastomosis and resection of the confluence between the RPSD and the LHD. We chose not to perform hepaticojejunal anastomosis on the RPSD because of (1) its difficulty in the present case; and (2) the satisfactory results of an intra-operative methylene blue test and intra-operative cholangiography (as recommended[2]). We observed complete opacification of the RPSD after a clamping maneuver and thus the absence of biliary stenosis or fistula[11]. The occurrence of a late biliary fistula (type D, according to Nagano’s classification[12]) in the RPSD was probably due to necrosis caused during coagulation, since there was no leakage in the methylene blue test and no particular signs of leakage on the intra-operative cholangiography after completion of the left hepatectomy. In retrospect, this should have prompted us to perform hepaticojejunal anastomosis.

Treatment of this type of complication is challenging. An endoscopic approach is often associated with better outcomes and lower morbidity than further surgery[13,14]. After discussing the case with our endoscopist and our radiologist, we considered that a rendezvous technique was feasible - even through reoperation is the recommended treatment for this type of post-operative complication[12,15]. The absence of biliary peritonitis and good overall tolerance of the biliary fistula prompted us to implement the combined endoscopic and radiologic approach.

In conclusion, we reported on the peri-operative adaptation of a surgical technique during left hepatectomy in a patient with an anatomic variation. Post-operative treatment using the rendezvous technique was feasible for an experienced team of surgeons.

COMMENTS

Case characteristics

A 66-year-old man was managed for biliary fistula following left hepatectomy in a patient in whom the right posterior biliary segmental duct joined the left hepatic duct.

Clinical diagnosis

Abdominal pain and fever.

Differential diagnosis

Post-operative abscess or hematoma.

Laboratory diagnosis

Patient had biological inflammatory syndrome.

Imaging diagnosis

Post-operative collection next to the confluence of the right posterior segmental duct.

Pathological diagnosis

All pathological findings were normal for biliary fistula.

Treatment

Combined radiologic and endoscopic treatment using the “rendezvous technique” using multiple stents.

Related reports

Biliary fistula after hepatectomy is a common complication. The risk of biliary fistula is greater in patients with an anatomic variation.

Term explanation

Biliary fistula following hepatectomy is associated with a high morbidity and mortality. Reoperation is usually required.

Experiences and lessons

Post-operative treatment of post-operative biliary fistula following hepatectomy is feasible using the rendezvous technique and allows for avoidance of reoperation.

Peer-review

This is a well written, concise and elegant description of a new technique for management of complications. The intra-operative images are of excellent quality.