TREATMENT OF BILE LEAKAGE FOLLOWING LAPAR OSCOPIC CHOLECYSTECTOMY WITH ERCP, ENDOSCOPIC SPHINCTEROTOMY AND ENDOSCOPIC BILE-DUCT DRAINAGE

Background: Bile leakage as a complication following cholecystectomy c an be found more Frequently after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) th an after open cholecystectomy. The present study planned to find out t he importance of ERCP. sphincterotomy and temporary drainage of the bi le duct system in the treatment of bile leakage, Patients and Methods: From July 1992 to October 1996 15 consecutive patients presenting wit h bile leakage following LC underwent endoscopic therapy by CBD-draina ge with sphincterotomy (n = 11), CBD-drainage without sphincterotomy ( n = 1) and sphincterotomy alone (n = 3). Results: Closure of the bile leakage could be achieved in all cases, biliary secretion stopped afte r 2,1 days (1-7 days). One dislocation of the drainage into the CBD wa s found and could be treated endoscopically, Endoscopy-related mortali ty was 0%. Conclusions: Endoscopic therapy offers a safe, effective an d minimal invasive method in the treatment of bile leakage following L C.