General Surgery Expert Discusses Multiple Errors in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Procedure

This case involves a 55-year-old male who presented to the hospital with classic symptoms of chronic and acute gallbladder dysfunction. Ultrasound confirmed the presence of several gallstones and gallbladder thickening. The attending surgeon insisted that a hepatobiliary (HIDA) scan study be performed, which confirmed acute cholecystitis, and during which the patient had a severe reaction to Cholecystokinin infusion (CCK). The patient proceeded to laparoscopic cholecystectomy. It was later determined that during the laparoscopic cholecystectomy procedure, the surgeon had cross clamped the patient’s common bile duct (CBD), and it had begun leaking bile internally. His hospitalization lasted for several weeks, including admission to the ICU and the development of sepsis. The leak was eventually controlled via stenting during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). The patient began a series of ERCP stent exchanges in an attempt to expand the now badly constricted CBD. Months later, during another ERCP procedure, the CBD was ruptured, and he began internally leaking bile once again. Hospitalization lasted several more weeks, during which time the patient developed a vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) infection. Upon release, a Hepaticojejunostomy was scheduled. That open procedure was performed and the surgeon found not only a severely strictured CBD, but the severe stricture extended up into the hepatic ducts. Drainage out of one of the hepatic ducts never returned to normal during the course of his followup treatment and removal of the biliary drains.

Question(s) For Expert Witness

1. Do you routinely perform laparoscopic cholecystectomy procedures?

2. Have you ever had a patient develop the complications noted above?

3. What steps must be taken to ensure this outcome never occurs?

Expert Witness Response E-009842

I am board-certified in general surgery and a large percentage of my practice involves acute biliary disease and the very cases in which patients are at risk for common bile duct injury and bile duct leaks. I am well-versed in the prevention, recognition, diagnosis, and treatment of each of these complications. I routinely perform laparoscopic cholecystectomy on both an elective and urgent basis. I have never had a patient with a delayed laparoscopic common bile duct injury. I have had difficult dissections and immediate diagnosis of minor bile duct injuries. I have managed many cystic duct stump and bile duct leaks. I have also performed numerous hepaticojejunostomy and dealt with the management and complications there in. To ensure this outcome does not occur, the following should be taken into account: careful surgical technique, intraoperative cholangiography, and close patient follow up with early identification of complications. I would've also considered delayed operative management after failed ERCP with percutaneous transhepatic biliary drain placement.