Background
Despite the potentially severe impact of bile leakage on patients’ perioperative and
long-term outcome, a commonly used definition of this complication after hepatobiliary
and pancreatic operations has not yet been established. The aim of the present article
is to propose a uniform definition and severity grading of bile leakage after hepatobiliary
and pancreatic operative therapy.
Methods
An international study group of hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgeons was convened.
A consensus definition of bile leakage after hepatobiliary and pancreatic operative
therapy was developed based on the postoperative course of bilirubin concentrations
in patients’ serum and drain fluid.
Results
After evaluation of the postoperative course of bilirubin levels in the drain fluid
of patients who underwent hepatobiliary and pancreatic operations, bile leakage was
defined as bilirubin concentration in the drain fluid at least 3 times the serum bilirubin
concentration on or after postoperative day 3 or as the need for radiologic or operative
intervention resulting from biliary collections or bile peritonitis. Using this criterion
severity of bile leakage was classified according to its impact on patients’ clinical
management. Grade A bile leakage causes no change in patients’ clinical management.
A Grade B bile leakage requires active therapeutic intervention but is manageable
without relaparotomy, whereas in Grade C, bile leakage relaparotomy is required.
Conclusion
We propose a simple definition and severity grading of bile leakage after hepatobiliary
and pancreatic operative therapy. The application of the present proposal will enable
a standardized comparison of the results of different clinical trials and may facilitate
an objective evaluation of diagnostic and therapeutic modalities in the field of hepatobiliary
and pancreatic operative therapy.
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: February 14, 2011
Accepted:
December 7,
2010
Identification
Copyright
© 2011 Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
