Bile leakage resulting from clip displacement of the cystic duct stump

Abstract.

We present the case of a patient who underwent successful endoscopic nasobiliary drainage (ENBD) for bile leakage resulting from clip displacement of the cystic duct stump sustained during a laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). This 69-year-old man was admitted with symptomatic cholecystolithiasis. After LC was performed, intraoperative cholangiography (IOC) revealed no abnormal findings. However, postoperatively, bilious material began to appear from the intraabdominal drain. Subsequent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) showed bile leakage from the end of the cystic duct stump. ENBD was performed. Cholangiography using the ENBD tube 14 days later failed to show a bile leak. The ENBD was subsequently removed. The patient improved rapidly with no complaints. Bile leakage due to clip displacement from the cystic duct stump is a potential pitfall of LC, especially if IOC is normal. We recommend careful cystic duct ligation, combined with the use of superior quality ligation clips, to prevent this complication. ENBD is a useful technique to prevent bile leakage after this complication.