Commentary: Liver Resection for Bile Duct Injury

Abstract

While the overall incidence is low, injury of the bile duct remains the most feared complication of what otherwise is a routine general surgery procedure. The overwhelming majority of patients can be managed without a major hepatectomy. Liver resection, however, may be appropriate for the small subset of patients who have a major disruption at the hepatic confluence or those patients who develop specific complications of bile duct injury such as lobar atrophy, necrosis, or bile duct strictures. These challenging patients with bile duct injuries should be referred to high-volume hepatobiliary centers for management in order to ensure the best chance at optimal outcomes.