Hemobilia Due to an Iatrogenic Arteriobiliary Fistula Complicating Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Case Report ()
1. Introduction
Hemobilia is the process of bleeding into the biliary tree and is an unusual cause of upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage. It is only a symptom revealing underlying disease. Blunt hepatic trauma and postsurgical pseudoaneurysms of hepatic arteries are the cause of hemobilia in 10% of cases [1] [2] . A biliary fistula complicating laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a rare, unpredictable, and life-threatening vascular complication. The pathogenesis of this uncommon but sometimes fatal complication still remains unclear. Mechanical or thermal injuries have been considered responsible. In more than 80% of cases, trans-arteriographic embolization is the first definite treatment .We report the case history of a patient in which laparoscopic cholecystectomy was complicated 3 months later by massive hemobilia.
2. Case Presentation
A 50-year-old patient, presented to the emergency department 3 months post laparoscopic cholecystectomy with epigastric pain, cholestatic jaundice and multiple episodes of hematemesis. With the exception of recent laparoscopic cholecystectomy, the patient had no significant past medical history. On examination, he was pale; blood pressure was 100/60 mmHg and heart rate was 98 bpm. His hemoglobin (Hb) was at 7g/dl and bilirubin was 78 mg/l. Abdominal percutaneous ultrasound examination showeda dilation of intra- and extrahepatic bile ducts measured 11mm without visible obstacle. Emergency upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed multiple blood clots over the anterior/superior wall of the first and second parts of the duodenum. Catheterization of the common bile duct showed active hemobilia due to biliary-vascular fistula. The patient presented hemodynamic instability, he underwent an emergency surgery; surgical exploration highlighted several clips of the common bile duct that were removed and an injury of the proper hepatic artery which was sutured with implementation of a Kehr drain in the bile duct. He had a transfusion and his Hb rose to 10 g/dl. 7 days after this procedure was performed rebleeding occurred, Kehr drain brought bile mixed with blood. A CT angiography showed an aneurysm of the hepatic artery next to a metal clip with hemobilia. The arteriography (Figure 1) viewed a pseudoaneurysm sized 1.5 cm sited in the right terminal branch of the proper hepatic artery. Trans-arteriographic embolization was achieved by filling the entire pseudoaneurysm with biological glue. The patient had an uneventful immediate clinical course without rebleeding. A control CT angiography confirmed the disappearance of the pseudoaneurysm (Figure 2). However during a control 3 months later, the patient presented a cholestatic jaundice, biochemical tests demonstrated an important biological cholestasis (bilirubin at 100 mg/l). Abdominal ultrasonography showed dilated intra and extrahepatic biliary tract. Bili MRI showed presence of glue in the bile duct responsible of an important bile duct dilatation upstream. Therefore a surgical option was chosen, and a biliary-jejunal anastomosis was executed. The recovery was uneventful with normalization of laboratory tests and a normal follow-up CT scan. 1 year after surgery, the patient is well and is complaint free.
3. Discussion
Hemobilia is a rare entity. It is classically associated with Quincke’s triad of biliary colic, jaundice, and gastrointestinal bleeding; however, the complete triad is reported in less than 40% of patients [2] [3] . A significant
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Figure 1. Arteriography of the hepatic artery, embolization of pseudoaneurism.
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Figure 2. Angioscan after embolization of the pseudoaneurism, no contrast product extravasation.
majority of cases arise from iatrogenic causes such as, hepatobiliary procedures and, less commonly, laparoscopic cholecystectomy [4] . Noniatrogenic causes include blunt abdominal trauma, localized infection, gallstones, and hepatic tumors; it can also be secondary to a vascular abnormality which is most often a hepatic artery aneurysm [4] . Although laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the treatment of choice for symptomatic cholelithiasis, the incidence of biliary and vascular injuries is increased by this procedure. Most arterial complications occur secondary to direct injury or diathermy heat transmitted via surgical clips [4] . The mechanism of hepatic or cystic artery pseudoaneurysms post cholecystectomy is unclear but likely involves direct vascular injury, thermal injury, erosion due to clip intrusion, which is the case with our patiente, bile leakage, and infection .The primary lesion is an intrahepatic communication between vessels and bile ducts, more often arterial than portal.
In our patient case, signs found were a cholestatic jaundice and hematemesis. There are early biological signs of hepatocellular suffering such as elevated c-glutamyltransferase, alkaline phosphatase, transaminases and direct bilirubin. Gastroduodenal endoscopy has a great diagnostic value when it shows the blood from the ampulla of Vater [4] . Angiography has a significant place both for the positive and topographic diagnosis. Because of anatomical variations, the two arterial roads, celiac and mesenteric must be explored. The classic image of contrast passage into the biliary tract is rare, a pseudoaneurysm is often objectified [5] [6] .
In our case the diagnosis was made by Endoscopic retrograde cholangio pancréatographie (ERCP) and CT angiography. The treatment of choice is radiological embolization by metal coils or glue whose efficiency varies between 80% and 100%. In Addition this radiological procedure carries with serious risks such as hepatobiliary necrosis, hepatocellular insufficiency, bleeding, abscess formation and gallbladder fibrosis [7] [8] . With these risks, early surgical intervention following failed radiologic intervention for hemobilia is often suggested [9] . A selective arterial ligation is usually recommended.
In our case, surgery did not get the disconnection of the arterio-biliary fistula; Arterial embolisation with glue was the efficient treatment that allowed hemostasis. Unfortunately, the complication encountered was a cholestatic jaundice with dilated biliary intra and extrahepatic tract due to a glue passage in the biliary ducts. This complication was surgically treated by biliodigestive bypass.
4. Conclusion
Gastrointestinal bleeding after a cholecystectomy may be a sign of haemobilia. The diagnosis is confirmed by duodenoscopy. The angioscan can find the site of the fistula between the bile duct and the artery that is injured. We discovered that metal clips can be a cause of these injuries when they are misplaced. This happens when there are difficulties in bleeding control.