OBJECTIVETo investigate the early diagnosis on iatrogenic injuries in distal part of common bile duct and the prevention of severe retroperitoneal infection.

METHODSFrom 1990 to 2004, 17 patients with bile duct injures in the distal part of common biliary tract were admitted. And the clinical data of the 17 cases were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSOf the 17 cases, the injuries of 15 cases were caused by the operation, and the injuries of the other 2 cases were caused in the process of removing the stone by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). The injuries of 14 cases were found during the operation, but the other one was not found in time. Before the operation, 16 cases were examined by B-type ultrasonography, 2 by MRCP and 6 by intraoperative choledocho-endoscope after the biliary tract exploration. Ten cases underwent perforating suture repair and T-tube drainage; 2 with Odd's sphincter incision and shaping; 2 with choledochojejunostomy; 1 with duodenum wall and bile duct repair and drainage. When the bile duct injured, the major findings during operation were bile duct explorer located out of the duodenum wall and bile duct, two or more than cleft in the distal part of common biliary tract found by choledocho-endoscopic examination, retroperitoneal edema and liquid accumulation found by irrigating water through T-tube, and/or retroperitoneal tissues stained blue by irrigating methylthioninium chloride through T-tube. The clinical manifestations after injuries were abdominal distention, abdominal pain, pain in the waist and back, fever and shock, et al. Thirteen cases were cured. And the syndromes included 1 case with intestinal fistula, 1 with incisional infection, 4 dead (3 died from infectious shock; 1 from bleeding in gastrectomy).

CONCLUSIONSThe postoperative clinical manifestations for iatrogenic injuries in the distal part of common biliary tract lack specificity, CT examinations are necessary to doubtful patients. Early diagnosis and timely management can obtain better results, and can effectively lower severe retroperitoneal infection. The perfect preoperative imaging examinations and intraoperative choledocho-endoscopic examinations before the biliary tract exploration maybe reduce iatrogenic injuries in the distal part of common biliary tract.