Duodenogastric regurgitation in hepaticoduodenostomy after excision of congenital biliary dilatation (choledochal cyst).

PURPOSE: We examined the clinical significance of duodenogastric regurgitation (DGR) as a late complication in the long-term follow-up after hepaticoduodenostomy (HD) as a reconstruction surgery for congenital biliary dilatation (CBD).

METHODS

Seventeen patients with CBD were retrospectively analyzed for late complications (mean follow-up, 16.8 years). All patients had undergone total resection of the extrahepatic bile duct followed by HD. DGR was identified using endoscopic examination, intraluminal bile monitoring, and liver scanning.

RESULTS

DGR was found in all 17 patients by endoscopic examination and intraluminal bile monitoring. Fourteen of the 17 (82.4%) patients with DGR had experienced abdominal symptoms since a mean of 6.9 years postoperatively. Liver scanning also revealed apparent DGR in all 14 symptomatic patients. We converted 7 of the 14 patients to hepaticojejunostomy reconstruction at a mean of 13.0 years after the initial excisional surgery. Their symptoms were completely relieved postoperatively.

CONCLUSIONS

DGR is an important complication after HD. Examination of patients for the development of DGR is an essential part of long-term follow-up in patients with CBD who have undergone HD as a reconstruction surgery. Conversion surgery is recommended in patients with DGR accompanied by long-term abdominal symptoms.

LEVELS OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.