Endoscopic-ultrasonography-guided biliary drainage for repetitive acute cholangitis of the accessory hepatic duct obstructed by clipping during laparoscopic cholecystectomy

An 88-year-old man who had been suffering from repetitive fever and abdominal pain every few months for several years was diagnosed with localized acute cholangitis and referred to our center. Various examinations, including computed tomography (CT) and endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS), revealed that the accessary hepatic duct was obstructed by clips used during laparoscopic cholecystectomy performed 7 years previously. It was not possible to approach the completely isolated duct via the transpapillary route. After obtaining fully informed consent, EUS-guided drainage of the occluded duct through the duodenal wall was performed with a self-expanding metal stent. No adverse events related to the procedure were observed, and his symptoms disappeared by the next day. EUS-guided drainage represents a therapeutic option in patients with an accessory hepatic duct, which is iatrogenically isolated by surgical clips.