Challenging Management of Acute Cholangitis in a Patient With Unextractable Common Bile Duct Stone Post Gastrojejunostomy Surgery

This case report details the management of an 89-year-old female with a complex surgical history, including cholecystectomy, left hepatectomy, and repair of an iatrogenic duodenal perforation, who presented with acute cholangitis due to a large common bile duct stone. Faced with the challenges of altered anatomy and the patient's frailty, a multidisciplinary team employed a series of interventions, including percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). The case was further complicated by difficulties in navigating the altered biliary tract, necessitating the use of advanced endoscopic techniques such as cholangioscopy and electrohydraulic lithotripsy (EHL) for stone fragmentation and removal, leading to the successful resolution of the obstruction. This report underscores the importance of individualized care and highlights the efficacy of innovative endoscopic approaches in managing complex biliary disorders in elderly patients with significant surgical histories.