Radionuclide evaluation of bile leakage and the use of subhepatic drains after cholecystectomy

Our study addresses the question of efficacy of drainage after cholecystectomy by evaluation of the leakage of radiolabeled bile. Based on our data, drains placed at the time of surgery do not appear to reliably remove bile or to decrease morbidity. Our study reveals that bile leakage after cholecystectomy is frequent, cannot be accurately predicted at operation, is not related to the experience of the operating surgeons, and does not necessarily correlate with morbidity. The shorter postoperative hospital stay in the group of patients with subhepatic bile leakage compared with the group without evidence of leakage after cholecystectomy is not statistically significant. However, this trend does suggest that there is no increase in morbidity associated with bile leakage per se. A large, clinically significant bile leak can easily be treated by modern interventional radiologic techniques if drainage is indicated. A larger, double-blind study is necessary to further evaluate the issues surrounding bile leakage and drainage after cholecystectomy.