Laparoscopic Treatment of Choledochal Cyst Using Barbed Sutures.

PURPOSE: The usage of barbed sutures is increasingly being reported in the field of laparoscopic surgery. However, there have been reports of suture-related complications such as small bowel obstruction or anastomosis stricture. We present our experience of hepaticojejunostomy (HJ) using V-loc, during laparoscopic cyst excision for choledochal cyst.

METHODS: At our center, from August 2014 to January 2015, 4 patients were treated for choledochal cyst. Laparoscopic cyst excision with Roux-en-Y HJ was performed, and HJ was performed with intracorporeal suturing using unidirectional barbed sutures. After surgery, the patients were followed up in the outpatient clinic every 3 months to monitor for long-term complications such as biliary stricture.

RESULTS: There were no short-term complications. Among the 4 patients, 3 patients did not experience any long-term complications. As of this writing, the follow-up period for the 4 patients is 16 months for the first 2 patients and 11 months for the later 2 patients. Biliary stricture was diagnosed in 1 patient at 7 month follow-up. HJ revision was performed with an open right subcostal incision. The anastomosis showed dense fibrosis and stricture. The patient recovered uneventfully after the surgery.

CONCLUSIONS: HJ using barbed sutures was relatively easy to perform, but barbed sutures may have a tendency to cause stricture when used in biliary enteric anastomosis. Caution must be taken to prevent overtightening of the suture.