Fibrin glue is widely used in clinical practice and plays an important role in reducing postoperative complications. We report a case of a 65-year-old man, whose common bile duct was injured by fibrin glue, with a history of failed laparoscopic cholecystectomy and open operation for uncontrolled laparoscopic bleeding. In view of the persistent liver dysfunction, xanthochromia and skin itching, the patient was admitted to us for further management. Ultrasound, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) revealed multiple stones in the common bile duct, and liver function tests confirmed the presence of obstructive jaundice and liver damage. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography was unsuccessfully performed to remove choledocholithiasis, but a small amount of tissue was removed and pathologically confirmed as calcified biliary mucosa. This was followed by open surgery for suspicious cholangiocarcinoma. There was no evidence of cholangiocarcinoma, but the common bile duct wall had a defect of 8 mm × 10 mm at Calot’s triangle. A hard, grid-like foreign body was removed, which proved to be solid fibrin glue. Subsequently, the residual choledocholithiasis was removed by a choledochoscopic procedure, and the common bile duct deletion was repaired by liver round ligament with T-tube drainage. Six months later, endoscopy was performed through the T-tube fistula and showed a well-repaired bile duct wall. Eight months later, MRCP confirmed no bile duct stenosis. A review of reported cases showed that fibrin glue is widely used in surgery, but it can also cause organ damage. Its mechanism may be related to discharge reactions.

Fibrin glue is a biodegradable and absorbable biological agent, which is widely used in abdominal operations to close the wound and fistulous tract, reduce leakage and bleeding, promote wound healing, and prevent adhesion[1-3]. Several studies have reported the use of fibrin glues in neurosurgery, otolaryngology, cardiothoracic surgery, and gynecology[4-9]. Several recent studies have suggested that the use of fibrin glue can reduce the time required to control intraoperative bleeding from the raw liver surface after liver resection, but there is no solid evidence that their routine use reduces the incidence of postoperative hemorrhage or bile leakage compared with other treatments[10,11]. We now report a case of common bile duct injury, associated with fibrin glue used in the failure of laparoscopic cholecystectomy and open surgery for uncontrolled laparoscopic bleeding.

A 65-year-old man presented to our hospital for further evaluation of icteric skin and sclera. The patient had a history of cholecystolithiasis three years ago, for which he underwent failed laparoscopic cholecystectomy, and reverted to open surgery for uncontrollable laparoscopic bleeding. One year after cholecystectomy, he had choledocholithiasis and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) was performed; all the stones were removed. Three days prior to admission, he had symptoms of icteric skin and sclera with persistent pain under the xiphoid.

On admission, routine laboratory evaluation showed a total bilirubin level of 107.9 μmol/L (reference range: 3-22 μmol/L); conjugated bilirubin 40.2 μmol/L (reference range: 0-5 μmol/L); unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia 37.6 μmol/L (reference range: 0-19 μmol/L); alanine aminotransferase 154 U/L (reference range: 0-40 U/L) aspartate aminotransferase 69 U/L (reference range: 0-40 U/L); alkaline phosphatase 284 U/L (reference range: 38-126 U/L); and γ-glutamyl transferase 616 U/L (reference range: 6-35 U/L). Routine blood analysis showed normal serum amylase/lipase, blood clotting, and tumor markers including α-fetoprotein, carcinoembryonic antigen, cancer antigen (CA)-125 and CA19-9.

Abdominal ultrasound demonstrated mild intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile duct dilatation, bile duct diameter 12 mm, and nonhomogeneous echo of the common bile duct. Biliary sludge, sand-like stones, and bile duct cancer were excluded. Computed tomography (CT) demonstrated intrahepatic bile duct dilatation, fatty liver, and splenomegaly (Figure 1). Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) demonstrated multiple stones in the extrahepatic bile duct and common bile duct, dilated intrahepatic bile duct, and cholecystectomy change (Figure 2).

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Figure 1 Computed tomography. Cholecystectomy change, intrahepatic bile duct dilatation, fatty liver, splenomegaly.

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Figure 2 Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography. Multiple stones in extrahepatic bile duct and common bile duct, dilated intrahepatic bile duct, and cholecystectomy change.

ERCP was performed to treat the choledocholithiasis, but only some stones were removed, and the common bile duct was rigid, with some tissue removed. Pathological analysis confirmed calcified biliary mucosa (Figure 3), which was followed by open surgery for suspicious cholangiocarcinoma. There was no evidence of cholangiocarcinoma, but the common bile duct wall had a defect of 8 mm × 10 mm at Calot’s triangle. A hard, grid-like foreign body was removed, which proved to be solid fibrin glue (manufacturer unknown) (Figure 4). Subsequently, the residual choledocholithiasis was cleared by a choledochoscopic procedure, and the injury of the common bile duct was repaired by longitudinal, slivered, pedunculated liver round ligament with the serous face towards the bile duct, and T-tube drainage from the middle of the liver round ligament (Figure 5). Two weeks later, T-tube visualization was performed and the contrast agent was introduced smoothly into the duodenum with no extravasation or bile duct stenosis (Figure 6). Six months later, endoscopy was performed through the T-tube fistula, with good repair of the bile duct wall. Eight months later, MRCP confirmed the absence of bile duct stenosis.

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Figure 3 Pathology: Calcified biliary mucosa.

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Figure 4 Morphology: Hard, grid-like solid fibrin glue.

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Figure 5 Common bile duct repaired by longitudinal, slivered, pedunculated liver round ligament with serous face towards the bile duct, and T-tube drainage from the middle of the liver round ligament.

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Figure 6 T-tube visualization: contrast agent introduced smoothly into the duodenum with no extravasation or bile duct stenosis.

Fibrin glue is a biodegradable, absorbable biological agent, which is widely used in surgery to reduce leakage and bleeding from the wound, promote wound healing, and prevent adhesion. Capillary and fibroblast proliferation appears around the periphery and inside the wound within 3 d, the fibrin polymer disappears after 7 d and the wound is considered to be fully healed[12]. The current example showed fibrin glue had not been absorbed in the body for 3 years, and the ranked reactions of organization to fibrin glue may have affected its absorption. This phenomenon is a rare complication, similar to titanium clip and surgical suture migration into the common bile duct following open or laparoscopic cholecystectomy, and the migration time ranges from 10 d to 10 years[13,14]. The solid fibrin glue can be extruded from the bile duct, which ultimately causes bile duct defects and stricture, during endoscopic stone extraction. The etiology of this complication may be linked to a chronic rejection reaction of the body to fibrin glue, application of a large dose or improper use, such as local injection.

Preoperative abdominal ultrasound, CT and MRCP revealed multiple stones in the common bile duct, with no evidence of cholangiocarcinoma. However, the common bile duct felt rigid and not all the stones could be removed by ERCP, which revealed possible cholangiocarcinoma. Histopathology of tissue removed by ERCP confirmed calcified biliary mucosa. Therefore, intraoperative histopathological examination is particularly important. The tissue patch of omentum majus, omentum minus, gallbladder wall, and ligamentum teres hepatis can be used to repair bile duct defects[15,16]. The pedicle patch, formed by the longitudinal, slivered, pedunculated liver round ligament, was used to repair the bile duct defect, with the serous face towards the bile duct. There was no abdominal infection, tissue necrosis or other serious complications. Cholangiography and biliary endoscopy showed good repair without iatrogenic bile duct stricture. However, there is some controversy surrounding the postoperative use of T-tubes. Some researchers believe that the T-tube can be removed if angiography shows absence of biliary bile duct stenosis at 3 mo after extrahepatic bile duct injury with the liver round ligament[16,17]. A support tube should be placed, < 12 mo, to reduce the incidence of postoperative biliary strictures[18].

We should strictly control the use of fibrin glue in surgery, and large doses of fibrin glue for bleeding and bile duct bile leakage should be prohibited. There is no scientific proof that topical haemostatic agents really reduce resection surface related complications[19]. Bile duct injury may be avoided by incomplete absorption and discharge reactions of the fibrin glue. The effect of using liver round ligament to repair extrahepatic bile duct is satisfactory, which is worthy of promotion for clinical use, but the time of placement time of the support tube needs verified in further animal experiments.