Background: Extrahepatic biliary tract injuries following blunt abdominal trauma are very rare and pose a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge.
Case report: We report a case of blunt liver injury with left extrahepatic duct transection following a motor vehicle collision. Technetium 99m dimethyliminodiacetic acid scan confirmed a bile leak and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) diagnosed the injury of the left extrahepatic duct. Management was initially conservative, consisting of external drainage along with trials of stent placement. Ultimately, partial left hepatectomy was required to definitively treat the injury.
Conclusion: In the setting of suspected biliary tract injury, early ERCP is essential to localize a leak and guide management decisions. In the event of a confirmed bile leak, a trial of nonoperative management consisting of endoscopic ductal decompression along with percutaneous drainage may initially be warranted although is not always successful.
Keywords: Bile leak; Blunt abdominal trauma; Extrahepatic bile duct.