Rupture of intrahepatic bile duct after ERCP for common bile duct stone: A case report of rare complications

Rationale: Complications after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) are diverse and usually treated with nonoperative management or percutaneous drainage; however, there are still some rare, life-threatening complications. This is an extremely rare case of biliary peritonitis caused by rupture of the intrahepatic bile duct after ERCP.

Patient concerns: A 63-year-old male underwent ERCP for common bile duct stones. On the second day after the procedure, the patient developed sepsis and abdominal distention. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed a subcapsular hepatic fluid collection attached to the bile duct of segment VII.

Diagnoses: Sepsis resulted in liver parenchyma rupture and intrahepatic bile duct injury after ERCP. Intraoperative cholangiography revealed a connection between a hole in the liver parenchymal surface and the intrahepatic bile duct.

Interventions: Surgeons performed the cholecystectomy, inserted a T-tube into the common bile duct stones, sutured the defect, and put 2 drainage tubes around the lesion.

Outcomes: Postoperative recovery was uneventful, and the patient was discharged on the 17th postoperative day.

Lessons: Intrahepatic bile duct perforation after ERCP can lead to rupture of the liver parenchyma, biloma, or abdominal peritonitis. Multidisciplinary management is necessary to achieve favorable outcomes.