Leaking bile duct

[lilkarla]

Had GB removed laproscopic on April 14.  Returned to ER on 16 with severe pain.  Bowel obstruction from Xray was detected and admitted until 19.  Returned to ER on 24 with same pain and after ultrasound and HIDA scan a bile leak was detected.  Stent was immediately put in and released on 29.  My doctors say that my body will just absorb this bile but I still have severe pain.  CAT scan showed the bile had "spider webed" throughout abdomen and back since it leaked for week and half.  Pain in back and severe pain in chest and shoulders.  Breast are severely tender to the touch.  Nauseated and diarhea is orange/yellow.  How long before bile is absorbed?  Is there some type of cavity flush that should have been performed?  Please help.  My surgeon is deferring to the GI, who left town yesterday for three weeks.  Feel like surgeon wants me to stop complaining and just take more pain pills.  He called in a stronger dose but that is not even touching the sharp pains.  Please help.  

[Kevin Pho, MD]

Difficult to say without evaluation.  

If the bile duct leak has been repaired, this is more of a GI issue rather than surgical.  

Further evaluation of the biliary tree can be done with an MRCP, or an ERCP if a stent is needed.  

I am not aware of any flush that would be helpful in this situation.  The time it takes to absorb the bile would vary from patient to patient.  

I agree that seeing a GI physician is recommended.  Obtaining a second opinion could be done, or a visit to the ED be done if the pain worsens.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patients education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
www.kevinmd.com