Portal biliopathy: a study of 39 surgically treated patients.

Background: Portal biliopathy (PBP) denotes intra- and extrahepatic biliary duct abnormalities that occur as a result of portal hypertension and is commonly seen in extrahepatic portal vein obstruction (EHPVO). The management of symptomatic PBP is still controversial.

Methods: Prospectively collected data for surgically managed PBP patients from 1996 to 2007 were retrospectively analysed for presentation, clinical features, imaging and the results of surgery. All patients were assessed with a view to performing decompressive shunt surgery as a first-stage procedure and biliary drainage as a second stage-procedure if required, based on evaluation at 6 weeks after shunt surgery.

Results: A total of 39 patients (27 males, mean age 29.56 years) with symptomatic PBP were managed surgically. Jaundice was the most common symptom. Two patients in whom shunt surgery was unsuitable underwent a biliary drainage procedure. A total of 37 patients required a proximal splenorenal shunt as first-stage surgery. Of these, only 13 patients required second-stage surgery. Biliary drainage procedures (hepaticojejunostomy [n= 11], choledochoduodenostomy [n= 1]) were performed in 12 patients with dominant strictures and choledocholithiasis. One patient had successful endoscopic clearance of common bile duct (CBD) stones after first-stage surgery and required only cholecystectomy as a second-stage procedure. The average perioperative blood product transfusion requirement in second-stage surgery was 0.9 units and postoperative complications were minimal with no mortality. Over a mean follow-up of 32.2 months, all patients were asymptomatic. Decompressive shunt surgery alone relieved biliary obstruction in 24 of 37 patients (64.9%) and facilitated a safe second-stage biliary decompressive procedure in the remaining 13 patients (35.1%).

Conclusions: Decompressive shunt surgery alone relieves biliary obstruction in the majority of patients with symptomatic PBP and facilitates endoscopic or surgical management in patients who require second-stage management of biliary obstruction.