OBJECTIVE

To compare various methods of bile duct reconstruction in children with choledochal malformation (CM).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

There were 99 children with CM over 10-year period. Mini-laparotomy (ML), laparoscopy (LS) and laparotomy (LT) were used. We performed radical CM resection and bile duct reconstruction using Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy (RYHJ) and hepaticoduodenostomy (HD). Surgery time, short-term and long-term postoperative outcomes were evaluated.

RESULTS

ML was performed in 39 patients, LS — 51 patients, LT — 9 patients. In case of LS, hospital-stay was significantly lower after intracorporeal RYHJ formation compared to extracorporeal technique (p=0.02, Mann—Whitney U-test). Intracorporeal RYHJ requires more time (p=0.0003). Intestinal passage recovered 3 times faster in the ML RYHJ group compared to the LS RYHJ group (p=0.016, Mann—Whitney U-test). ML RYHJ was followed by significantly less duration of postoperative narcotic anesthesia compared to LS HD (3 vs. 4 days, p=0.02, Mann—Whitney U-test). In our study, ML RYHJ has an advantage over LS RYHJ regarding long-term outcomes. HD resulted higher incidence of severe postoperative pancreatitis (p=0.033) that required surgical correction (LT, p=0.043).

CONCLUSION

ML RYHJ has some advantages over other methods of bile duct reconstruction. Therefore, we can currently recommend this method as a preferable one.