Choledochoscope-assisted percutaneous fibrin glue sealing of bile leak complicating transarterial chemoembolization of hepatocellular carcinoma after liver transplantation

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is recommended for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, it is not a risk-free procedure and biloma may occur as a complication. A 45-year-old man, following liver transplantation, presented with recurrent HCC in the caudate lobe, close to the caval vein, and was treated by TACE. Subsequently, the patient was admitted for abdominal pain and fever. Computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous cholangiography confirmed the diagnosis of infected biloma. During the following weeks there was abundant drainage, despite both external drainage and endoscopic treatment. It was decided to attempt direct closure of the fistula with a choledochoscope-assisted procedure. Briefly, an inverse rendezvous procedure was successfully carried out, allowing the retrieval of the endoscopic guide wire, followed by insertion of a percutaneous wire-guided choledochoscope (Polyscope, Lumenis Inc., Santa Clara, California, USA) into the biloma. An angiographic introducer was inserted beside the choledochoscope and a 19-G needle was inserted in the introducer. The choledochoscopic approach allowed multiple fibrin glue injections (Tissucol, Baxter Healthcare, Deerfield, Illinois, USA) around the distal opening of the peripheral bile duct, for a total volume of 3 mL. A CT scan taken after a few days showed absence of fluid in the biloma, confirming healing of the biliary fistula.