Background
Bilomas are defined collections of bile fluids mainly caused by iatrogenic injuries of the bile duct system. Owing to the infrequency of this disease, studies addressing bilomas are rare.
Methods
By using an endoscopic database, this retrospective study identified 32 patients with bilomas treated between 2004 to 2015, in order to analyse aetiology, clinical presentation, spectrum of pathogens, and resolution rate of bilomas.
Results
65.6% of the study population (21/32) developed bilomas after surgery and 21.9% (7/32) after endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC). Icterus, fever, and abdominal pain were the leading symptoms. 93.9% (46/49) of microbiological bile cultures revealed a positive microbiology. The predominant microorganisms were the group of
Enterobacteriaceae
(43.0%, 52/121), followed by
Enterococcus
spp. (32.2%, 39/121), and
Candida
spp. (9.1%, 11/121). Multiresistant bacteria like
Enterobacteriaceae
were isolated from one quarter of all patients. Single or multimodal treatment resulted in an overall complication rate of 4.8% (9/188). Clinical follow-up analysis showed a complete resolution rate of 78.3% for interventional therapy and 80% in the non-interventional group.
Conclusions
Pathogen spectrum of bilomas mainly comprises the group of
Enterobacteriacae
and
Enterococcus
spp., with a high proportion of multiresistant bacteria. Different interventional approaches are available for biloma drainage, which seem to be safe and effective for most patients.
Trial registration
German Clinical Trials Register
DRKS00015208
, retrospectively registered.