BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to evaluate the cases of iatrogenic lesions of the biliary tract treated in the surgical clinic at Getulio Vargas Hospital - GVH during the last eight years. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the patients' charts admitted with the diagnosis of iatrogenic lesions of the biliary tract was performed. Patients with iatrogenic lesions originating from our service and from other institutions were included. The charts were reviewed for the following variables: origin of the patient, age, sex, date of first surgery, symptoms, time elapsed, bilirubin, alkaline phosphate, AST and ALT, TAP, creatine, surgery performed to correct the lesion, presence of complications, hospital stay and patient status on discharge. RESULTS: Ten cases of iatrogenic lesions of the biliary tract were confirmed. All patients were females, whose ages varied from 18 to 40. The most frequent signs and symptoms were icterus, chromaturia and abdominal pain. In regards to the corrective surgery, hepatic-jejunostomy in "Y" of Roux was the procedure most frequently used. CONCLUSION: Iatrogenic lesions of the biliary tract still represent a challenge to general surgeons. It is an occurrence more closely related to procedures performed in nonspecialized hospitals by surgeons without adequate training. The main measure to be taken is to prevent the damage. After the event, it should be corrected by a trained medical team in a well-equipped hospital.
Biliary tract; Cholecystectomy; Iatrogenic disease; Surgical Procedures, operative; Biliary tract
