Repeated laparoscopic Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy techniques and pitfalls to watch out with video

Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy is a crucial procedure for treating biliary diseases, especially in patients with recurrent hepatolithiasis. However, the safety and efficacy of repeat laparoscopic Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy(R-LRHJS) remain controversial due to the complexity of hepatobiliary stones and the potential for complications. A total of 41 patients admitted to the Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University from June 2019 to December 2023 were reviewed. 20 patients who underwent repeat R-LRHJS were included in the final analysis. Surgical techniques emphasized meticulous dissection of intra-abdominal adhesions, precise identification of the hepatic hilum bile duct, and careful reconstruction of the biliary-enteric anastomosis. The mean patient age was 54.6 ± 10.7 years. Operative time ranged from 120 to 378 min, with intraoperative blood loss between 10 and 200 ml. Postoperative complications included anastomotic bleeding (2 cases), pancreatic stump bleeding (1 case), duodenal fistula (1 case), and biliary leakage (5 cases). No perioperative deaths occurred. During a 1- to 3-year follow-up, no recurrence of anastomotic stenosis or stone formation was observed on MRCP. The study concludes that R-LRHJS is a feasible and effective treatment for recurrent biliary strictures or stones following initial choledochojejunostomy.