Comparison of hepaticoantrostomy and hepaticojejunostomy for biliary reconstruction after resection of a choledochal cyst.

Twelve infants operated upon for choledochal cyst (CC) are reviewed with emphasis on the operative technique of biliary tract reconstruction, incidence of cholangitis, postoperative hypergastrinemia, biliary excretion, and upper gastrointestinal (GI) motility in a follow-up of 24 to 35 months. In 7 patients biliary reconstruction was performed with a Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy (HJ), and in 5 with a hepaticoantrostomy (HAST). In the HJ group 4 patients had recurrent episodes of cholangitis and intermittent diarrhea and serum gastrin levels were significantly elevated in 5. Hepatobiliary scintigraphy showed unobstructed excretion of labelled bile through bile ducts into the Roux-en-Y loop, but with significantly delayed emptying of bile into the distal jejunum in all patients. Gastric emptying and upper intestinal passage were normal. In the HAST group no episode of cholangitis occurred and serum gastrin levels were within the normal range. Scintigraphically, hepatobiliary excretion, and duodenojejunal passage of labelled bile was normal, except in 1 patient who developed a postoperative stenosis of the left hepatic duct. Upper GI contrast studies demonstrated normal gastric emptying without reflux into the biliary system. These results suggest that biliary reconstruction with HAST can be performed safely with a low incidence of complications HAST offers a more physiologic method of biliary reconstruction after resection of a CC that allows bile to drain directly into the duodenum.