Biliary fistula

Biliary fistula
Duodeno Biliary Fistula
Specialty	General surgery

A biliary fistula is a type of fistula in which bile flows along an abnormal connection from the bile ducts into a nearby hollow structure. Types of biliary fistula include:

• bilioenteric fistula: abnormal connection to small bowel, usually duodenum.
• thoracobiliary fistula: abnormal connection to pleural space or bronchus (rare).
• bronchobiliary fistula: pathological communication between a bronchus and the biliary tract (extremely rare).^[1]

These may be contrasted to a bile leak, in which bile escapes the bile ducts through a perforation or faulty surgical anastomosis into the abdominal cavity. Damage to a bile duct may result in a leak, which may eventually become a biliary fistula.