Paediatric infant presenting with an atypical spontaneous biliary perforation

Abstract

Spontaneous biliary perforation (SBP) is a life-threatening condition.  Although rare, it is the second most common surgical cause of jaundice in infancy after biliary atresia. SBP is theorized to occur due to a localized  injury to the embryological developing biliary tree, predominantly at the junction of the cystic and the common ducts. The weakness usually develops on the anterior wall of the junction of the common and the cystic ducts. Insults to the wall, such as from infection, trauma or increased biliary pressure, can subsequently lead to perforation. We report a case of an atypical SBP in a 3-week-old girl presenting with a biloma.

Keywords: biloma, paediatric, spontaneous biliary perforation, surgery