Validation of the new “Brandenburg Acute Bile Duct (BABD) injury classification” system in 106 patients with accidental bile duct injuries during cholecystectomy

Abstract Background Bile duct injuries following laparoscopic cholecystectomy are rare but serious complications. Timely diagnosis and optimal management remain challenging. Classification systems for bile duct injuries may facilitate diagnosis, guide treatment, and improve outcomes, however their clinical use is limited. This study systematically evaluated existing classification systems and assessed their applicability to all types of injuries. Based on this analysis, a new classification system for acute lesions was developed. Methods The database of the German Arbitration Board for medical liability issues was queried to identify cases involving bile duct injuries following a cholecystectomy (1990–2021). For each patient, the anatomical location, extent of injury, and therapeutic approach were documented. Injuries were categorized according to 11 published classification systems and a newly developed classification system. The ability to categorize bile duct injuries of all systems was assessed. Results A total of 106 bile duct injuries were identified. The common bile duct was the most frequently injured structure (31.1%), followed by combined injuries (27.4%), and injuries of the common hepatic duct (17.9%). In 13.2% of cases, an artery was injured in addition to the bile duct lesion. Only 30.2% of bile duct injuries were detected intraoperatively. The most frequently performed techniques were biliodigestive anastomosis (34.4%), direct bile duct anastomosis (31.3%), and leakage closure with stitches (28.1%). None of the 11 existing classifications could categorize all cases; the best-performing systems (Amsterdam, Hannover) classified 82–86%. In contrast, the new Brandenburg Acute Bile Duct Injury (BABD) Classification was able to categorize 99% of the injuries. Discussion Current classification systems fail to categorize all acute bile duct injuries following cholecystectomies. The BABD Classification, which is based on the anatomical location and extent of injury, allows systematic categorization of all documented acute bile duct lesions and may improve diagnostic clarity, treatment planning, and comparability in future studies.