Table 3.

Stewart-Way classification

Mechanism of laparoscopic bile duct injury		Associated RHA injury, %
Class I	CBD mistaken for cystic duct, but recognized; cholangiogram incision in cystic duct extended into CBD	5
Class II	Lateral damage to the CHD from cautery or clips placed on duct; associated bleeding, poor visibility	20
Class III	CBD mistaken for cystic duct, not recognized; CBD, CHD, RHD, LHD transected and/or resected	35
Class IV	RHD (or right sectoral duct) mistaken for cystic duct, RHA mistaken for cystic artery; RHD (or right sectoral duct) and RHA transected; lateral damage to the RHD (or right sectoral duct) from cautery or clips placed on duct	60

CBD = Common bile duct; CHD = common hepatic duct; LHD = left hepatic duct; RHA = right hepatic artery; RHD = right hepatic duct.