Grey-scale ultrasonography and percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography in biliary tract disease.

Fifty-one patients with suspected obstructive jaundice and 14 without jaundice in whom disease of the biliary tract was suspected but infusion cholangiography had been unhelpful were examined by grey-scale ultrasonography and percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography and the findings analysed retrospectively. Grey-scale ultrasonography distinguished between obstructive and hepatocellular jaundice in 35 out of 46 patients (76%) and indicated the site of the obstruction in 27 (58%) and the cause of the obstruction in 13 (28%). Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography distinguished between obstructive and hepatocellular jaundice in 42 of the patients (91%) and indicated the site of the obstruction in 42 (91%) and the cause in 29 (63%). In the 14 patients without jaundice percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography showed bile-duct stones in one an ampullary stenosis in three. It is concluded that grey-scale ultrasonography and percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography are complementary examinations and that ultrasonography should always be undertaken first as it is a non-invasive procedure that may provide the surgeon with all the diagnostic information he requires. Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography should be performed when grey-scale ultrasonography has shown dilated bile ducts but failed to provide adequate diagnostic information. Cholangiography is also required when preoperative percutaneous drainage of the bile duct is contemplated. In those patients in whom grey-scale ultrasonography shows non-dilated ducts endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is probably the contract examination of choice.     

Papillary carcinoma of the common bile duct. Diagnosis by bile drainage cytology

A 54-year-old man with clinical and radiologic findings suggestive of pancreatic carcinoma had cytologic examination of bile drainage fluid specimens prepared by membrane filtration and cytocentrifugation. Examination showed clumps of malignant cells with features most consistent with a well-differentiated papillary neoplasm of bile duct origin, rather than a primary pancreatic carcinoma. Partial pancreatoduodenectomy with resection of the proximal common bile duct confirmed the presence of a small, well-differentiated but invasive papillary bile duct carcinoma. Pancreatic carcinoma and papillary carcinoma of the bile duct are anatomically and biologically different lesions that should be distinguished, when possible, by cytologic examination. In this case, surgical treatment was planned on the assumption that cytologic examination could distinguish a papillary carcinoma of the bile duct from the clinically suspected pancreatic adenocarcinoma.     

腹腔镜胆囊切除术（LC 术）致胆管损伤的诊治体会

摘要目的：总结腹腔镜胆囊切除术（laparoscopic cholecystectomy,LC 术）中胆管损伤的诊治体会。方法：回顾19 例LC 术致胆管 损伤病例的临床资料,分析其发生的类型及原因,并总结其诊断和治疗要点。结果：19 例患者中,1 例发生在左右肝管汇合以上处 损伤,2 例发生胆总管缺损伤,3 例发生胆总管横断伤,5 例发生胆总管侧面伤,3 例发生胆总管钳夹但未切断,1 例发生右肝管损 伤,4例发生胆囊管残端漏。治疗方法应视胆管损伤类型的不同而不同。采用断端处胆管端端吻合,同时放置T 管引流、单纯胆总 管T 管引流、开腹去除误夹夹子、ERCP检查放置鼻胆管引流及胆肠Rouxeny 吻合术。胆肠Rouxeny吻合术是临床上最常用的修 补胆道损伤的手术方法。随访6 个月～18 年,恢复好,无1 例死亡。结论：胆管损伤是LC 术最常见的并发症之一,规范的操作及 手术适应症的掌握能减少其发生。一旦出现胆管损伤,及时诊断及正确处理能减少其不良后果。     

Ultrasonographic guidance in diagnostic and therapeutic interventions in diseases of the internal organs

A hundred fifty four invasive diagnostic and therapeutical interventions were made in patients with diseases of the abdomen and retroperitoneal space under ultrasonographic guidance. Various biopsies were performed in 139 patients; positive results were achieved in 120 (86.3%) cases. In 15 patients, diagnostic biopsies were combined with therapeutical interventions, such as aspiration of cysts in the liver (n = 3) and kidney (n = 2); drainage of abscesses in the abdomen (n = 5) and liver (n = 5). Fourteen patients with mechanical jaundice caused by extrahepatic bile duct tumors or pancreatic head cancer underwent percutaneous transhepatic cholecystocholangiography followed by external drainage. Percutaneous transhepatic drainage of the gallbladder was made in 1 patient with acute cholecystitis.     

New Diagnosis and Therapy Model for Ischemic-Type Biliary Lesions following Liver Transplantation—A Retrospective Cohort Study

Ischemic-type biliary lesions (ITBLs) are a major cause of graft loss and mortality after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). Impaired blood supply to the bile ducts may cause focal or extensive damage, resulting in intra- or extrahepatic bile duct strictures or dilatations that can be detected by ultrasonography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, and cholangiography. However, the radiographic changes occur at an advanced stage, after the optimal period for therapeutic intervention. Endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography (ERCP) and percutaneous transhepatic cholangiodrainage (PTCD) are the gold standard methods of detecting ITBLs, but these procedures cannot be used for continuous monitoring. Traditional methods of follow-up and diagnosis result in delayed diagnosis and treatment of ITBLs. Our center has used the early diagnosis and intervention model (EDIM) for the diagnosis and treatment of ITBLs since February 2008. This model mainly involves preventive medication to protect the epithelial cellular membrane of the bile ducts, regular testing of liver function, and weekly monitor of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) to detect ischemic changes to the bile ducts. If the liver enzyme levels become abnormal or CEUS shows low or no enhancement of the wall of the hilar bile duct during the arterial phase, early ERCP and PTCD are performed to confirm the diagnosis and to maintain biliary drainage. Compared with patients treated by the traditional model used prior to February 2008, patients in the EDIM group had a lower incidence of biliary tract infection (28.6% vs. 48.6%, P = 0.04), longer survival time of liver grafts (24±9.6 months vs. 17±12.3 months, P = 0.02), and better outcomes after treatment of ITBLs.     

POSTOPERATIVE BILE PERITONITIS

Bile peritonitis may occur after open operations on the biliary tract or following needle biopsy of the liver.Usually it is secondary to rupture of the common duct caused by overlooked common duct stone.Sterile intraperitoneal bile collections may be tolerated fairly well for long periods.Placing drains in the abdomen after biliary tract operations helps prevent dangerous accumulations of bile.Patients with extensive bile peritonitis should be operated upon as soon as possible. Ideally, the operation should include drainage of the abdomen and repair of any underlying pathological cause, but the condition of the patient may be so poor that only drainage can be carried out at the moment.     

不同术式的经内镜下行乳头括约肌切开术（EST）对肠胆反流的影响

目的：目前认为,十二指肠胆道反流是引起胆道反复感染,进而导致胆道结石再发和胆道狭窄的原因之一。近年来应用以内镜下逆行胆胰管造影术（endoscopicretrogradecholangiopancreatography,ERCP）为基础的微创治疗胆总管结束的技术开展颇为广泛。它主要包括ERCP、Oddi括约肌切开术（endoscopicsphincterotomy,EST）、十二指肠乳头球囊扩张术（endoscopicpapillarybal—Iondilation,EPBD）、胆管结石碎石取石术、胆总管支架植入术和鼻胆管引流术六大技术。本文主要研究了采用不同术式的EST,即EST中切口和EST小切口＋EPBD术,在术后早期对患者十二指肠胆道反流的影响。方法：63例胆总管结石患者,男30例,女33例,予行经内镜下逆行的胆胰管造影（ERCP）后分别采用不同术式EST,术后安放胆总管引流管。术后l周留取胆汁采用口服核素和测定胆汁中的胃蛋白酶I、II的浓度,对十二指肠胆道反流进行定量和定性的测定。结果：EST中切口术组、EST小切口＋球囊扩张（EPBD）组分别与无EST组相比,年龄和性别无统计学意义（P=0．07,P=0．416）。行EST中切开和小切开＋球囊扩张患者胆汁中的锝计数明显高于无EST组,且这两组不同术式的患者锝计数存在显著的统计学差异（P〈0．05）。行EST中切口者、EST小切口＋球囊扩张术者胆汁中的PGII质量浓度明显低于无EST组（P〈0．05）,但是EST中切口者和EST小切口＋球囊扩张术后两组间胆汁中PGII的质量浓度无统计学差异。结论：行EST中切口取胆总管结石的患者在手术早期较易发生十二指肠胆道的反流。因此,建议对于胆总管结石患者尽量选择行EST小切口＋球裳扩张术（EPBD）的手术方式。     

腹腔镜胆囊切除术（LC术）致胆管损伤的诊治体会

目的：总结腹腔镜胆囊切除术（1aparoscopiccholecystectomy,LC术）中胆管损伤的诊治体会。方法：回顾19例LC术致胆管损伤病例的临床资料,分析其发生的类型及原因,并总结其诊断和治疗要点。结果：19例患者中,1例发生在左右肝管汇合以上处损伤,2例发生胆总管缺损伤,3例发生胆总管横断伤,5例发生胆总管侧面伤,3例发生胆总管钳夹但未切断,1例发生右肝管损伤,4例发生胆囊管残端漏。治疗方法应视胆管损伤类型的不同而不同。采用断端处胆管端端吻合,同时放置T管引流、单纯胆总管T管引流、开腹去除误夹夹子、ERCP检查放置鼻胆管引流及胆肠Rouxeny吻合术。胆肠Rouxeny吻合术是临床上最常用的修补胆道损伤的手术方法。随访6个月～18年,恢复好,无1例死亡。结论：胆管损伤是LC术最常见的并发症之一,规范的操作及手术适应症的掌握能减少其发生。一旦出现胆管损伤,及时诊断及正确处理能减少其不良后果。     

Enclosed Passive Infraversion Lavage–Drainage System (EPILDS): A Novel Safe Technique for Local Management of Early Stage Bile Leakage and Pancreatic Fistula Post Pancreatoduodenectomy

This study’s objective was to test the new drainage apparatus called enclosed passive infraversion lavage–drainage system (EPILDS) in the treatment of bile leakage and pancreatic fistula Post Pancreatoduodenectomys. The EPILDS device has a design of a siphon. The inlet bag that contains the rinse liquid is put lower than the abdominal lacuna to be washed but higher than the outlet bag. The hydrostatic pressure difference between the inlet and outlet bags constitutes the driving force of the flow. The three-way cock valves are installed in the inlet and outlet tubes to facilitate the washing of occluded tubes. Two side by side Penrose drainage tubes were placed during the operation. One tube passed through the posterior side of pancreatico-jejunal and biliary-jejunal anastomoses, right paracolic gutter, and exited through an opening made in the right lower abdomen. Second tube came from the smaller sac, went through the anterior side of pancreatico-jejunal and biliary-jejunal anastomoses, and exited through an opening made in the left upper abdomen. Using this system, we successfully treated two patients. Both inlet and outlet volumes were observed to verify that the outlet exceeds the inlet volume. In conclusion, EPILDS has a simple and practical design. It changes the active washing process into a passive one, in which the input is controlled by the exiting fluid. This is the effective and safe system for treatment of severe bile leakage and pancreatic fistula at the early postoperative stage.     

Brushing cytology in biliary tract obstruction

During a period of eight years (1980 to 1987), cytologic samples were obtained by brushing and reverse screw devices from 54 patients undergoing transhepatic cholangiography for evaluation of obstructive jaundice. Eight patients were excluded from this study, seven for inadequate follow-up and one because of unsatisfactory cytologic material. Of the remaining cases, 32 were cytologically diagnosed as adenocarcinomas; all but one patient proved to have malignant disease by histologic examination and/or through clinical follow-up. These included 21 pancreatic carcinomas, 6 bile duct carcinomas, 1 ampullary carcinoma, 1 gallbladder carcinoma and 2 metastatic carcinomas. In one case, the diagnosis of malignancy was found to be in error upon review of the cytologic smears. Of 14 patients with negative cytologic diagnoses, 7 were found to have malignant neoplasms and 7 had benign diseases. These findings indicate that, while a positive cytologic diagnosis is a reliable indicator of a malignant biliary obstruction, a negative result does not exclude malignancy.     

A case report of an ampullary tumor presenting with spontaneous perforation of an aberrant bile duct and treated with totally laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: This case report discusses a patient who presented with bile peritonitis due to spontaneous perforation of an aberrant bile duct that originated in the triangular ligament of the liver. It was associated with an ampullary tumor and treated with total laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (TLPD). Case report A 58-year-old male patient was admitted to the emergency department of Medical Park Gaziantep Hospital in September 2009 with acute abdominal findings. He underwent an urgent laparoscopy, and, interestingly, bile peritonitis due to the rupture of an aberrant bile duct in the triangular ligament was noted. After laparoscopic treatment of the acute conditions, the follow-up examinations of the patient showed the finding of obstructive jaundice. Endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography revealed a 1-cm polypoid mass located at the ampulla of Vater (duodenal papilla) with possible extension to the ampullary sphincter. A stent was inserted for temporary biliary drainage, and subsequent endoscopic biopsy showed the pathological finding of adenocarcinoma. After waiting for a 1-month period for the peritonitis to heal, the patient underwent pyloruspreserving TLPD and was discharged without any major complications on postoperative day 7. CONCLUSION: In patients with bile peritonitis, it should be considered that the localization of the perforation may be in an aberrant bile duct localized at the triangular ligament and the etiology may be associated with an obstructing periampullary tumor. Laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy is a feasible operative procedure in carefully selected patients. This technique can achieve adequate margins and follows oncological principles. Randomized comparative studies are needed to establish the superiority of minimally invasive surgery over traditional open surgery.     

肝外胆管结石微创治疗的研究进展

肝外胆管结石是肝胆外科临床常见病,严重威胁患者健康。目前该病治疗主要以手术治疗为主,以往的手术方式主要以剖腹胆总管切开取石为主,但创伤较大,恢复较慢,后遗症较多。随着微创技术的发展,腹腔镜、胆道镜及十二指肠镜等微创治疗技术以其创伤小、恢复快等优势越来越多的被肝外胆管结石患者采用。微创治疗肝外胆管结石的方法也日趋多样化,如经消化内镜治疗,经腹腔镜治疗,腹腔镜联合消化内镜治疗及腹腔镜、胆道镜、十二指肠镜三镜联合治疗等。本文就肝外胆管结石治疗中各种微创技术的研究进展做一综述。     

The Prevention of Residual Biliary Calculi

Residual calculi following cholecystectomy may be expected in approximately seven percent of cases. The vast majority of these are overlooked during operation; truly re-formed stones are rare.Calculi are missed during cholecystectomy because of failure to explore the common bile duct. This is due to (1) the presence of silent choledochal stones, and (2) reliance on negative cystic duct cholangiograms in the presence of indications for common duct exploration.Overlooking of silent stones during cholecystectomy may be prevented by routine operative cholangiography. Ideally, false-negative cystic duct cholangiograms should be eliminated by the use of fluoroscopic cholangiography.Retained calculi following duct exploration may be prevented by (a) routine biliary endoscopy and (b) completion fluoroscopic cholangiography.Re-formation of ductal calculi can probably be prevented by appropriate biliary drainage procedures performed during the initial choledochotomy. Selection of patients for primary biliary decompression remains an experimental problem.     

Transhepatic Cholangiography

Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography is a method of visualizing the biliary tree by the injection of radio-opaque medium through the abdominal wall and liver into an intrahepatic bile duct. The procedure is indicated in the immediate preoperative evaluation of patients with obstructive jaundice of unknown etiology and is usually diagnostic in these cases. It may also be of value in avoiding operation in poor-risk patients with obstructive jaundice. Biliary leak resulting in chemical peritonitis is a complication in about 5% of these procedures. Intraperitoneal hemorrhage is a complication in less than 1%. Death results from the procedure in less than 0.5% of cases. Transhepatic cholangiography during surgical operation is of value in demonstrating obstructive lesions of the bile ducts. However, preoperative percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography is preferred, since it makes possible adequate preparation for technically difficult repairs and resections.     

腹腔镜胆道探查术胆管一期缝合与T管引流的疗效分析

目的：对腹腔镜弹道探查术胆管一期缝合与T管引流的疗效进行分析。方法：对90例患者进行观察随访,其中一期缝合组45人,T管引流组45人,术后对其手术时间、肛门排气时间、腹腔引流时间、术后平均输液量、术后住院时间、住院费用、术后恢复正常生活时间进行统计分析。结果：一期缝合组除手术时间和腹腔引流时间,其他的各项观察指标以及术后并发症均优于T管引流组。结论：腹腔镜胆道探查术胆管一期缝合的疗效比T管引流的疗效较好,术后并发症也少,但是对于不适合做一期缝合而适合T管引流的患者还是应给予T管引流术。     

Biliary and duodenal drainage for reducing the radiotoxic risk of antineoplastic 131I-hypericin in rat models

Necrosis targeting radiopharmaceutical ¹³¹I-hypericin (¹³¹I-Hyp) has been studied for the therapy of solid malignancies. However, serious side effects may be caused by its unwanted radioactivity after being metabolized by the liver and excreted via bile in the digestive tract. Thus the aim of this study was to investigate two kinds of bile draining for reducing them. Thirty-eight normal rats were intravenously injected with ¹³¹I-Hyp, 24 of which were subjected to the common bile duct (CBD) drainage for gamma counting of collected bile and tissues during 1–6, 7–12, 13–18, and 19–24 h (n = 6 each group), 12 of which were divided into two groups (n = 6 each group) for comparison of the drainage efficiency between CBD catheterization and duodenum intubation by collecting their bile at the first 4 h. Afterwards the 12 rats together with the last two rats which were not drained were scanned via single-photon emission computerized tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) to check the differences. The images showed that almost no intestinal radioactivity can be found in those 12 drained rats while discernible radioactivity in the two undrained rats. The results also indicated that the most of the radioactivity was excreted from the bile within the first 12 h, accounting to 92% within 24 h. The radioactive metabolites in the small and large intestines peaked at 12 h and 18 h, respectively. No differences were found in those two ways of drainages. Thus bile drainage is highly recommended for the patients who were treated by ¹³¹I-Hyp if human being and rats have a similar excretion pattern. This strategy can be clinically achieved by using a nasobiliary or nasoduodenal drainage catheter.     

Effect of bile on vitamin B12 absorption.

The standard double-isotope Schilling test was used to study vitamin B12 absorption in seven patients with obstructive jaundice and 10 with T-tube bile duct drainage after cholecystectomy and bile duct exploration. In three and five of these patients respectively absorption was impaired. In the second group six patients were restudied after removal of the T tube, and in each case absorption was improved. Similar results were obtained after bile duct ligation in rats. Bile exclusion produced a 50-60% reduction in renal and hepatic uptake of vitamin B12 from the intestinal lumen. The malabsorption was corrected by replacing bile. These studies suggest that bile plays a part in the normal absorption of vitamin B12.     

SPECIALTY CONFERENCE: The Treatment of Retained Gallstones

Various techniques are available to evaluate patients suspected of having common duct stones before an operation on the biliary tract. In patients without jaundice, intravenous cholangiography with tomography may provide satisfactory visualization of the biliary system and its contents. Sonography and computerized axial tomography are useful noninvasive methods. Endoscopic retrograde and transhepatic cholangiography are invasive techniques; but, when successful, they provide the most precise preoperative information obtainable about the presence or absence of stones in the biliary system. The most appropriate diagnostic procedures must be carefully selected for each patient. Each year in 3,000 to 4,000 cases, stones are found remaining in the bile ducts after common duct exploration for the removal of stones. Retained stones can be treated by nonoperative extraction, by irrigation techniques and by surgical removal. Extraction methods probably deserve first consideration, if experienced personnel are available. The technique of irrigation of the common bile duct with cholic acid or other solutions, although limited in success, may also be tried; if these procedures fail, then reoperation is indicated.     

BPC 157 therapy to detriment sphincters failure-esophagitis-pancreatitis in rat and acute pancreatitis patients low sphincters pressure

Possibly, acute esophagitis and pancreatitis cause each other, and we focused on sphincteric failure as the common causative key able to induce either esophagitis and acute pancreatitis or both of them, and thereby investigate the presence of a common therapy nominator. This may be an anti-ulcer pentadecapeptide BPC 157 (tested for inflammatory bowel disease, wound treatment) affecting esophagitis, lower esophageal and pyloric sphincters failure and acute pancreatitis (10 μg/kg, 10 ng/kg intraperitoneally or in drinking water). The esophagitis-sphincter failure procedure (i.e., insertion of the tubes into the sphincters, lower esophageal and pyloric) and acute pancreatitis procedure (i.e., bile duct ligation) were combined in rats. Esophageal manometry was done in acute pancreatitis patients. In rats acute pancreatitis procedure produced also esophagitis and both sphincter failure, decreased pressure 24 h post-surgery. Furthermore, bile duct ligation alone immediately declines the pressure in both sphincters. Vice versa, the esophagitis-sphincter failure procedure alone produced acute pancreatitis. What's more, these lesions (esophagitis, sphincter failure, acute pancreatitis when combined) aggravate each other (tubes into sphincters and ligated bile duct). Counteraction occurred by BPC 157 therapies. In acute pancreatitis patients lower pressure at rest was in both esophageal sphincters in acute pancreatitis patients. We conclude that BPC 157 could cure esophagitis/sphincter/acute pancreatitis healing failure.     

Percutaneous treatment of benign biliary strictures and biliary manometric perfusion test

BACKGROUND: Benign biliary strictures are usually treated surgically or endoscopically. When these strictures are not accessible by endoscope or when open repair is not possible, percutaneous dilatation treatment is indicated. The efficacy of treatment is usually evaluated by clinical trial which includes leaving a small non-functional catheter in situ and following liver function tests. The evaluation may be effectively done by the biliary manometric perfusion test. AIM: The aim of this paper is to emphasize the importance of percutaneous dilatation treatment of benign biliary strictures with focus on the role of the biliary manometric perfusion test and its future prospects. METHODS AND RESULTS: Based on the literature and our own experience, this article gives a short overview of percutaneous treatment of benign biliary strictures, indications, techniques, complications and results. The treatment of these strictures has an overall success rate between 60 to 90%. This article also explains the biliary manometric test, the technique and its importance in evaluation of treatment success. CONCLUSION: Benign biliary strictures of the hepatic duct junction or bilio-enteric anastomosis are difficult to treat surgically and are endoscopically inaccessible. Percutaneous treatment by balloon dilatation and long term external-internal drainage is feasible in the majority of these patients. It is minimally invasive, safe and effective. The evaluation of the treatment success may be more effectively done by the manometric perfusion test. It is easy, reliable, less time-consuming giving immediate results, and relatively safe.