Placement of an Implantable Port Catheter in the Biliary Stent: An Experimental Study in Dogs

PURPOSE: To investigate the feasibility of port catheter placement following a biliary stent placement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We employed 14 mongrel dogs as test subject. and after the puncture of their gall bladders using sonographic guidance, a 10-mm in diameter metallic stent was placed at the common duct. In 12 dogs, a 6.3 F port catheter was placed into the duodenum through the common duct and a port was secured at the subcutaneous space following stent placement. As a control group, an 8.5 F drain tube was placed into the gallbladder without port catheter placement in the remaining two dogs. Irrigation of the bile duct was performed every week by injection of saline into the port, and the port catheter was replaced three weeks later in two dogs. Information relating to the success of the procedure, complications and the five-week follow-up cholangiographic findings were obtained. RESULTS: Placement of a biliary stent and a port catheter was technically successful in 13 (93%) dogs, while stent migration (n=3), gallbladder rupture (n=1) and death (n=5) due to subcutaneous abscess and peritonitis also occurred. The follow-up was achieved in eight dogs (seven dogs with a port catheter placement and one dog with a drain tube placement). Irrigation of the bile duct and port catheter replacement were successfully achieved without any complications. Cholangiograms obtained five weeks after stent placement showed diffuse biliary dilation with granulation tissue formation. However, focal biliary stricture was seen in one dog with stent placement alone. CONCLUSION: Placement of a port catheter following biliary stent placement seems to be feasible. However, further investigation is necessary to reduce the current complications.

Percutaneous Transhepatic Biliary Drainage Through the Normal Duct in Patients with Post-Operative Bile Leakage

PURPOSE: To evaluate the technical feasibility and clinical efficacy of percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) through the normal duct in patients with post-operative bile leakage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 1998 to December 2003, fourteen patients (male: 12, female: 2, mean age: 56) with biliary leak after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (n=5), T-tube removal (n=5), choledochojejunostomy due to small bowel perforation (n=1), right lobectomy (n=1), laparoscopic adrenalectomy (n=1), and subtotal gastrectomy (n=1) were treated by means of PTBD; this was performed with the two-step approach. The central bile duct was cannulated using a 21-G Chiba needle to map the intrahepatic biliary tree. An 8.5-F drainage catheter tip was positioned at the CBD after puncturing peripheral bile duct with an additional Chiba needle. We evaluated the technical feasibility, the procedure-related complications, clinical efficacy and the duration of catheter placement. RESULTS: PTBD of the normal duct with the two-step approach was successful in all but two cases. In these two cases, the two-step approach was failed due to the rapid disappearance of the targeted peripheral duct, and this was the result caused by biloportal fistula. PTBD was performed through the central bile duct in one patient, and through the remnant cystic duct in one patient. There were no procedure-related complications except for mild abdominal pain in seven patients. Bile leakage was demonstrated on cholangiogram in 10 of 14 patients; this occurred at the T-tube exit site (n=4), cystic duct stump (n=2), choledochojejunostomy site (n=1), resection margin of liver (n=1), caudate lobe (n=1), and GB bed (n=1). In 13 patients, the biliary leak stopped after drainage (mean duration: 32.1 days). In one patient, surgical management was performed one day after PTBD due to the excessive amount of bile leakage. CONCLUSION: PTBD is a technically feasible and clinically efficacious treatment for post-operative bile leakage, and it can replace the more invasive surgical or endoscopic management procedures.

Percutaneous Removal of Foreign Bodies by Gooseneck Snare Technique in the Common Bile Duct and T-tube Tract: A Report of Two Cases

Although the presence of foreign bodies in the common bile duct and T-tube tract is uncommon, it is because of recent developments in endoscopic biliary intervention and percutaneous choledochoscopic procedures that they are found with increasing frequency in the biliary tree. We report two cases in which foreign bodies in the biliary tree were successfully removed using the percutaneous gooseneck snare technique. In one patient a plastic biliary stent was malfunctioning and could not be removed under endoscopic guidance, while in the other, a plastic guidewire had been inserted into the T-tube tract during percutaneous choledochoscopy for the treatment of a common bile duct stone.

Intraluminal Brachytherapy after Metallic Stent Placement in Primary Bile Duct Carcinoma

PURPOSE: To determine the effect of intraluminal brachytherapy on stent patency and survival after metallic stent placement in patients with primary bile duct carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-seven patients with primary bile duct carcinoma underwent metallic stent placement; in 16 of the 27 intraluminal brachytherapy with an iridium-192 source (dose, 25 Gy) was the performed. Obstruction was due to either hilar (n=14) or non-hilar involvement (n=13). For statistical comparison of patients who underwent/did not undergo intraluminal brachytherapy, stent patency and survival were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method and an independent t test. RESULTS: The mean durations of stent patency and survival were 9.1 and 10.0 months respectively in patients who underwent intraluminal brachytherapy, and 4.2 and 5.0 months in those who did not undergo this procedure (p<0.05). The mean durations of stent patency and survival among the 22 patients who died were 7.6 (range, 0.8 -16.1) and 8.3 (range, 0.8-17.3) months, respectively, in the eleven patients who underwent intraluminal brachytherapy, and 4.2 (range, 0.9-8.0) and 5.0 (range, 0.9-8.4) months in those whom the procedure was not performed (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Intraluminal brachytherapy after stent placement extended both stent patency and survival in patients with primary bile duct carcinoma.

Percutaneous Placement of Self-expandable Metallic Biliary Stents in Malignant Extrahepatic Strictures: Indications of Transpapillary and Suprapapillary Methods

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of suprapapillary and transpapillary meth-ods of transhepatic biliary metallic stent placement in malignant biliary strictures and to specify the indications of each method applied. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Stents were placed in 59 patients. Strictures were cat-egorized as type A (within 3 cm of the ampulla, n = 27), type B (over 3 cm from ampulla, n = 7), type C (within 3 cm of the bending portion, n = 9), or type D (over 3 cm above the bending portion, n=16). The stenting method was suprapapillary in 34 cases and transpapillary in 25. The rates of initial and long-term patency and of early recurrence were compared. RESULTS: Initial patency rates for the suprapapillary and transpapillary methods were 1/7 (14.3%) and 20/20 (100%) respectively for type A (p < 0.0001), 4/5 (80.0%) and 2/2 for type B, 3/7 (42.9%) and 2/2 for type C, and 15/16 (93.8%) and 0/0 for type D. Early recurrence rates were 7/30 (23.3%) using the suprapap-illary method and 4/29 (13.8%) using the transpapillary method (p = 0.51). The long-term patency rate did not differ significantly according to either type (p =0.37) or method (p = 0.62). CONCLUSION: For good initial patency, the transpapillary method is recommended for strictures of the distal extrahepatic duct near the ampulla and just above the bending portion. Long-term patency is not influenced by the stenting method employed.

Percutaneous Placement of Self-expandable Metallic Biliary Stents in Malignant Extrahepatic Strictures: Indications of Transpapillary and Suprapapillary Methods

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of suprapapillary and transpapillary meth-ods of transhepatic biliary metallic stent placement in malignant biliary strictures and to specify the indications of each method applied. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Stents were placed in 59 patients. Strictures were cat-egorized as type A (within 3 cm of the ampulla, n = 27), type B (over 3 cm from ampulla, n = 7), type C (within 3 cm of the bending portion, n = 9), or type D (over 3 cm above the bending portion, n=16). The stenting method was suprapapillary in 34 cases and transpapillary in 25. The rates of initial and long-term patency and of early recurrence were compared. RESULTS: Initial patency rates for the suprapapillary and transpapillary methods were 1/7 (14.3%) and 20/20 (100%) respectively for type A (p < 0.0001), 4/5 (80.0%) and 2/2 for type B, 3/7 (42.9%) and 2/2 for type C, and 15/16 (93.8%) and 0/0 for type D. Early recurrence rates were 7/30 (23.3%) using the suprapap-illary method and 4/29 (13.8%) using the transpapillary method (p = 0.51). The long-term patency rate did not differ significantly according to either type (p =0.37) or method (p = 0.62). CONCLUSION: For good initial patency, the transpapillary method is recommended for strictures of the distal extrahepatic duct near the ampulla and just above the bending portion. Long-term patency is not influenced by the stenting method employed.

Management of Advanced Hilar Biliary Malignancy with X-shaped Stenting Technique

PURPOSE: To report X-shaped stent insertion and its result in the patients with advanced hilar malignancy. MATERIALS AND METHODS:X-shaped stents were inserted in six patients with advanced hilar malignancy involving segmental branches of both intrahepatic bile ducts (IHD). The causes were cholangiocarcinomas in five patients and recurrent GB cancer in one. The procedure includes three steps: 1) the insertion of two wires through three IHDs in an X configuration, using a stone basket; 2) balloon dilatation of lesions, and 3) the in-sertion of two stents in an as X configuration. Stents were inserted after balloon dilatation in five patients, and without balloon dilatation in one. Changes in serum bilirubin levels and procedure-related problems were reviewed. RESULTS: In all patients, serum bilirubin levels gradually decreased, but in two, they increased again. One of these two died of sepsis after 1 month. There was bile leakage through the puncture and bile was extracted from malignant ascites. In the other patient, occlusion of the left stent tip occurred, and additional left PTBD was performed 3 months later. Hemobilia developed in all five patients with balloon dilatation, these all experianced pain during dilatation , but afterwards this disappeared. One stent without pre-balloon dilation showed incomplete self-expansion at the crossing part and supplementary balloon dilatations were performed. CONCLUSION: In patients with advanced hilar malignancy, X-shaped stent insertion is a new palliation. Problems such as hemobilia, pain, and intraperitoneal bile leakage may, however, occur.

Efficacy of Percutaneous Transhepatic Choledochoplasty of the Biliary Stricture, Using a 16F Silastic Catheter, in Patients with Recurrent Pyogenic Cholangitis

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of percutaneous transhepatic choledochoplasty of the main biliary stricture, using a 16F silastic foley catheter, in patients suffering from recurrent pyogenic cholangitis MATERIALS AND METHODS: In nine patients who had undergone stenting procedure at the site of the main stricture after the total removal of biliary stones, a 16F silastic catheter was held in position for 1-4 (mean, 2.7) months. Using ultrasonogrophy, we assessed the diameter of the bile duct 5 cm above the main stricture. RESULTS: During the follow-up period of 1-30 (mean, 18.1) months, the diameter of the bile duct above the main stricture was, in all cases, under 3 mm. CONCLUSION: In patients with recurrent pyogenic cholangitis, choledochoplasty of the biliary stricture, using a 16F silastic catheter, was therapeutically effective.

New Device for Dilatation of Percutaneous Biliary Tract

PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefulness of percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) tract dilatation using a Nipro set. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We dilated 28 percutaneous biliary drainage tracts up to 18F ; 26 procedures involved PTBD, and two, cholecystostomy. A Nipro set was used for dilatation, the purposes of which were stone removal (n=18) and choledochoscopic biposy (n=10). For dilatation, local anesthesia was used in all cases. RESULTS: In all patients, tract dilatation was successful. In 21 of 28 cases, dilatation of the right PTBD tract was involved, and in five of 28, dilatation of the left tract. In two cases, tract dilatation was done in cholecystostomy tracts. Complications encountered were pain (n=17), bradycardia (n=2), hemobilia (n=2), bleeding (n=1)and fever (n=1). CONCLUSION: In choledocoscopy, tract dilatation using a Nipro set is safe and simple.

PTBD Spiral CT Cholangiography: Utility in Patients with Extrahepatic Biliary Obstruction

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to assess the utility of PTBD spiral CT cholangiography, after infusion of contrast media through a PTBD tube, for evaluation of a biliary lesion after emergency PTBD due to severe jaundice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty patients with emergency PTBD due to extrahepatic biliary obstruction were transferred to our clinic and prospectively studied. The causes of obstruction were 17 extrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas (including three Klatskin's tumors), seven pancreatic head carcinomas, six calculous diseases of the common bile duct, six periampullary lesions, two ampulla of Vater carcinomas, one gall bladder carcinoma with invasion of the common hepatic duct, and one cholangitis. Diagnosis was on the basis of pathologic, radiologic, and clinical findings. Pre-contrast CT scanning was performed. After the infusion of contrast media (iothalamate : normal saline=1:10) through a PTBD tube, spiral CT scans were obtained. After IV infusion of contrast media (Ultravist, 100cc), early- and delayed-phase spiral CT scans were obtained at 45 and 210 seconds, respectively, with an interscan interval of 5mm. 3-D CT cholangiograms were then reconstituted. Spiral CT without infusion of contrast media through a PTBD tube and PTBD spiral CT cholangiography were performed in 14 cases. The level of extrahepatic biliary obstruction was categorized as either upper, middle, or lower third. In 21 surgically confirmed cases, we evaluated the accuracy with which the level and cause of obstruction was determined; levels and causes during surgery and by as seen on PTBD cholaniography were compared. RESULTS: The levels of obstruction diagnosed on PTBD spiral CT cholangiography and on 3-D CT cholangiography corresponded in all cases to the levels during surgery and on PTBD cholangiography [upper third (n=7), middle third (n=12), lower third (n=21)], and the level diagnosed on spiral CT without infusion of contrast media through a PTBD tube corresponded to the level during surgery in ten of 14 cases. The cause of obstruction diagnosed on PTBD spiral CT cholangiography corresponded to pathologic findings in 19 of 21 cases. In 15 cases, 3-D CT cholangiography was diagnostically helpful. CONCLUSION: PTBD spiral CT cholangiography is a useful diagnostic method for determining the level and cause of biliary obstruction.

Percutaneous Cholecystostomy : 60 Cases of Experience

PURPOSE: To review the effectiveness and complication of percutaneous cholecystostomy(PCCS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed PCCS in 60 patient who presented with acute cholecystitis. The causes of acutecholecystitis were as follows : acalculous cholecystitis(n=8), calculous cholecystitis(n=23), GB hydrops(n=3), GBempyema(n=15), septic cholangitis(n=11). Of 60 patients, 36 patients had high risk factor for cholecystectomy :underlying malignancy(n=13), severe trauma(n=2), liver cirrhosis(n=3), diabetes mellitus(n=6), end stage renal disease(n=3), cardiac disease(n=3) and others(n=6). Cholecystostomy was done under ultrasonographic and fluoroscopic guide. RESULTS: The cholecystostomy was successfully in 59 patients, and failed in 1 patients. 15 patients improved without other procedure. 16 patients underwent cholecystectomy after improvement of their general condition. Severe complications of PCCS are as follows : bile peritonitis(n=6), hemoperitoneum(n=1), subphrenic abscess(n=1). Mild complication, such as pain, occured in most patients. Emergency operation was done in one patient who developed bile peritonitis. DISCUSSION: Cholecystostomy is effective and safe, especially incases of in operable patients who represent acute cholecystitis. Percutaneous cholecystostomy may substitiute surgical cholecystostomy.

Large Impacted Intrahepatic Bile Duct Stones: Usefulness of Ultrasonic Lithotripsy

PURPOSE: To determine the usefulness of ultrasonic lithotripsy for the fragmentation of large impacted intrahepatic duct(IHD) stones. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Large impacted stones in five patients were fragmented with a 12.5F rigid ureterorenoscope and a 5.5F rigid ultrasonic oscillating burr via T-tube tract. Two to three dayslater, the fragmented stones were extracted via T-tube tract with basket. RESULTS: Disintegration was complete in three patients and partial in two. The fragmented stones were completely removed in four patients and partially in one. due to that patient's refusal. CONCLUSION: Insertion of a rigid endoscope and ultrasound drill into theorifice of the IHD can be performed without problem. Ultrasonic lithotripsy is an effective technique for the fragmentation of large impacted intrahepatic stones located in the or ifice of the IHD.