The clinical spectrum of fibrocalculous pancreatic diabetes in north India.

BACKGROUND: Fibrocalculous pancreatic diabetes (FCPD) is a secondary form of diabetes, unique to tropical countries. In earlier reports, patients with FCPD had severe insulin-requiring diabetes, malnutrition and a dismal prognosis. With Improvements in nutrition and medical care, the presentation and prognosis of FCPD may have changed. We report on the clinical profile and prognosis of a cohort of FCPD patients from north India and compare our findings with earlier reports. METHODS: Eighty consecutive FCPD patients who presented to the Diabetes, Gastroenterology and Surgical Gastroenterology services were evaluated for their nutritional status, clinical presentation, beta-cell function (fasting C-peptide) and exocrine function (faecal chymotrypsin). All patients diagnosed between 1994 and 2000 (n = 32) were followed prospectively for weight gain and glycaemic control. RESULTS: Only 55% of FCPD patients had a low body mass index (< 18 kg/m2). At the time of diagnosis of diabetes, only 26 (33%) patients presented with severe insulin-requiring diabetes; these patients were younger [23.7 (8.3) years v. 28.7 (10.6) years, p = 0.04], and had higher haemoglobin A1c [9.7 (3.8)% v. 7.3 (2.6)%, p = 0.005] than those requiring diet control or oral hypoglycaemic agents. FCPD patients had a wide range of fasting serum C-peptide (0.03-0.76 nmol/L). C-peptide was negatively associated with increasing duration of diabetes (r = -0.48, p = 0.001), but there was no correlation with faecal chymotrypsin. On prospective follow up (mean 2.3 years), there was significant improvement in body mass index [19.4 (2.9) kg/m2 v. 17.0 (3.7) kg/m2, p < 0.01] and haemoglobin A,c [6.4 (1.6)% v. 8.0 (3.0)%, p < 0.001]. CONCLUSION: FCPD patients differed from those described in earlier reports in many respects, Including improved nutritional status, a wide range of 3cell function and a more favourable prognosis.

Bronchobiliary fistula: an anaesthetic point of view.

Bronchobiliary fistula is defined as the passage of bile in the bronchi and in the sputum (bilioptysis). This rare disorder is associated with significant morbidity. Authors review the anaesthetic management of bronchobiliary fistula and recommend the use of double lumen endotracheal tube even in cases with a closed/sealed bronchobiliary fistula.

Surgical management of complicated hydatid cysts of the liver.

AIMS: To review the clinical presentation and surgical management of complicated hydatid cysts of the liver. METHODS: Forty-three patients with hydatid disease of the liver were managed surgically between 1991 and 1998. There were 14 men and 29 women with a median age of 34 years. An abdominal ultrasound, computed tomography and serology established diagnosis. Preoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiography was performed in patients with associated jaundice and high suspicion of intrabiliary rupture. Eleven (26%) patients had complicated cysts and formed the basis for our study. RESULTS: Infection (n = 5, 11%) and intrabiliary rupture (n = 4, 9%) were the common complications. Intrathoracic rupture and intraperitoneal rupture were encountered in one patient each. All patients with infected cysts presented with pain and fever (n = 5, 100%) while those with intrabiliary rupture had jaundice (n = 4, 100%), pain and fever (n = 3, 75%). Surgical procedures performed in complicated cysts were-infection: omentoplasty (n = 2) and external drainage (n = 3); intrabiliary rupture: omentoplasty (n = 2) and internal drainage (n = 2). Patient with intrathoracic and intraperitoneal rupture underwent external drainage. There was no mortality. Postoperative morbidity was encountered in 14 patients and was more in complicated cysts (n = 6/11; 55%) compared to uncomplicated cysts (n = 8/32; 25%). CONCLUSION: Hydatid disease in not an uncommon problem. Around a fourth of patients, present with complications such as infection or intrabiliary rupture. The site, size, number of cysts and presence of complications govern the choice of surgical procedure. Complicated cysts can be successfully managed surgically with good long-term results.

Pseudoaneurysm of gastroduodenal artery associated with mitral valve prolapse presenting as haemobilia.

Pseudoaneurysms of the hepatic or gastroduodenal arteries may cause Haemobilia. Mitral valve prolapse associated with mycotic pseudoaneurysm of cerebral and extracerebral arteries have been reported. We report a case of gastroduodenal artery pseudoaneurysm presenting as haemobilia. The patient was successfully treated with indigenously fabricated steel coil embolization followed by surgery.

Impacted denture causing tracheo-esophageal fistula.

We report a 35-year-old man with an impacted denture resulting in tracheo-esophageal fistula. In view of significant local fibrosis and esophageal stenosis distal to the fistula, he was managed by subtotal esophagectomy and cervical esophagogastric anastomosis.

Malignant gastroparesis and outlet obstruction in carcinoma gall bladder.

INTRODUCTION: Malignant gastroparesis and mechanical gastric outlet obstruction are two major accompaniments of advanced upper abdominal malignancies. The incidence of such problems has not been well documented in patients of carcinoma gall bladder. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of gastric outlet problems in patients of carcinoma gall bladder and correlate them with clinical presentation. The role of prophylactic gastrojejunostomy (GJ) and its postoperative outcome was also evaluated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty seven patients of carcinoma gall bladder were prospectively studied. Twenty five patients underwent radio labelled solid meal gastric emptying study and eleven of these underwent prophylactic GJ and followup gastric emptying study in early postoperative period. RESULTS: Mechanical gastric outlet obstruction was seen in 10 (27%) patients. Delayed gastric emptying on scintigraphic study was found in 10 (40%) of remaining patients (n = 25). Only 6 (60%) of these patients were actually symptomatic. All patients who had delayed gastric emptying also had an advanced disease. No correlation was found between delayed gastric emptying and presence of jaundice and/or serum levels of bilirubin. Prophylactic GJ had 18% postoperative morbidity as compared to 28.5% for therapeutic GJ done during the same period. Oral feed were started latest by 11th postoperative day. Prophylactic GJ did not affect gastric emptying patterns in early postoperative period. CONCLUSION: Mechanical gastric outlet obstruction was present in 27% patients. Delayed gastric emptying was seen in 40% of remaining patients with carcinoma gall bladder. Delayed gastric emptying correlated well with symptoms of gastric stasis and the stage of disease. Functioning of gastrojejunostomy was not fully dependent on presence or absence of malignant gastroparesis.

Technical complications of feeding jejunostomy: a critical analysis.

INTRODUCTION: A retrospective review of patients undergoing feeding jejunostomy (FJ) was undertaken in order to evaluate procedure related complications and their impact on final outcome. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ninety six patients had FJ at the department of Surgical Gastroenterology, SGPGIMS from January 1989 to December 1995. RESULTS: FJ as an adjunct was performed in 89 patients with predominantly oesophageal (n = 62) and pancreatic surgery (n = 17). Seven patients had FJ as the only procedure. Fifteen patients (15.2%) had complications related to FJ. Minor complications (7.2%) included dislodgement (n = 3), blockage of the tube (n = 2) and pericatheter leak (n = 2). Major complications (8.3%) which needed surgical intervention were, detachment of the jejunostomy from the abdominal wall (n = 3), leak into the peritoneal cavity (n = 3), jejunal perforation by the tip of the catheter (n = 1) and peritonitis after removal of the tube (n = 1). Procedure related mortality was 3.2%. CONCLUSIONS: FJ should not be treated as a minor procedure and due attention to the technical details is required in its performance, otherwise it may well become the cause of a poor result following a very successful major operation.

Neonatal cholestasis syndrome: an appraisal at a tertiary center.

OBJECTIVE: To know the magnitude, etiology and clinical profile, the efficacy of various investigations and the outcome in patients with neonatal cholestasis syndrome (NCS). DESIGN: Prospective evaluation of 60 consecutive infants with NCS (mean age 3.9 +/- 1.9 months; 49 males) over a period of 3.5 years. SETTING: Tertiary level referral gastroenterology center in North India. METHODS: Liver function tests, urine examination, serum antibodies against Cytomegalovirus (CMV), Rubella and Toxoplasma; abdominal ultrasonography, hepatobiliary scintigraphy and liver biopsy were done. In appropriate setting, laparotomy and surgical corrections were done for biliary tract disorders. RESULTS: NCS constituted 19% of pediatric liver diseases. Considerable delay in presentation was observed [mean delay, extrahepatic biliary atresia (EHBA) = 4 +/- 2.0 months, neonatal hepatitis (NH) = 2.2 +/- 1.3 months]. Thirty three (55%) infants had EHBA, 14 (23%) NH (4 CMV, 2 galactosemia, 1 urinary tract infection and 7 idiopathic), 2 (3%) paucity of intralobular bile ducts and 11 (18%) were of indeterminate etiology. Liver biopsy was the most accurate (96.4%) investigation in discriminating between EHBA and NH. Of the 18 operated infants with EHBA (portoenterostomy-15 and hepatico-jejunostomy-3), 10 were alive (mean follow up = 22.8 +/- 8.6 months) of which 4 were completely asymptomatic. CONCLUSIONS: (i) NCS is an important cause of liver disease in Indian children. (ii) It requires prompt referral, quick investigative approach and targeted management. (iii) Liver biopsy is highly accurate in differentiating EHBA and NH. (iv) infants with EHBA and compensated status of liver should undergo corrective surgery irrespective of age at presentation.

Choledochoduodenostomy: influence of risk factors in post-operative morbidity.

BACKGROUND: Choledochoduodenostomy is performed for a variety of lower common bile duct lesions. AIMS: To analyse the influence of risk factors on the post-operative morbidity following choledochoduodenostomy. METHODS: Relation of risk factors including age more than 60 years, medical Illness, hemoglobin less than 10 g/dL, albumin less than 3 g/dL, bilirubin more than 10m/dL, presence of cholangitis at admission (treated pre-operatively), use of pre-operative endoscopic sphincterotomy and common bile duct diameter at surgery were related to the occurrence of post-operative morbidity was studied using univariate analysis. RESULTS: Fifty patients underwent choledochoduodenostomy. One patient (2%) died; major post-operative morbidity occurred in 12 patients (24%). Presence of cholangitis at admission was the only factor related (p = 0.00012) to the occurrence of post-operative morbidity. No long-term complications were encountered in 35 patients (70%) mean with followup period of 28 (range 8-60) months. CONCLUSIONS: Choledochoduodenostomy is a safe permanent drainage procedure for benign lower biliary obstruction.

Conversions in laparoscopic cholecystectomy--need for a new nomenclature.

Reasons for conversion from laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) to open cholecystectomy (OC) were analysed in 47 patients. In 35 patients, the surgeon converted LC to OC by choice because of difficult anatomy or difficult pathology while in 12 patients the surgeon was forced to convert from LC to OC because of complications. We propose that conversions from LC to OC should be classified into two groups-"conversions-by-choice" and "conversions-per-force".

Malignant retrorectal teratoma presenting as an infected perianal sinus.

Retrorectal teratomas are rare tumours arising in the presacral space. We report a case of malignant retrorectal teratoma which presented as an infected perianal sinus. The patient was treated with abdominoperineal resection.

Transcholedochal cholecystolithotomy for a variant of Mirizzi's syndrome.

Obstruction of the common bile duct by impaction of a gallstone in the neck or the cystic duct of the gallbladder results into repeated attacks of cholangitis (Mirizzi's syndrome). In suspected cases preoperative diagnosis can be made by ultrasonography and cholangiography. We report two patients of a variant of Mirizzi's syndrome. The common bile duct was obstructed by a stone impacted in the neck and causing extrinsic compression from behind. Ultrasonography and endoscopic retrograde cholangiography diagnosed the condition as common bile duct stone in both the cases. The anomaly could be diagnosed only after choledochotomy. Stones were retrieved by transcholedochal cholecystolithotomy--an innovative surgical procedure for this variant of Mirizzi's syndrome.

Current practice in biliary surgery: the Indian scenario.

OBJECTIVE: Documentation of current biliary surgical practices of surgeons in India. METHODS: A postal questionnaire survey of the consultants in surgery in all the medical colleges in India was done to establish their current practice regarding cholecystectomy and to assess the influence of recent studies on their practice. RESULTS: The response rate was 23% (264/1127). About half of the surgeons did both ultrasonography and oral cholecystography for the diagnosis of cholelithiasis. Acute cholecystitis was managed conservatively by 80% of surgeons. Antibiotics were used by all surgeons but 87% of them used antibiotics for more than one day. Peroperative cholangiography was done in all cases by 20% of those who had the facilities available. Incidental appendectomy was done by 26% of surgeons. Drain was used in all cases by 78% of surgeons. Patients were discharged after suture removal by 77% of surgeons. CONCLUSIONS: The practices of the Indian surgeon surveyed were against the recommendations in current literature which did not seem to have had much impact on them regarding their practice of biliary surgery.