Application of SpyGlass endoscopic direct visualization system in complicated biliary complications after orthotopic liver transplantation / 器官移植

Objective To evaluate the application efficacy of SpyGlass endoscopic direct visualization system in management of complex biliary complications after orthotopic liver transplantation. Methods Clinical data of 369 adult patients with biliary complications after orthotopic liver transplantation who received endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for the first time were retrospectively analyzed. Preoperative conditions, intraoperative manifestations, treatment outcomes and complications of patients treated with SpyGlass system were analyzed. Results Fifty-six patients were treated with SpyGlass system. The main preoperative symptoms included abdominal discomfort in 38 cases, fever in 8 cases, jaundice in 6 cases and skin itching in 4 cases. Ultrasound examination in 18 patients indicated common bile duct stenosis and significant intrahepatic bile duct dilatation. Preoperative magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) of 56 patients revealed that 36 cases were diagnosed with common bile duct stenosis complicated with stones, 16 cases of common bile duct stenosis alone and 4 cases of suspected tumors. All patients had definite indications for SpyGlass system treatment. Among 56 patients treated with SpyGlass system, 34 cases were diagnosed with anastomotic stricture complicated with stones, 12 cases of anastomotic stricture alone, 1 case of biliary stone and 4 cases of tumors. Among 48 cases who were successfully treated, the levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, γ-glutamyltransferase, alkaline phosphatase and total bilirubin at postoperative 48 h were all significantly lower than preoperative levels (all P<0.05). No severe complications occurred in 56 patients treated with SpyGlass system. Conclusions Use of SpyGlass system may significantly increase success rate and guarantee surgical safety in the treatment of complex biliary complications after liver transplantation, which is worthy of promotion and application.

Litiasis del hepatocolédoco / Common bile duct stones

RESUMEN Anteriormente, cuando se diagnosticaba litiasis en la vía biliar, el procedimiento consistía en una co lecistectomía, coledocotomía, extracción de los cálculos y colocación de un drenaje de Kehr. En otros casos se podía hacer papiloesfinteroplastia o una derivación biliodigestiva. Actualmente tenemos mu chas herramientas diagnósticas y terapéuticas como la colangiorresonancia, la pancreatocolangio grafía retrógrada endoscópica, la cirugía laparoscópica de la vía biliar, la ecoendoscopia y la ecografía intraoperatoria. Los procesos de decisiones son más complejos y sin un sustento con evidencia con cluyente. Tenemos estudios que enfocan parceladamente el tema, por lo que, dependiendo de si el diagnóstico se hace antes o durante la colecistectomía laparoscópica, el cirujano empleará su sentido común individualizando cada caso. El manejo ideal de la litiasis de la vía biliar sigue siendo motivo de controversia. Decidir por un manejo endoscópico, laparoscópico o convencional requiere logística, entrenamiento y juicio clínico adecua dos. La cirugía convencional sigue siendo una opción vigente.

ABSTRACT Previously, when a surgeon diagnosed bile duct lithiasis, he/she performed cholecystectomy, chole docotomy, stone removal and placement of a Kehr's "T" tube. Some cases might require sphinctero plasty or bilio-digestive bypass. Nowadays, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, endosco pic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, endoscopic ultrasound and intraoperative ultrasound have emerged as diagnostic and therapeutic tools. Decision-making processes are complex and there is no conclusive evidence supporting them. Many studies have focused on the matter with a non-compre hensive approach so that each surgeon will use his/her common sense for each individual case. The optimal management of the common bile duct is still controversial. Deciding on endoscopic, lapa roscopic or conventional management requires adequate training and clinical judgment. Conventional surgery is still in valid option.

The research on diagnosis and treatment of intrahepatic and extrahepatic biliary stones / 中国医师杂志

The clinical and fundamental research for intrahepatic and extrahepatic biliary stones were still inadequate currently.It was difficult for treat and has the following clinical features:extensive he-patic lesion,complex conditions,more complications,higher recurrence rate,etc.Satisfactory results were hard to gained if just depend on conventional surgery recently.As the methods of diagnosis and treatment are continuously increasing:Ultrasound,CT,MRCP,Choledochoscope,Cholangiography and 3D imaging of hepa-tobiliary system.From the traditional open operation to a variety of minimally invasive treatment.Different examination and treatment methods has its advantages and disadvantages.How to choose the effective,less trauma,appropriate pathway method is the main direction for the current research.

Stent-stone Complex Developed after Long-term Plastic Biliary Stent Placement / 대한췌담도학회지

Plastic biliary stents are commonly used during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Main indication for biliary stenting is benign or malignant obstruction. Plastic stents can be used as an escape route in patients with large common bile duct stones to provide drainage until definitive treatment. But, stent occlusion is the main disadvantage, limiting their patency to around 3 months, after which replacement is recommended. A biliary stent can act as a nidus for the biliary stone formation leading to stent-stone complex after long-term stent placement. This report was a case of a large stent-stone complex after plastic stent placement for 4 years. The stent-stone complex was successfully removed by mechanical lithotripsy and ballon catheter. In all other cases where plastic stents are placed into the common bile duct we should keep in mind that stents can act as nidus for stone formation, as all foreign bodies do.

Polyarteritis nodosa presented as a dilatation of the intrahepatic bile duct

Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is a systemic necrotizing vasculitis of small- and medium-sized arteries in multiorgan systems. PAN may affect the gastrointestinal tract in 14%-65% of patients, but rarely involves the biliary tract and liver. We describe a patient without underlying disease who was diagnosed with PAN during resection of the gallbladder and liver.

Juxtapapillary Duodenal Diverticula Risk Development and Recurrence of Biliary Stone

We assessed whether the presence of juxtapapillary duodenal diverticula (JPDD) risks biliary stone disease and recurrence. In total, 695 patients who underwent ERCP were divided into two groups: biliary stone disease (group I, n = 523) and non-stone biliary diseases (group II, n = 172). Additionally, for a control group (group III), 80 age-matched healthy subjects underwent side-view duodenoscopy. In group I, rates of post-ERCP pancreatitis, cannulation failure, and disease recurrence in two-year follow up were compared according to the presence of JPDD. In results, the incidence of JPDD in group I (42.4%) was significantly higher than in group II (16.3%) and III (18.8%). The frequencies of JPDD were increased with age in all groups, and reached statistical significance in group I. In group I, rates of post-ERCP pancreatitis were significantly higher in patients with JPDD (18.5%) compared to JPDD negative (12.6%). The cannulation failure rate was also higher in patients with JPDD (9.9%) compared to JPDD negative (5.3%). Recurrence rate was higher in patients with JPDD (25.3%) compared to JPDD negative (9.2%). In conclusion, JPDD develops with aging and risks biliary stone formation. JPDD also seems to be associated with post-ERCP pancreatitis, cannulation failure and biliary stone recurrence.

How Should Biliary Stones be Managed?

Minimally invasive therapy is currently invaluable for the treatment of biliary stones. Clinicians should be familiar with the various endoscopic modalities that have been evolving. I reviewed the treatment of biliary stones from the common practice to pioneering procedures, and here I also briefly summarize the results of many related studies. Lithotripsy involves procedures that fragment large stones, and they can be roughly classified into two groups: intracorporeal modalities and extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL). Intracorporeal modalities are further divided into mechanical lithotripsy (ML), electrohydraulic lithotripsy, and laser lithotripsy. ESWL can break stones by focusing high-pressure shock-wave energy at a designated target point. Balloon dilation after minimal endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) is effective for retrieving large biliary stones without the use of ML. Peroral cholangioscopy provides direct visualization of the bile duct and permits diagnostic procedures or therapeutic interventions. Biliary stenting below an impacted stone is sometimes worth considering as an alternative treatment in elderly patients. This article focuses on specialized issues such as lithotripsy rather than simple EST with stone removal in order to provide important information on state-of-the-art procedures.

Removal of a Common Bile Duct Stone Using ERCP without Fluoroscopic Guidance in a Pregnant Woman / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Pregnancy causes alterations in bile compositions and, an increased incidence of cholelithiasis and the complications related to it. This often requires endoscopic interventions such as endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), but the radiation exposure during the ERCP may be harmful to the fetus. We report here on a case of successful ERCP and therapeutic endoscopic intervention without fluoroscopic guidance for a pregnant woman with common bile duct stone that was complicating her biliary pancreatitis.

Identification of parasite DNA in common bile duct stones by PCR and DNA sequencing

We attempted to identify parasite DNA in the biliary stones of humans via PCR and DNA sequencing. Genomic DNA was isolated from each of 15 common bile duct (CBD) stones and 5 gallbladder (GB) stones. The patients who had the CBD stones suffered from cholangitis, and the patients with GB stones showed acute cholecystitis, respectively. The 28S and 18S rDNA genes were amplified successfully from 3 and/or 1 common bile duct stone samples, and then cloned and sequenced. The 28S and 18S rDNA sequences were highly conserved among isolates. Identity of the obtained 28S D1 rDNA with that of Clonorchis sinensis was higher than 97.6%, and identity of the 18S rDNA with that of other Ascarididae was 97.9%. Almost no intra-specific variations were detected in the 28S and 18S rDNA with the exception of a few nucleotide variations, i.e., substitution and deletion. These findings suggest that C. sinensis and Ascaris lumbricoides may be related with the biliary stone formation and development.

Percutaneous Transhepatic Cholangioscopic Lithotomy in Biliary Stones

PURPOSE: Percutaneous Transhepatic Cholangioscopic Lithotomy (PTCS-L) has been reported as an effective and safe therapeutic method for complicated hepatobiliary stones, particularly in high risk patients. However, there were some limitations and technical difficulties encountered in PTCS-L. The purpose of this retrospective study was to assess the result of PTCS-L in patients with recurrent or residual hepatobiliary stones. METHODS: The medical records of 61 consecutive patients (Jan.1997~Jun.2002) treated with PTCS-L for biliary stone were reviewed. There were 29 patients with primary treatment, and 32 patients with adjuvant treatment for residual stones. PTCS-L was performed within 2 weeks following progressive exchange of PTCS catheter after PTBD. Lithotomy was combined with either electrohydraulic lithotripsy (EHL), Dormia basket, or saline irrigation under fluroscopic guide. If stone was free on one or two consecutive cholangiography after final session lithotomy, then PTCS catheter was removed, but in cases of biliary stricture, 20Fr. of PTCS catheter was placed for average 71 (ranged; 27~270) days. RESULTS: Locations of stones were intrahepatic duct (IHD) in 22 cases, common bile duct (CBD) in 22 cases, CBD & IHD in 11 cases, cystic duct stump & CBD in 3 cases, GB in 2 cases and GB & CBD in 1 case. Routes for PTCS-L were of Rt. hepatic approach (B5 or B6) in 15 cases, Lt. hepatic approach (B3) in 42 cases, both hepatic approach in 2 cases and percutaneous gallbladder drainage (PGBD) tract in 2 cases. Sessions of PTCS-L were one in 22 cases, two in 26 cases, three in 9 cases and four in 4 cases, and overall in 1.5 session. Causes of multiple session in 39 cases were biliary stricture in 13 cases (33%), impacted stones in 10 cases (26%), large stone (>2 cm) in 9 cases (23%) and anatomical variation of IHD including severe ductal angulation in 7 cases (18%), which necessitated routine combined use of EHL (total 44 cases) and sometimes fluroscopic lithotomy (3 cases). Complications encountered following PTCS-L were transient hemobilia in 11 cases, catheter dislodgement in 1 case and hepatic abscess in 1 case, but mortality was nil. During followed up of median 17 months (1~53 months), recurrence of stone occurred in 1 case and one among of 13 patients with biliary stricture underwent operation on recurred biliary stricture. CONCLUSION: PTCS-L is very useful alternative treatment to surgery for residual or recurrent stones and is highly indicated for those of high risk patients. However, Electrohydraulic lithotripsy (EHL) should be combined for those of patients with technical difficulties encountered in case of multiple large impacted stones particularly in the strictured and angulated intrahepatic ducts.

The Factors Influencing the Treatment Results of Residual & Recurrent Biliary Stones / 한국간담췌외과학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: There has been a lot of controversy about the treatment methods in the management of residual & recurrent biliary stones. So we performed the study to clarify the important factors in choosing the treatment modality of the residual & recurrent biliary stones. METHODS: 154 patients who were diagnosed as residual or recurrent biliary stone between January 1995 and August 2000 were divided into 4 groups according to their first re- treatment methods (surgery, stone removal via T-tube, PTBD*, ESTP**) and analyzed the results of these treatments to determine what is the significant factor affecting the prognoses. RESULTS: The necessity of the second re-treatment for residual & recurrent stones was affected by the complete- ness of stone removal only, and no other factors affected it in view of multivariate analysis. The rate of residual & recurrent stones among the patients who have had the first operation in our department was 6.7%. Furthermore the clearance rate of residual & recurrent stones was relatively high value (82.2%), as a result of multidisciplinary treatments. CONCLUSION: Thus, as long as the residual stones can be removed completely, any treatment modality can be applied to these patients. We don't have to insist on surgery.

CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON EFFECT OF HEPATOCHOLANGIOLITHIASIS ON HEPATOBILLARY SYSTEM / 中国普通外科杂志

In order to explore the effect of hepatocholangiolithiasis on hepatobiiiary system, 160 patients with gallstone were observed by using choledochofiberscope, microscope and electnonic microscope. Damage of bile ducts was found in 84 cases(52.5%) and damage of the liver in 40 cases (25% ) with naked eyes. However, denaturation of hepatocytes occured in nearly all of the cases under microscope. To testify the clinical finding, animal experiments were made in 60 rabbits including infusion of gallstone or silt into bile ducts in groupl, 2, and subacute toxiologic experiment was made by direct injection of gallstone or silt into liver tissue(group3, 4). The results showed that under same condition damage of liver and bile duct caused by gallstone is more severe than that caused by silt. The authers suggest that hepatocholangiolithiasis can damage the hepatobiiiary system no matter whether there is obstruction or not. The harmful substance of gallstones can damage liver tissue directly. So effective therapy should be given as early as possible when the dis-gnosis of hepatocholangiolithiasis is made.