Laparoscopic repair of transected right hepatic artery during cholecystectomy: A report of two cases.

In laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC), the treatment of iatrogenic biliary tract injury has been given much attention. However, most accidental right hepatic artery (RHA) injuries are treated with simple clipping. The reason is that the RHA has difficulty in revascularization, and it is generally considered that RHA injury does not cause serious consequences. However, some studies suggest that some cases of RHA ligation can cause a series of pathological changes correlated to arterial ischemia, such as liver abscess, bile tumor, liver atrophy and anastomotic stenosis. Theoretically, RHA blood flow should be restored when possible, in order to avoid the complications of right hepatic ischemia. The present study involved two patients, including one male and one female patient. Both patients were admitted to the hospital with the diagnosis of chronic cholecystitis and gallbladder stone, and developed ischemia of the right half hepatic after accidental transection of the RHA. Both patients underwent continuous end-end anastomosis of the RHA with 6-0 Prolene suture. After the blood vessel anastomosis, the right half liver quickly recovered to its original bright red. No adverse complications were observed in follow-ups at three and six months after the operation. Laparoscopic repair of the RHA is technically feasible. Reconstruction of the RHA can prevent complications associated with right hepatic ischemia.

Clinical efficacy and safety of selective trans-cystic intra-operative cholangiography in primary suture following three-port laparoscopic common bile duct exploration / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Intra-operative cholangiography has been shown to be a sensitive and specific method of demonstrating bile duct stones. This study investigated the feasibility, safety, and clinical value of selective trans-cystic intra-operative cholangiography in primary suture following three-port laparoscopic common bile duct exploration, and identified the factors that positively predict the presence of common bile duct stones.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From January 2008 to January 2011, 252 of 1013 patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy received selective trans-cystic intra-operative cholangiography and primary suture following three-port laparoscopic common bile duct exploration. Their clinical data were analyzed retrospectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All operations were successful and none was converted to open surgery. The intra-operative cholangiography time was (8.3 ± 2.5) minutes, and the operative duration was (105.4 ± 23.1) minutes. According to selective intra-operative cholangiography, the positive predictive values of current jaundice, small gallstones (< 0.5 cm) and dilated cystic duct (> 0.3 cm), dilated common bile duct (> 0.8 cm), history of jaundice or gallstone pancreatitis, abnormal liver function test, and preoperative demonstration of suspected common bile duct stones on imaging were 87%, 25%, 42%, 15%, 32%, and 75% for common bile duct stones, respectively. Patients with several factors suggestive of common bile duct stones yielded higher numbers of positive cholangiograms. Unexpected stones were found in 13 patients (5.2%) by intra-operative cholangiography. The post-operative hospital stay was (4.7 ± 2.2) days. Post-operative bile leakage occurred in two cases, and these patients recovered by simple drainage for 3 - 7 days without re-operation. Of the 761 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy alone, 5 (0.7%) presented with a retained common bile duct stone requiring intervention. The median follow-up was 12 months, and only one patient who once suffered from bile leakage presented with obstructive jaundice due to bile duct stenosis 6 months postoperatively. The other patients recovered without any serious complications.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Selective intra-operative cholangiography yields acceptably high positive results. It is a safe, effective, and minimally invasive approach in patients with suspected choledocholithiasis and primary suture following three-port laparoscopic common bile duct exploration.</p>