Mortality following severe liver trauma is declining at Auckland City Hospital: a 14-year experience, 2006-2020.

INTRODUCTION: Liver injuries sustained in blunt and penetrating abdominal trauma may cause serious patient morbidity and even mortality. AIM: To review the recent experience of liver trauma at Auckland City Hospital, describing the mechanism of injury, patient management, outcomes and complications. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed, including all patients admitted to Auckland City Hospital with liver trauma identified from the trauma registry. Patient clinical records and radiology were systematically examined. RESULTS: Between 2006-2020, 450 patients were admitted with liver trauma, of whom 92 patients (20%) were transferred from other hospitals. Blunt injury mechanisms, most commonly motor-vehicle crashes, predominated (87%). Stabbings were the most common penetrating mechanism. Over half of liver injuries were low risk American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) grade I and II (56%), whereas 20% were severe grade IV and V. Non-operative management was undertaken in 72% of patients with blunt liver trauma and 92% of patients with penetrating liver trauma underwent surgery. Liver complications occurred in 11% of patients, most commonly bile leaks (7%), followed by delayed haemorrhage (2%). Thirty-two patients died (7%), with co-existing severe traumatic brain injury as the leading cause of death. There was a significant reduction in death from haemorrhage in patients with grade IV and V liver trauma between the first and second half of the study period (p=0.0091). CONCLUSION: Although the incidence and severity of liver trauma at Auckland City Hospital remained stable, there was a reduction in mortality, particularly death as a result of haemorrhage.

Percutaneous stent-in-stent placement with large cell-type stents for malignant hilar biliary obstruction.

BACKGROUND: To overcome the technical difficulty of bilateral stent-in-stent placement, large cell-type biliary stents have been developed. However, most of the studies using large cell-type stents were conducted with endoscopic method. PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of percutaneous stent placement with a stent-in-stent method using large cell-type stents in patients with malignant hilar biliary obstruction. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From December 2015 and October 2018, 51 patients with malignant hilar biliary obstruction were retrospectively studied. All of the patients underwent bilateral (n=46) or unilateral (n=5) stenting in a T, Y, or X configuration with a stent-in-stent method using large cell-type stents. Technical success, complications, successful internal drainage, stent patency, and patient survival were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 118 stents were successfully placed in 51 patients (100.0%). Three patients had minor complications with self-limiting hemobilia. Major complications were not observed in any patient. Successful internal drainage was achieved in 45 patients (88.2%). Clinical follow-up information until death or the end of the study was available for 50 of 51 patients. The median patient survival was 285.5 days (95% confidence interval [CI] 197-374). Stent dysfunction occurred in 16 patients (35.6%) due to tumor ingrowth (n=9) or tumor ingrowth combined with biliary sludge (n=7) among the patients who achieved successful internal drainage. Median stent patency was 179 days (95% CI 104-271). CONCLUSION: Percutaneous stent-in-stent placement with large cell-type stents is technically feasible and safe, and can be an effective technique in patients with malignant hilar biliary obstruction.

Hemobilia: Historical overview, clinical update, and current practices.

Hemobilia refers to macroscopic blood in the lumen of the biliary tree. It represents an uncommon, but important, cause of gastrointestinal bleeding and can have potentially lethal sequelae if not promptly recognized and treated. The earliest known reports of hemobilia date to the 17th century, but due to the relative rarity and challenges in diagnosis of hemobilia, it has historically not been well-studied. Until recently, most cases of hemobilia were due to trauma, but the majority now occur as a sequela of invasive procedures involving the hepatopancreatobiliary system. A triad (Quincke's) of right upper quadrant pain, jaundice and overt gastrointestinal bleeding has been classically described in hemobilia, but it is present in only a minority of patients. Therefore, prompt diagnosis depends critically on a high index of suspicion based on a patient's clinical presentation and a history of recently undergoing hepatopancreatobiliary intervention or having other predisposing factors. Treatment of hemobilia depends on the suspected source and clinical severity and thus ranges from supportive medical care to urgent advanced endoscopic, interventional radiologic, or surgical intervention. In the present review, we provide a historical perspective, clinical update and overview of current trends and practices pertaining to hemobilia.

Hemobilia: An Uncommon But Notable Cause of Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding.

GOAL AND BACKGROUND: A literature review to improve practitioners' knowledge and performance concerning the epidemiology, diagnosis, and management of hemobilia. STUDY: A search of Pubmed, Google Scholar, and Medline was conducted using the keyword hemobilia and relevant articles were reviewed and analyzed. The findings pertaining to hemobilia etiology, investigation, and management techniques were considered and organized by clinicians practiced in hemobilia. RESULTS: The majority of current hemobilia cases have an iatrogenic cause from either bile duct or liver manipulation. Blunt trauma is also a significant cause of hemobilia. The classic triad presentation of right upper quadrant pain, jaundice, and upper gastrointestinal bleeding is rarely seen. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are the preferred diagnostic modalities, and the preferred therapeutic management includes interventional radiology and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Surgery is rarely a therapeutic option. CONCLUSIONS: With advances in computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging technology, diagnosis with these less invasive investigations are the favored option. However, traditional catheter angiography is still the gold standard. The management of significant hemobilia is still centered on arterial embolization, but arterial and biliary stents have become accepted alternative therapies.

Placement of a Newly Designed Y-Configured Bilateral Self-Expanding Metallic Stent for Hilar Biliary Obstruction: A Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: Whether unilateral or bilateral drainage should be performed for malignant hilar biliary obstruction remains a matter of debate. Although a Y-stent with a central wide-open mesh facilitates bilateral stent placement, it has its own limitations. AIM: This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of a newly designed Y-configured bilateral self-expanding metallic stent (SEMS) for the treatment of hilar biliary obstruction. METHODS: In this retrospective study, 14 consecutive patients with unresectable malignant hilar biliary obstruction (Bismuth type II or higher), who underwent placement of a newly designed Y-configured bilateral SEMS for hilar biliary obstruction from April 2013 to March 2015, were included into this study. Data on technical success, clinical success, stent patency, complications and patient survival were collected. RESULTS: Technical and clinical success was 100 and 92.9 %, respectively. Mean serum bilirubin level was significantly decreased 1 month after stent placement (P < 0.01). Furthermore, two patients (14.3 %) had early complications (one patient had severe hemobilia and one patient had cholangitis), and two patients (14.3 %) had late complications (one patient had cholangitis and one patient had cholecystitis). During the mean follow-up period of 298 days (range 89-465 days), six patients (42.9 %) developed stent occlusion caused by tumor ingrowth or overgrowth (n = 5) and sludge (n = 1). Median stent patency and overall survival times were 281 days (95 % CI 175.9-386.1 days) and 381 days (95 % CI 291.4-470.6 days), respectively. CONCLUSION: The use of the newly designed Y-configured bilateral SEMS is feasible and effective for hilar biliary obstruction using port docking deployment.

Spontaneous hemobilia after liver transplantation: Frequency, risk factors, and outcome of endoscopic management.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Spontaneous hemobilia is an uncommon liver transplantation (LT)-related biliary complication. The frequency, etiology, and mechanism of spontaneous hemobilia after LT are not known. This study aimed to assess the outcome of endoscopic management for spontaneous hemobilia after LT, and to investigate its frequency and risk factors. METHODS: The records of patients who underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography to manage hemobilia after LT at the Asan Medical Center, Korea, between January 2006 and April 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: A total 2701 cases of LT was performed in the study period, and 33 LT patients with spontaneous hemobilia were included in the study group. Endoscopic nasobiliary drainage was achieved in 33 cases (100%). In 29 of 33 patients (87.9%), hemobilia was improved. The frequency of spontaneous hemobilia was 1.22% (33/2701). On multivariate analysis, United Network for Organ Sharing status I or IIa (odds ratio [OR] 3.095, 95% CI 1.097-8.732, P = 0.033), alcoholic liver cirrhosis (OR 3.942, 95% CI 1.261-12.324, P = 0.018), and body mass index < 24.5 kg/m2 (OR 2.329, 95% CI 1.005-5.397, P = 0.049) were significant risk factors for spontaneous hemobilia after LT. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and endoscopic nasobiliary drainage are feasible methods for the management of spontaneous hemobilia after LT. In patients with United Network for Organ Sharing status I and IIa, alcoholic liver cirrhosis, or body mass index < 24.5 kg/m2 , special attention should be paid to the occurrence of spontaneous hemobilia after LT.

Identification of risk factors for intraoperative hemobilia and its correlation with early postoperative complications in patients with hepatolithiasis.

BACKGROUND: This study intends to determine the risk factor(s) for intraoperative hemobilia in patients with hepatolithiasis and examine whether the occurrence of intraoperative hemobilia influences the rate of early postoperative complications. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 867 eligible patients was performed. Patients were divided into 2 groups: group A (hemobilia, n = 76) and group B (nonhemobilia, n = 791). RESULTS: The incidence of intraoperative hemobilia was 8.8% (76/867). Independent risk factors of intraoperative hemobilia for patients with hepatolithiasis were interval between surgery and latest attack of acute cholangitis less than or equal to 38.8 days; preoperative attack of acute severe cholangitis; and intrahepatic duct stricture. Group A had a higher incidence of early postoperative complications than group B. Shorter interval between surgery and latest attack of acute cholangitis correlated with intraoperative hemobilia and postoperative complications. CONCLUSION: The severity and time of onset of preoperative acute cholangitis influence the risk of intraoperative hemobilia, which is positively correlated with early postoperative complications.

Colangitis aguda asociada a hemobilia en un paciente con cirrosis hepática y cavernomatosis portal / Acute cholangitis and hemobilia in a patient with liver cirrhosis and portal vein cavernomatous transformation

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Transcatheter arterial embolization for iatrogenic hemobilia is a safe and effective procedure: case series and review of the literature.

OBJECTIVE: Hemobilia is an uncommon cause of gastrointestinal bleeding. The etiology is diverse, but most often, it is iatrogenic. The present study aims to reassess the clinical picture and the treatment of choice. METHODS: We describe a case series from a single center of patients who presented with nontraumatic iatrogenic hemobilia. RESULTS: Over a period of 8 years, hemobilia occurred in 12 patients: following liver biopsy in six patients and after endoscopic biliary interventions in four patients, with a respective prevalence of 0.1 and 0.04%. The clinical presentation was characterized by an upper gastrointestinal bleeding (n=11) and/or biochemical signs of sudden biliary obstruction (n=9). The onset of the symptoms occurred after a median of 6 days (range: 1-23). Ultrasound and computed tomography scan missed the diagnosis in, respectively, 4/5 and 2/5 of patients. On arteriography, pseudoaneurysm (6/12) was the most common finding. Transcatheter arterial embolization controlled the bleeding in all cases (12/12) without major complications. CONCLUSION: The delay between the intervention and the clinical presentation and the fact that imaging studies may fail to diagnose hemobilia may mislead the physician. Transcatheter arterial embolization is the treatment of choice for hemobilia. It has proven to be effective and safe and it offers a long-term definitive cure.

Complications of endoscopic and radiologic investigation of biliary tract disorders.

The investigation and treatment of disorders of the human biliary tree depend considerably on invasive endoscopic and radiologic procedures. These are associated with a significant risk of complications, some of which can be fatal. This review looks at these complications through the lens of 40 years of publications in the medical literature, and identifies the strengths and weaknesses of their current classification, diagnosis, and treatment.

Major hemobilia--experience from a specialist unit in a developing country.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Hemobilia is a rare but potentially life threatening problem, which can be difficult to diagnose and treat. In the last few decades there has been a change in the etiologic spectrum and management of this problem in the West. The aim of this study was to analyze the etiology, clinical features, management and outcome of major hemobilia in a tertiary referral centre from western India. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was undertaken on 22 patients (16 males, 6 females; mean age 39 years, range 13 to 74) who presented with major hemobilia over a 5-year period. RESULTS: The etiology was iatrogenic in 13 patients (percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage 8, post laparoscopic cholecystectomy 3, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography 1, and liver biopsy 1), liver trauma in 6 and liver tumors in 3 patients. Twenty patients presented with gastrointestinal bleeding (melena 20 patients, hemetemesis with melena 8 patients), 5 with jaundice and 8 had fever. Abdominal angiography was performed in 20 patients. Angiography revealed pseudoaneurysm of the right hepatic artery or its branches in 14 patients, left hepatic artery in 2, an arterio-biliary fistula in 1, tumor blush in 1 and the source could not be located in 2 patients. Seventeen of the 22 patients were treated with radiological intervention, 3 required surgery (liver resection for tumors 2, laparotomy for venous collateral bleeding of portal cavernoma 1) and two were managed conservatively. Radiological intervention involved embolisation with coils and/or glue in 16, and chemoembolisation in 1 patient. Sixteen of 17 patients responded to embolisation. Overall there were two deaths. CONCLUSION: The spectrum of hemobilia seen in India is now similar to that in the developed world with iatrogenic causes being the commonest. Interventional radiology can treat a majority of patients reducing the need and morbidity associated with surgery.

Hemorrhagic complications of percutaneous radiofrequency ablation for liver tumors.

BACKGROUND: Although radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is widely accepted as a percutaneous treatment for liver tumors; serious complications may occur resulting in 0.1% to 0.5% mortality. This study analyzed the risk factors and management of hemorrhagic complications, such as hemoperitoneum, hemothorax, and hemobilia. METHODS: We performed 4133 RFA treatments in 2154 patients with primary and metastatic liver tumors from February 1999 to December 2007. Of these, we enrolled patients with hemorrhagic complications and reviewed their medical records thoroughly. The risk factors for each hemorrhagic complication were analyzed using unconditional logistic regression. RESULTS: Hemorrhagic complications occurred in 63 out of 4133 treatments (1.5%), including hemoperitoneum in 29 (0.7%), hemothorax in 14 (0.3%), and hemobilia in 20 (0.5%). Eleven, 8, and 4 of these patients, respectively, were categorized as major complications requiring blood transfusion or drainage. Two patients died after hemoperitoneum. Logistic regression analysis revealed large tumor size [odds ratio (OR) 1.06 per 1 mm increase in diameter] and low platelet count (OR 0.88 per 10,000/microL increase) were significant risk factors for hemoperitoneum. The location of tumor nodules was a significant risk factor for hemothorax (segment 7, OR 2.31) and hemobilia (segment 1, OR 3.30). Other factors, including the number of needle insertions or the duration of ablation, were not significant. CONCLUSIONS: Although hemorrhagic complications were relatively rare with percutaneous RFA, specific treatments, such as blood transfusion and drainage, were required in some cases. Care must be taken, especially in high-risk patients.

Incidence of important hemobilia following transhepatic biliary drainage: left-sided versus right-sided approaches.

Our purpose here is to describe our experience with important hemobilia following PTBD and to determine whether left-sided percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) is associated with an increased incidence of important hemobilia compared to right-sided drainages. We reviewed 346 transhepatic biliary drainages over a four-year period and identified eight patients (2.3%) with important hemobilia requiring transcatheter embolization. The charts and radiographic files of these patients were reviewed. The side of the PTBD (left versus right), and the order of the biliary ductal branch entered (first, second, or third) were recorded. Of the 346 PTBDs, 269 were right-sided and 77 were left-sided. Of the eight cases of important hemobilia requiring transcatheter embolization, four followed right-sided and four followed left-sided PTBD, corresponding to a bleeding incidence of 1.5% (4/269) for right PTBD and 5.2% (4/77) for left PTBD. The higher incidence of hemobilia associated with left-sided PTBD approached, but did not reach the threshold of statistical significance (p = 0.077). In six of the eight patients requiring transcatheter embolization, first or second order biliary branches were accessed by catheter for PTBD. All patients with left-sided bleeding had first or proximal second order branches accessed by biliary drainage catheters. In conclusion, a higher incidence of hemobilia followed left-versus right-sided PTBD in this study, but the increased incidence did not reach statistical significance.

Pseudoaneurysm of the cystic artery with hemobilia treated by arterial embolization and elective cholecystectomy.

Pseudoaneurysm of the cystic artery is a rare cause of hemobilia, with only 11 cases having been reported in the English literature. We report this unusual condition in a 62-year-old Japanese man whose chief complaint was repeated upper abdominal pain. A liver function test showed obstructive jaundice, and endoscopy revealed a small amount of blood coming from the papilla of Vater. We diagnosed him as having hemobilia, and immediate angiography was performed. The results demonstrated a pseudoaneurysm arising in the cystic artery. Selective embolization of the cystic artery then followed. Ten days later the patient underwent elective cholecystectomy and had a good postoperative course. Microscopically, the resected specimen revealed caliculous cholecystitis and an organized pseudoaneurysm perforating the lumen of the gallbladder. We supposed that this pseudoaneurysm was associated with the inflammatory reaction seen with the acute cholecystitis. This case emphasizes the need for a high level of awareness of hemobilia whenever bleeding is associated with signs of biliary disorders. Immediate angiography and embolization of the pseudoaneurysm followed by radical surgery may be the preferred strategy. We believe this is the first reported case of successful "two-step" treatment of such a pseudoaneurysm.

Hemobilia: presentation, diagnosis, and management.

OBJECTIVES: Hemobilia is defined as hemorrhage into the biliary tract. To define a rational approach toward this rare entity, we performed a retrospective study on the presentation, diagnosis, and management of hemobilia. METHODS: During the past 3 yr, eight patients suffering from severe hemobilia presented to our departments. Jaundice, right-sided upper abdominal pain, and hematemesis were the most frequent symptoms. Hemobilia originated from iatrogenic injury in three patients, malignant hepatic or biliary tumors in three, parasitic infestation (ascariasis) in one, and coagulopathy due to end-stage liver cirrhosis in one. Duodenoscopy revealed bleeding from the papilla in all patients. Diagnosis was confirmed by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and angiography in seven patients. RESULTS: In three patients, major liver resections were performed that definitively controlled the bleeding and the underlying tumor. Angiographic occlusion of an arterial lesion was successfully achieved in two patients. In two patients, operative ligation of the supplying artery was required. The patient suffering from end-stage liver disease was treated by substitution of coagulation factors but died due to progressive metabolic liver failure. CONCLUSION: Angiographic occlusion is recommended as initial treatment to control hemobilia and to render the patient stable in preparation for elective and definitive surgery. Surgery becomes necessary when nonoperative attempts to stop the bleeding fail and is required for tumors and parasitic disease.

Iatrogenic hemobilia: how to approach it.

Hemobilia after surgical or non-surgical interventions on the liver, biliary tree and pancreas is a serious postoperative complication. Two different therapeutic approaches i.e. superselective hepatic artery embolization and surgical management were retrospectively evaluated in a group of 19 patients. Superselective embolization showed a lower mortality and morbidity than did surgery. Superselective embolization resulted in a higher success rate in terms of control of bleeding and identification of the origin of the bleed.