Gallbladder-preserving cholelithotomy in laparoscopic and flexible choledochoscopic era: a report of 316 cases.

BACKGROUND: The gallbladder is an organ with accurate functions of concentrating and storing bile and regulating the bile flow. Cholecystectomy is associated with some severe complications in some patients. This study was to investigate the safety and effectiveness of gallbladder-preserving cholelithotomy (GPC) for patients with gallstones in laparoscopic and flexible choledochoscopic era. METHODS: From January 2006 to January 2007, a total of 316 patients with gallstone were assigned to GPC according to our inclusion criteria at Yunna Lithiasis Hospital. The procedures were performed by 1 surgical team under laparoscopic and flexible choledochoscopic guidance. The short-term clinical outcome and long-term gallstone recurrence rate were evaluated. RESULTS: The success rate of GPC was 95.25%. No severe postoperative complications such as bile leakage and hemorrhage occurred. Conversion to cholecystectomy was required in 15 patients. During 25 to 72 months of follow-up, the gallstone recurrence rate at 12, 36, and 60 months were 0%, 3.32%, and 5.64%, respectively. CONCLUSION: GPC using laparoscopy and flexible choledochoscopy is safe and effective in selected patients, the stone recurrence rate is acceptable.

The prevention of major bile duct injures in laparoscopic cholecystectomy: the experience with 13,000 patients in a single center.

Major bile duct injury (MBDI) is one of the most serious complications associated with laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). This study reports our experience in preventing MBDI during LC. Between September 1991 and August 2004, 13,000 cases of LC were performed at Kunming General Hospital. Systemic strategies, including selection of proper patients for LC based on the surgeons' experience, dissection techniques in Calot's triangle, selective use of laparoscopic ultrasonography, and indication of conversion to an open approach were developed and introduced to avoid MBDI. In our series, the overall incidence of MBDI was 0.085%, 0.60% (3 of 500) over the first period from September 1991 to September 1992, 0.17% (5 of 3000) over the second period from October 1992 to September 1996, and 0.03% (3 of 9500) over the third period from October 1996 to August 2004. The MBDI included transection of the common bile duct (CBD) due to mistaking CBD for cystic duct (n=6), cautery injury (n=3), laceration of the CBD at the junction of cystic duct and CBD (n=1), and clip partially of common hepatic duct due to blind hemostasis (n=1). The incidence of MBDI in our institution is acceptable. We believe the system strategies are effective to avoid MBDI in LC. LC is a safe procedure with an incidence of biliary injury comparable with that for open cholecystectomy.

Cold preservation of pig liver grafts with warm ischemia and pentoxifylline-UW solution.

BACKGROUND: We undertook this study to investigate the safe time limits of cold preservation in UW solution of liver grafts subjected to warm ischemia (WI) for 20 min and the changes of the limits when pentoxifylline is added to UW solution. METHODS: The safe time limit was studied in a simple porcine orthotopic liver transplantation (LTx) model. In donors, livers were subjected to 20 min of WI and subsequent 12-h (group 1, n = 5), 16-h (group 2, n = 5), and 20-h (group 3, n = 3) cold preservation in UW solution, respectively. After the safe time limits were clear, another group (group 4, n = 5) was built to test whether or not the limits can be changed when pentoxifylline is added to UW solution in an unsafe time limit group. RESULTS: All five animals in group 1 survived up to 7 days of the survey endpoint. In group 2, only one animal survived up to the same survey endpoint and all animals in group 3 died within 12 h. The 1-week survival rate of group 1 was significantly higher than the other two groups. Group 1 had a lower level of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) or aspartase aminotransferase (AST) after LTx, less pathological damage, higher concentration of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and higher microcirculation blood flux in the grafted liver tissue at 1 h after reperfusion than the other two groups. The results primarily showed that 12-h cold preservation was safe, 16 h was unsafe, and 20 h was highly unsafe. But when pentoxifylline was added to UW solution in cold preservation (16-h group, group 4), in contrast to group 2, the incidence of liver tissue necrosis and primary graft nonfunction was significantly lower in group 4 than in group 2. The 1-week survival rate of the pigs was 100% in the former and 20% in latter group. Levels of ALT and AST in recipients' artery blood, malondialdehyde and TNF-alpha concentration in grafted liver tissue, resistance of portal vein and hepatic artery after preservation in group 4 were significantly reduced, whereas microcirculation blood flux of the grafted liver, superoxide dismutase concentration and ATP concentration in grafted liver tissue were significantly elevated. CONCLUSIONS: The safe time limit of cold preservation in UW solution of liver grafts subjected to WI for 20 min was about 12 h and the limits can be prolonged to 16 h when pentoxifylline is added to UW solution. Many mechanisms were involved.

A randomized controlled trial of laparoscopic versus open cholecystectomy in patients with cirrhotic portal hypertension.

AIM: To evaluate the characters, risks and benefits of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) in cirrhotic portal hypertension (CPH) patients. METHODS: Altogether 80 patients with symptomatic gallbladder disease and CPH, including 41 Child class A, 32 Child class B and 7 Child class C, were randomly divided into open cholecystectomy (OC) group (38 patients) and LC group (42 patients). The cohorts were well-matched for number, age, sex, Child classification and types of disease. Data of the two groups were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: In LC group, LC was successfully performed in 36 cases, and 2 patients were converted to OC for difficulty in managing bleeding under laparoscope and dense adhesion of Calot's triangle. The rate of conversion was 5.3%. The surgical duration was 62.6+/-15.2 min. The operative blood loss was 75.5+/-15.5 mL. The time to resume diet was 18.3+/-6.5 h. Seven postoperative complications occurred in five patients (13.2%). All patients were dismissed after an average of 4.6+/-2.4 d. In OC group, the operation time was 60.5+/-17.5 min. The operative blood loss was 112.5+/-23.5 mL. The time to resume diet was 44.2+/-10.5 h. Fifteen postoperative complications occurred in 12 patients (30.0%). All patients were dismissed after an average of 7.5+/-3.5 d. There was no significant difference in operation time between OC and LC group. But LC offered several advantages over OC, including fewer blood loss and lower postoperative complication rate, shorter time to resume diet and shorter length of hospitalization in patients with CPH. CONCLUSION: Though LC for patients with CPH is difficult, it is feasible, relatively safe, and superior to OC. It is important to know the technical characters of the operation, and pay more attention to the meticulous perioperative managements.

Application of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patients with cirrhotic portal hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) has been widely adopted in treating benign gallbladder diseases. Cirrhosis and cirrhotic portal hypertension (CPH) are contraindicated for LC in its early period. In recent years, several studies have reported liberal use of LC in patients with cirrhosis. But its benefits and successful use in patients with CPH are less documented. This study was designed to evaluate the feasibility, safety and technical characteristics of LC in CPH patients. METHODS: In 38 patients with symptomatic gallbladder disease and CPH, 19 belonged to Child A class, 15 Child B class and 4 Child C class. Perioperative data of these patients were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: LC was successfully performed in 36 patients, and 2 patients (5.3%) were converted to open cholecystectomy (OC) for difficulty in management of bleeding under laparoscopy and dense adhesion of Calot's triangle. The surgical time was 62.6+/-15.2 minutes. The estimated amount of intraoperative hemorrhage was 75.5+/-15.5 ml. No blood transfusion was necessary. The time to resume diet was 18.3+/-6.5 hours. Seven postoperative complications in 5 patients (13.2%) included port-site infection (1 patient), respiratory infection (2), upper digestive tract bleeding (1), slight hepatic encephalopathy (1) and increased ascites (2). All patients were cured and discharged from the hospital within 5.6+/-2.4 days after LC. CONCLUSIONS: Despite LC is difficult for CPH patients, it is feasible and relatively safe. To make LC successful in patients with CPH, it is necessary for surgeons to acquaint with the technical characteristics of LC and emphasize meticulous perioperative management.

Three-dimensional identification of the cystic infundibulum-cystic duct junction: a technique for identification of the cystic duct in laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

OBJECTIVE: The main cause of bile duct injury (BDI) at laparoscopic cholecystectomy is misidentification of the common bile duct as the cystic duct (CD). The aim of this article is to introduce a modified technique, i.e., three-dimensional identification of the cystic infundibulum (CI)-CD junction, to prevent misidentification-induced BDI during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. METHODS: The CI was extensively dissected to expose its anterior, interior-superior and inferior-dorsal aspects. With the CI nearly circularly dissected out, the CI and the appearance-indicated CI-CD junction might be three-dimensionally identified and the reality of the CI-CD junction as well as the reality of the CD could be precisely judged. RESULTS: Overall 10 BDIs were documented in this group. Since BDI occurred in 8 of 4382 patients receiving laparoscopic cholecystectomy, the technique for prevention of misidentification-induced BDI was established. Among the late batch of 7618 patients, only two BDIs were noted. CONCLUSIONS: Three-dimensional identification of the CI-CD junction is a reliable, feasible and relatively low experience-dependent technique to prevent most of misidentification-induced BDI.

Non-image diagnosis of bile duct injury during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of simple non-image technique in intraoperative diagnosis of bile duct injury (BDI). METHODS: BDI was highly suspected at the original laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) when the following 3 abnormal findings were noted: the "cystic duct" stump (the common bile duct stump actually) markedly retracted down to the duodenum; bile leakage from the porta hepatis; abnormal mucosal patch attached to the "cystic duct" stump of the removed gallbladder. All cases of suspected BDI were converted to have laparotomy. image techniques such as intraoperative cholangiography or ultrasonography were not utilized for recognition of BDI in all 9 patients. RESULTS: BDI in 4 of the 9 patients was suspected according to 1-3 abnormal intraoperative findings described above. The four patients were subjected immediately to converted laparotomy. Abnormal findings were not observed or misinterpreted in the other 5 misdiagnosed patients. CONCLUSIONS: Timely recognizing whether BDI occurs should be considered as a routine procedure of LC. Negligence of operators to the abnormalities of the original LC is the main cause of misdiagnosis for BDI. Simple non-Image approaches such as close observation of these abnormalities can make timely diagnosis for most BDIs during the original LC.