Length of the Remnant Cystic Duct and Bile Duct Stone Recurrence: a Case‒Control Study.

BACKGROUND: Since the introduction of the Critical View of Safety approach in laparoscopic cholecystectomy, exposure of the common bile duct, and common hepatic duct is not recommended, therefore, the length of the cystic duct remnant is no longer controlled. The aim of this case‒control study is to evaluate the relationship between the length of the cystic duct remnant and the risk for bile duct stone recurrence after cholecystectomy. METHODS: All MRIs with dedicated sequences of the biliary tract taken between 2010 and 2020 from patients who underwent prior cholecystectomy were reviewed. The length of the cystic duct remnant was measured and compared between the patients with and without bile duct stones using multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 362 patients were included in this study, 23.5% of whom had bile duct stones on MRI. The cystic duct remnant was significantly longer in the patients with stones than in the control group (median 31 mm versus 18 mm, P < 0.001). In the MRIs performed > 2 years after cholecystectomy, the cystic duct remnant was also significantly longer in the patients with bile duct stones (median 32 mm versus 21 mm, P < 0.001). A cystic duct remnant ≥ 15 mm in length increased the odds of stones (OR = 2.3, P = 0.001). Overall, the odds of bile duct stones increased with an increasing cystic duct remnant length (≥ 45 mm, OR = 5.0, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: An excessive cystic duct remnant length increases the odds of recurrent bile duct stones after cholecystectomy.

Empyema after image-guided percutaneous intercostal drainage of subdiaphragmatic collection: a case series.

Background: Treatment of subdiaphragmatic collection by intercostal image-guided drain placement is associated with a risk of pleural complications including potentially life-threatening pleural empyema. Descriptions of patient characteristics and clinical course of postinterventional pleural empyema are lacking. We aim to present characteristics, clinical course and outcomes of patients with empyema after intercostal approach of drain placement. Methods: Data was collected as a retrospective single center case series and included adult patients with decortication for treatment of pleural empyema after image-guided percutaneous intercostal drainage of a subdiaphragmatic collection between 01.01.2009 and 31.01.2021. Results: We identified ten patients, nine male and one female, all suffering from subdiaphragmatic collection treated with intercostal drain. All patients developed pleural empyema after drain placement and received surgical decortication. Similarities between patients were drain placement under computed tomography (CT)-guidance (eight of ten patients), lateral position of the drain (seven of ten patients), drain insertion in the eighth intercostal space (ICS) (six of ten patients) and existing comorbidities as malnutrition (six of ten patients), diabetes (four of ten patients) and cancer (three of ten patients). The majority of patients had a prolonged length of hospital stay (LOS) with an average duration of 40 days. Nearly half of the patients needed intensive care unit (ICU) treatment and one patient died postoperatively from respiratory exhaustion. Conclusions: In this series, empyema after intercostal drainage was associated with prolonged LOS and was potentially life-threatening. The most commonly shared features in our cohort were the high prevalence of comorbidities, drain insertion above ninth ICS as well as lateral position of the drain. These factors should be addressed in prospective studies to evaluate potential correlation with postinterventional empyema. For optimal management of patients with subdiaphragmatic collection treated by intercostal drainage, awareness of potential associated complications is crucial.

Bilateral thoracic duct ligation for persisting postoperative chylothorax.

Herein, we report the case of a patient with persistent postoperative chylothorax despite right supradiaphragmal ligation of the thoracic duct. Computed tomography lymphangiography after lipiodol injection demonstrated a correctly ligated right thoracic duct but an anatomical variation with patent left-sided thoracic duct, which was successfully ligated afterwards by video-assisted thoracic surgery.