Sclerosing Mesenteritis Presenting as a Pseudotumor of the Greater Omentum.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to demonstrate a diagnostic challenge of sclerosing mesenteritis initially considered as liposarcoma. CLINICAL PRESENTATION AND INTERVENTION: A 45-year-old man was admitted with a painful abdominal mass. Abdominal computed tomography demonstrated a well- demarcated tumor in his left hemiabdomen, with a large fat component and areas of soft tissue attenuation suggestive of liposarcoma. Intraoperative findings showed a tumor arising from the greater omentum. The tumor was completely removed, and histopathology confirmed a pseudotumorous type of sclerosing mesenteritis with dominant mesenteric lipodystrophy. CONCLUSION: This case showed that a pseudotumorous type of sclerosing mesenteritis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of the mesenteric tumors.

[Mucinous cystadenomas of the liver].

INTRODUCTION: Biliary cystadenomas of the liver are rare benign tumors prone to malignant alteration so that a total excision is recommended. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the paper is to present our experience in treatment and to evaluate whether a simple ablation represents the appropriate treatment. METHODS: Over a 10-year period 25 patients (24 women) of the average age of 58 years suffering from cystadenomas of the liver, 18 in the right, 4 in the left and 3 in both lobes of the liver were operated. Twenty-three patients had a single lesion, while two patients had 3 and 6 lesions, respectively. Pain was present in 20, occasional vomiting in 4, discomfort in 2 and a sense of fullness in 2 patients.Three patients were jaundiced, 1 due to cystadenoma of the liver, 2 due to concomitant tumors of the head of the pancreas, while 5 patients had concomitant diseases. RESULTS: A total ablation was performed in 22 patients, left lateral bisegmentectomy in 1 and partial excision in 2 patients. Six additional procedures were performed. Five cystadenomas of the liver had,,ovarian like" stroma, all in women. A focal malignant alteration was found in 2 patients aged 66 and 79 years, respectively. Recurrence was registered in 1 female patient in whom a partial excision had been done. Two patients with concomitant malignancy and 1 patient who developed malignant histiocytosis six months after surgery, died after 1, 2 and 3 years, respectively. CONCLUSION: Biliary cystadenomas of the liver may be misdiagnosed as simple liver cysts, so that ,,frozen section" histology is highly recommended. In most cases the tumor may be successfully treated by ablation up to the healthy liver tissue. Major liver resections are rarely necessary.

Relationship of adipokine to insulin sensitivity and glycemic regulation in obese women--the effect of body weight reduction by caloric restriction.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Visceral fat is highly active metabolic and endocrine tissue which secretes many adipokines that act both on local and systemic level. It is believed that adipokines and "low-grade inflammatory state" represent a potential link between obesity, metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance and cardiovascular disease. Leptin and adiponectin are considered to be the most important adipokines with the potential metabolic and cardiovascular effects. Body weight loss improves insulin sensitivity and decreases risk for most complications associated with obesity. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of moderate loss of body weight on the level of leptin and adiponectin, insulin sensitivity and abnormalities of glycoregulation in obese women, to determine whether and to what extent the secretory products of adipose tissue, leptin and adiponectin contribute to insulin sensitivity, as well as to assess their relationship and influence on glycemia and insulinemia during the period of losing body weight using a calorie restricted diet. METHODS: The study involved 90 obese female subjects (BMI > or = 30 kg/m2) of different age with weight loss no less than 5% during a six-month period by application of restricted dietary regime. The calorie range was between 1,100-1,350 kcal. Serum levels of leptin and adiponectin, fasting glucose, fasting insulinemia, and Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-R) index were determined in all the subjects initially and after weight reduction. The presence of glycemic disorders was assessed on the basis of oral glucose tolerance test--OGTT. RESULTS: Applying a 6-month restrictive dietary regime the subjects achieved an average weight loss of 8.73 +/- 1.98 kg and 8.64 +/- 1.96%, which led to the reduction of fasting glycemia, fasting insulinemia and HOMA-R index at the maximum level of statistical significance (p < 0.001). The achieved reduction led to a statistically significant decrease of leptin level and increase of adiponectin level (p < 0.001). The correction of the established pre-diabetic disorders of glycoregulation was not statistically significant. There was a statistically significant correlation between the anthropometric parameters, leptin, adiponectin, fasting glycemia, fasting insulinemia and HOMA-R index. There was a positive correlation between leptin, fasting insulinemia and HOMA-R, as well as a statistically significant negative correlation between adiponectin, fasting insulinemia and HOMA-R index (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Body weight increase and central fat accumulation lead to changes in serum levels of leptin and adiponectin, reduction of insulin sensitivity and development of glycemic dysregulation. Secretory products of adipose tissue, leptin and adiponectin contribute to the genesis of these disorders. The obtained results show that the effect of adiponectin on insulin sensitivity is more significant. The analysis of the effects of weight loss on the investigated parameters shows that moderate weight reduction by restrictive dietary regime lead to changes of investigated parameters at the maximum level of statistical significance. Such results emphasize the importance of weight reduction in obese persons, as well as the need for consistent implementation of restricted dietary regime in the process of treatment of obesity.

Procalcitonin and BISAP score versus C-reactive protein and APACHE II score in early assessment of severity and outcome of acute pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Early assessment of severity and continuous monitoring of patients are the key factors for adequate treatment of acute pancreatitis (AP). The aim of this study was to determine the value of procalcitonin (PCT) and Bedside Index for Severity in Acute Pancreatitis (BISAP) scoring system as prognostic markers in early stages of AP with comparison to other established indicators such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score. METHODS: This prospective study included 51 patients (29 with severe AP). In the first 24 h of admission in all patients the APACHE II score and BISAP score, CRP and PCT serum concentrations were determined. The values of PCT serum concentrations and BISAP score were compared with values of CRP serum concentrations and APACHE II score, in relation to the severity and outcome of the disease. RESULTS: Values of PCT, CRP, BISAP score and APACHE II score, measured at 24 h of admission, were significantly elevated in patients with severe form of the disease. In predicting severity of AP at 24 h of admission, sensitivity and specificity of the BISAP score were 74% and 59%, respectively, APACHE II score 89% and 69%, respectively, CRP 75% and 86%, respectively, and PCT 86% and 63%, respectively. It was found that PCT is highly significant predictor of the disease outcome (p < 0,001). CONCLUSION: In early assessment of AP severity, PCT has better predictive value than CRP, and similar to the APACHE II score. APACHE II score is a stronger predictor of the disease severity than BISAP score. PCT is a good predictor of AP outcome.

[Well differentiated endocrine carcinomas of the pancreas].

INTRODUCTION: For the difference from poorly differentiated, well differentiated endocrine carcinomas of the pancreas are the tumours in whom with aggressive surgery and chemotherapy fair results can be achieved. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to point out the importance of such treatment. METHODS: Over a 6-year period eight patients (seven female and one male) of average age 51 years (ranging from 23 to 71 years) were operated on for well differentiated endocrine carcinoma: six of the head and two of the tail of the pancreas. There were two functional and six nonfunctional tumours. Pain in the upper part of the abdomen in seven, mild loss in weight in two, strong heartburn in two, obstructive jaundice in three, diarrhoea in one, sudden massive bleeding from gastric varicosities due to prehepatic portal hypertension caused by pancreatic head tumour in one, and bruise in one patient were registered preoperatively. US and CT in all, angiography in one, octreoscan in two and PET scan in one patient were performed. Whipple's procedure was performed in six and distal pancreatectomy in two patients, as well as systemic lymphadenectomy in all and excision of liver secondary tumours in two patients. In the patient with massive gastric bleeding a total gastrectomy was performed first, followed by Whipple's procedure a month later. RESULTS: R0 resection was achieved in all patients. Lymph nodes metastases were found in six patients. Six patients were given chemotherapy. One patient died 3 years after surgery, seven are still alive, on average 2.5 years. A local recurrence after distal pancreatectomy that occurred 5 years after surgery was successfully reresected and the patient is on peptide-receptor radiotherapy. In other six patients there were no local recurence or distant metastases. CONCLUSION: With aggressive surgery and chemotherapy fair results can be achieved in well differentiated endocrine carcinomas of the pancreas.

[Rapid simultaneous determination of organophosphorus pesticides in human serum and urine by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry].

BACKGROUND/AIM: Analysis of organophosphosphorus compounds and their metabolites in a biological material includes the use of numerous methods, covering both preparation of samples for analysis and their identification that is considered to be very complex. Low concentrations monitoring requires implementation of highly sensitive analytical techniques. The aim of this study was to develop and validate an original and sensitive method for the detection and quantitation of organophosphorus pesticides (dimethoate, diazinon, malathion and malaoxon) in human biological matrices (serum, urine). METHODS: This method was based on a solid-phase extraction procedure, a chromatographic separation using an ACQUITY UPLC HSST3 column and mass spectrometric detection in the positive ion mode. Mobile phase: was consited of Solvent A (5 mM ammonium formate pH 3.0) and Solvent B (0.1% acetic formate in methanol), in a linear gradient (constant flow-rate 0.3 mL/min). RESULTS: The standard curve was linear in the range of 0.05-5.00 mg/L for malathion and malaoxon, 0.10-5.00 mg/L for dimethoate and 0.05-2.50 mg/L for diazinon. The correlation coefficient was r > or = 0.99. Extraction recoveries were satisfactory and ranged between 90-99%. The limits of detection (LOD) was between 0.007-0.07 mg/L and the limits of quantitation (LOQ) ranged between 0.022-0.085 mg/L. Intra- and interassay precision and accuracy were satisfactory for all of the pesticides analyzed. CONCLUSION: The method of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry is simple, accurate, and useful for the determination of organophosphorus pesticides in both clinical and forensic toxicology.

[Fibromyxoid sarcoma of the pancreas].

INTRODUCTION: Fibromyxoid sarcoma is a rare mesenchymal neoplasm, usually appearing in the soft tissue of the extremities, less frequently in the groin, trunk, neck, and upper extremities. Within the abdomen, the tumour is usually localised within the retroperitoneum. CASE OUTLINE: We present a 56-year-old woman in whom, during the routinely performed investigation for atacks of choking with lots of bronchial secretion, and arterial hypertension, an ultrasonographer found a tumour within the head of the pancreas 6 x 6 cm in diameter. At operation, a dark pink, lobulated soft tumour, surrounded by a tiny capsule, clearly different from the completely normal pancreatic tissue of the posterior side of the head of the pancreas, was easily and ideally excised. The postoperative recovery was stormy. She developed postoperative pancreatitis, temporary biliary and duodenal fistula, which all settled by conservative treatment. The histology of the 80 g weighing tumour showed a circumscribed fibromyxoid sarcoma of low malignancy. Immunohistochemistry showed diffuse vimentin and CD34 strong positivity, as well as focal anti-SMA and anti-EMA immunopositivity. Six months after surgery, she died with signs of cerebrovascular insult, asthmatic status, and recurrent suppurative abdominal fistula, probably related to the previous pancreatitis. Ultrasonography showed a possible liver secondary. The exact cause of death was not confirmed as the autopsy was refused by the family. CONCLUSION: Primary sarcomas of the pancreas are very rare, but should be considered in differential diagnosis of pancreatic neoplasms. To the best of our knowledge, there has been no previously described fibromyxoid sarcoma of the pancreas.

Abdominal neurenteric cyst.

Neurenteric cysts are extremely rare congenital anomalies, often presenting in the first 5 years of life, and are caused by an incomplete separation of the notochord from the foregut during the third week of embryogenesis. They are frequently accompanied with spinal or gastrointestinal abnormalities, but the latter may be absent in adults. Although usually located in the thorax, neurenteric cysts may be found along the entire spine. We present a 24-year-old woman admitted for epigastric pain, nausea, vomiting, low grade fever and leucocytosis. She underwent cystgastrostomy for a loculated cyst of the distal pancreas at the age of 4 years, which recurred when she was at the age of 11 years. Ultrasound and computer tomograghy (CT) scan revealed a 16 cm multiply 15 cm cystic mass in the body and tail of pancreas, with a 6-7 mm thickened wall. Laboratory data and chest X-ray were normal and spinal radiographs did not show any structural abnormalities. The patient underwent a complete cyst excision, and after an uneventful recovery, remained symptom-free without recurrence during the 5-year follow-up. The cyst was found to contain 1200 mL of pale viscous fluid. It was covered by a primitive single-layered cuboidal epithelium, along with specialized antral glandular parenchyma and hypoplastic primitive gastric mucosa. Focal glandular groups resembling those of the body of the stomach were also seen. In addition, ciliary respiratory epithelium, foci of squamous metaplasia and mucinous glands were present. The wall of the cyst contained a muscular layer, neuroglial tissue with plexogenic nerve fascicles, Paccini corpuscle-like structures, hyperplastic neuroganglionar elements and occasional psammomatous bodies, as well as fibroblast-like areas of surrounding stroma. Cartilagenous tissue was not found in any part of the cyst. Immunohistochemistry confirmed the presence of neurogenic elements marked by S-100, GFAP, NF and NSE. The gastric epithelium showed mostly CK7 and EMA immunoexpression, and the respiratory epithelium revealed a CK8 and CK18 immunoprofile without CK 10/13 positive elements, though neither CEA or AFP positive cells were found. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of an abdominally located neurenteric cyst with no associated spinal anomalies.

[Angiectatic pseudocyst of the pancreatic head].

BACKGROUND: Arteriovenous malformations of the pancreas are very rare, most frequently congenital ones, but tending to increase frequency, predominantly due to the introduction and use of new diagnostic modalities. They usually present with gastrointestinal bleeding and abdominal pain. CASE REPORT: The autors presented a 52-year-old woman in whom, during the investigation for the abdominal pain and gastrointestinal bleeding, an ultrasonography showed a hypoechogenic lesion within the head of the pancreas 3 cm in diameter. Endoscopic ultrasound showed an irregular hypoechogenic lesion. Computed tomography showed a low density area within the lesion (< 10HU). At endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, a cystic lesion within the head of the pancreas was filled with contrast from the normal pancreatic duct. Angiography showed an arteriovenous malformation within the head of the pancreas. The patient underwent pylorus preserving cephalic duodenopancreatectomy. The diagnosis of arteriovenous malformation, probably of congenital origin, was confirmed on histology. CONCLUSION: Arteriovenous malformations should be considered in patients with gastrointestinal bleeding of unknown etiology. In this case, the lesion was taken into account preoperatively, based on color Doppler ultrasonography and angiography. The best results of treatment can be achieved with resection, but it has to be performed before an eventual portal hypertension takes place.

Metastatic melanoma to the common bile duct causing obstructive jaundice: a case report.

Metastatic melanoma to the common bile duct is very rare with only 18 cases reported so far. We report a 46 year old women who, 18 mo after excision of a skin melanoma, developed a painless progressive obstructive jaundice. At operation a melanoma within the distal third of the common bile duct was found. There were no other secondaries within the abdomen. The common bile duct, including the tumor, was resected and anastomosed with Roux-en-Y jejunal limb. The patient survived 31 mo without any sign of local recurrence and was submitted to three other operations for axillar and brain secondaries, from which she finally died. Radical resection of metastatic melanoma to the common bile duct may result in lifelong relief of obstructive jaundice. It is safe and relatively easy to perform. In other cases, a less aggressive approach, stenting or bypass procedures, should be adopted.

Bioequivalence assessment of the two brands of glimepiride tablets.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Glimepiride, as an antidiabetic from the group of sulfonylurea, is administered perorally in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. The aim of this study was to compare pharmacokinetic profiles and relative bioavailabilities of the two oral formulations of glimepiride, generic and innovator tablets, after a single dose of the active drug. METHODS: An oral dose of 6 mg glimepiride was given under fasting conditions to 24 healthy volunteers. A one-week washout period was applied between the two consecutive periods. The serum samples obtained before dosing, and at various time points up to 48 hours, were analyzed for glimepiride concentration using the validated high-performance liquid chromatographic method with ultraviolet detection. Pharmacokinetic parameters representing early (maximal concentration, time to reach maximal concentration) and total exposure (area under the curve from the time 0 to the infinite time) to glimepiride were obtained and further analyzed using the multifactorial analysis of variance and the non-parametric Wilcoxon signed ranks test. Comparison of the secondary kinetic variables was only descriptive. RESULTS: The point estimates of the ratios of geometric means (test/reference) of maximal concentrations and areas under the curve were 1.046 (90% confidence interval: 0.906-1.208) and 1.022 (90% confidence interval: 0.856-1.220), respectively, while the median values of times to reach maximal concentration, at 5% level of significance, did not differ significantly. Both formulations were well tolerated. Transient mild hypoglycaemia, which had been noted in 6 participants, resolved spontaneously within 30-60 minutes. CONCLUSION: Since all the parametric 90% confidence intervals for the log-transformed main variables of glimepiride were within the 0.80 and 1.25 interval, accepted as the definition of bioequivalence, and the differences in times to reach maximal concentration also did not reach statistical significance, studied tablets were considered bioequivalent.

[Preoperative evaluation of the feasibility of laparoscopic cholecystectomy].

AIM: To determine the possibility of preoperative evaluation of the feasibility of laparoscopic cholecystectomy based on the standard preoperative examinations and findings. METHODS: During 1997, 100 consecutively operated patients with the diagnosis of chronic calculous cholecystitis were followed up. Sex and age, and the results of blood count, sedimentation rate, ultrasonography (US), and intravenous cholangiography (IVC) were monitored. Based on adhesions, fibrosis in Calot's triangle and pericholecystitis, surgical interventions were classified as minor and major. RESULTS: Minor operations were performed in 57, and major in 43 patients. Earlier surgical interventions had been carried out in 8 (18.6%) patients from the major surgery group, while 9 (15.79%) patients had undergone minor surgery. Out of 57 patients with minor surgery, IVC verified the contrast medium filling of the gallbladder in 55 (96.49%) of the patients. Tense gallbladder or wall stratification was not revealed by ultrasonography in any of the patients from this group. Out of 43 patients with major surgery, the gallbladder was not filled with the contrast medium during IVC in 34 (79.07%) patients, while the stratified and tense gallbladder was found by US in 2 (4.65%) patients. The mean sedimentation rate was 14.3 in the patients with minor surgery, and 23.5 in major surgery group. Mean WBC in the patients with minor surgery was 7.4 x 10(9). The patients with major surgery had slightly increased mean value of the white cell count. It was 8.3 x 10(9). CONCLUSION: Statistically significant difference (p < or = 0.05) was found between the variables of the IVC, sedimentation rate, the white blood count, and the earlier operations. No significant difference was found between other analyzed variables.

[Necrosis of the duodenum resulting from acute necrotising pancreatitis and treated with complete duodenopancreatectomy].

Necrosis of the duodenum resulting from acute necrotising pancreatitis is a rare but potentially lethal complication. A small number of cases has been reported so far, the majority of which having, unfortunately, had a lethal outcome. We present the cases of two patients, a 21-year-old woman and a 54-year-old man, both suffering from extensive duodenal necrosis stemming from acute necrotising pancreatitis, and both cases involving the second and third sections of the duodenum, one of which was probably caused by the thrombosis of nutritive blood vessels, the other by an abscess of the head of the pancreas. Due to the extent of the necrosis of the duodenum, there was no option to close so large a hole or to employ any less drastic procedure, so that a complete duodenopancreatectomy had to be performed. One patient survived and has remained in good health for a period of almost ten years, to date. The other patient died six days after surgery due to infection, in spite of an abscence of any sort of anastomic complications.

[Anomalous choledocho-pancretic ductal junction in a choledochal cyst--a case report]. / Anomalni spoj holedohusa i pankreasnog voda kod ciste holedohusa.

Choledochal cysts are rare congenital anomalies, mostly detected in adults. Pathogenesis of these cysts seems to be in anomalous junction between pancreatic and common bile duct, above the papillary sphincter and outside of the duodenal wall. The absence of the sphincter above the junction is followed by reflux of the pancreatic juice into the bile duct leading to dilatation and fibrous changes of bile duct wall. A 38-year-old female is presented in whom a choledochal cyst was found 11 years earlier, during the operation performed for obstructive jaundice, when cystojejunostomy with Roux-en Y Jejunal limb was carried out. In February 1990, she was admitted to our Institution forjaundice and biliary colic. The patient was reoperated. Operative cholangiography showed an anomalous pancreatobiliary junction, choledochal cyst, dilated cystic duct and moderate dilatation of intrahepatic bile ducts. Cholecystectomy, desanastomosis with partial excision of choledochal cyst, and retrocolic choledochojejunostomy with the same Roux-en-Y jejunal limb were performed. Total excision of choledochal cyst was too risky due to chronic inflammatory changes in the hepatoduodenal ligament. Postoperative recovery was uneventful and the patient remained symptom-free so far.

[Pseudoaneurysm of gastroduodenal artery due to duodenal ulcer causing jaundice and interstitial pancreatitis but not bleeding]. / Pseudoaneurizma gastoduodenalne arterije ulkusne etiologije koja je dobela do ikterusa i intersticijalnog pankreatitisa, ali ne i do krvavljenja.

Aneurysms and pseudoaneurysms of the gastroduodenal artery are rare with less then 50 cases reported. Most frequently they are one of the consequences of pancreatitis much rarer duodenal ulcer or operative trauma during gastrectomy for duodenal ulcer or choledochotomy. We report on a 47 year-old man, chronic heavy alcohol consumer in whom a chronic postbulbar duodenal ulcer destroyed much of the back wall of the duodenum, eroded gastroduodenal artery causing pseudoaneurysm but without noticeable gastrointestinal bleeding. The patient had jaundice of obstructive type and elevated amilase. After Billroth II gastrectomy, suture of the gastroduodenal artery, cholecystectomy and T tube drainage of the common bile duct the patient developed intestinal obstruction caused by two interintestinal abscesses so that he had to be reoperated. After that he had a successful recovery, his general health greatly improved, he gained 15 kg in weight but two years after surgery he again started with heavy drinking and soon died due to serious brain damage. The case is rare and unusual at least for few reasons: First, the pseudoaneurysm was caused by duodenal ulcer. Second, a serious gastrointestinal bleeding did not take place. Third, the pseudoaneurysm was diagnosed by Doppler ultrasonography while angiography failed to opacify it due to thrombosis of the artery.

[Echinococcosis damaging the junction of the hepatic duct and causing severe obstructive icterus]. / Ehinokokus koji je razorio konfluens hepatickih zucnih vodova i doveo do maksimalnog opstrukcionog ikterusa.

Complications of the hydatid cyst of the liver on bile ducts appear in 5-25% representing almost two third of all complications of the hydatid liver cysts. Fortunately a damage to the bile ducts causes only an infection of the cyst usually without major consequences. More serious complications such as cholangitis and deep obstructive jaundice are much rarer. The defect of the bile duct usually is a periferal one. Damage to the major ducts are rarer and those on the confluence of hepatic ducts itself are the rarity. In that case biliary reconstruction may be a serious challenge. The authors present a 23 year-old man in whom a centrally localised hydatid cyst made a major damage of the confluence of all three hepatic ducts causing deep obstructive jaundice. After standard procedure for hydatid cyst an intracavital mucosa to mucosa hepaticojejunostomy was carried out with excellent success. More then six years after surgery the patient stayed symptom-free with bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase within normal limits.

[Long-term results of reconstruction of benign stenoses of the bile ducts]. / Udaljeni rezultati rekonstrukcija benignih stenoza zucnih vodova.

UNLABELLED: Over 27 year period (1.01.1974-31.12.2001) a 168 patients (pts) were operated on for benign bile duct strictures of types I to IV according to Bismuth's classification. Reconstruction of fresh lesions and lesions and strictures of sectorial or segmental ducts were not taken into account. The later are to be the subject of separate publication. There were 107(63.7%) women and 61(36.3%) men of average age of 46 years (ranging from 14 to 76 years). The average time from injury to our reconstruction was 8.2 years. In 162 pts (96.4%) an operative injury was the cause of the stricture, in 150 (89.3%) during cholecystectomy, in 8 (4.76%) during distal gastrectomy for duodenal ulcer and in 4 (2.38%) during surgery of the central hydatid cyst of the liver. In 112 (66.66%) pts 1 to 6 previous attempts of reconstructions had been performed elsewhere. According to the Bismuth, s classification there were 27 (16.07%) strictures of type I, 46 (27.38%) of type II, 66 (39.28%) of type III and 29 (17.26%) of type IV. The most frequent preoperative complications were intrahepatic lithiasis (34%), fibrosis or cirrhosis of the liver in 9.5%, liver abscesses in 6%, bilioduodenal fistula in 4.16%, biliary peritonitis in 4.16% and incisional hernia in 8.9% of pts. Suture mucosa-to-mucosa hepaticojejunostomy with 75 cm long Roux-en-Y jejunal limb described by Blumgart was performed in 161 (95.8%), choledochoduodenostomy in 3 (1.8%) and strictureplasty in 2 (1.2%) while in 2 pts the reconstruction was not technically possible. Three pts died during the first 6 months, 2 in whom the reconstruction was not possible and 1 with chronic endemic nephropathy. Eight of the rest 165 pts were lost from follow up being from Bosnia and Croatia due to well known war events. Six out of the 157 pts died in the mean time, 2 due to variceal bleeding (they had cirrhosis and portal hypertension at the time of reconstruction) an 4 due to unrelated causes (2 due to pancreatic carcinoma, 1 due to myocardial infarction and 1 due to stroke). Out of 151 alive fully followed pts, good result (pts symptom-free as after standard cholecystectomy) was achieved in 121 (80.13%), satisfactory (mild occasional symptoms but not cholangitis) in 27 (17.88%) and unsatisfactory result in 3 pts (2%), 2 of which were successfully reoperated (1 passed into group with good and 1 into group with satisfactory results). CONCLUSION: With properly performed suture mucosa-to-mucosa hepaticojejunostomy with 75 cm long Roux-en-jejunal limb good or satisfactory results can be achieved in almost all patients with benign bile duct stricture, provided it was not performed too late before the patient develop a secundary bilary cirrhosis and portal hypertension.