Iatrogenic Injury of Biliary Tree-Single-Centre Experience.

Cholecystolithiasis is among the most prevalent gastrointestinal disorders requiring surgical intervention, and iatrogenic damage to the bile tree is a severe complication. We aimed to present the frequency of bile duct injuries and how our facility handles these complications. We retrospectively analyzed bile duct injuries in patients undergoing surgery. We concentrated on factors such as sex, age, indications for surgery, type of surgery, primary procedure, bile tree injury, repair, and timing as well as early and late complications. There were 22 cases of bile duct injury in the studied material, primarily affecting women-15 individuals (68.2%). Eleven cases (45.7%) of acute cholecystitis were the primary reason for surgery, and an injury to the common bile duct that extended up to 2 cm from the common hepatic duct was the most common complication (European Association for Endoscopic Surgery grade 2). Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy was the most common repair procedure in 14 cases (63.6%). Eleven patients (50%) experienced early complications following reconstruction surgery, whereas five patients (22.7%) experienced late complications. An annual mortality rate of 22.7% (five patients) was observed. Iatrogenic bile duct injury is a severe complication of surgical treatment for cholecystolithiasis. Reconstruction procedures are characterized by high complication rates and high mortality.

Gallstone recurrence after minimally-invasive cholecystolithotomy with gallbladder reservation: a follow-up of 720 cases.

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the hazards of cholecystolithiasis recrudesce after cholecystolithotomy with gallbladder reservation; To provide a theoretical basis for reducing the recurrence rate of gallstone. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The patients who were followed up for at least one year after minimally-invasive operation with gallbladder reservation because of cholecystolithiasis were selected. In this population, the patients with recurrence after surgery were as the case group, those patients with no recurrence after surgery were as the control group. Through collection of general data of selected cases, relevant information of Ultrasound Examinations of gallbladder and history data of the patients questionnaires were completed. Relevant factors of gallstone recurrence of patients, were observed through statistic analysis. Main factors go as follows: gender, age, nation, career, BMI, whether or not the patient had the history of chronic superficial gastritis, and regulation of gallbladder emptying function, family history, etc. The information of selected cases is complete. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The main hazards of cholecystolithiasis recurrence were BMI, family history of gallstone disease, and emptying function of gallbladder.

Acute abdominal complications following hip surgery.

Hip surgeries are some of the most common and successful orthopedic procedures. Although rarely, abdominal complications do occur and are associated with unfavorable outcomes.We aimed to identify and describe the severe abdominal complications that appear in patients under-going elective or traumatic hip surgery. A four year retrospective electronic database research identified 408 elective primary hip replacements,51 hip revisions and 1040 intra and extracapsular proximal femur fractures. Out of these, three males and 4 females between 64 - 84 years old were identified to have developed acute abdominal complications: perforated acute ulcer (3),acute cholecystitis (2), volvulus (1), toxic megacolon with peritonitis (1) and acute colonic pseudo-obstruction (1).Complications debuted 3 - 10 days after index orthopedic surgery. Acute perioperative abdominal complications are rarely encountered during orthopedic surgery. When these do occur, they do so almost exclusively in patients with hippathology, comorbidities and most often lead to life threatening situations. We thus emphasize the need for early identification and appropriate management by both orthopedic and general surgery doctors in order to improve patient safety.

Cholecystectomy due to symptomatic gallbladder disease after orthotopic liver transplantation: report of three cases.

Although biliary stones and sludge are relatively common after liver transplantation (OLT), symptomatic cholecystolithiasis or acute cholecystitis have rarely been reported. Until the early 1990s few transplant centers preserved the donor's gallbladder for transplantation with the liver graft. This technique allows one to perform procedures, such as cholecystojejunostomy or a donor gallbladder conduit for biliary tract reconstruction, to treat posttransplant biliary complications. Herein we have reported three cases of successful either laparoscopic or open cholecystectomy for symptomatic cholecystolithiasis or acute cholecystitis between 14 and 19 years after OLT, as well as a systematic literature review.

Cholecystolithiasis after gastric bypass: a clinical, biochemical, and ultrasonographic 3-year follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: Cholecystolithiasis (CL) is a common occurrence after bariatric surgery. Few studies have prospectively analyzed not only gallstone formation after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP), but also its complications and symptoms. This study aimed to identify the incidence of CL itself and symptomatic CL after RYGBP as well as the presence of predictive factors for CL. METHODS: A prospective observational study was performed on 40 morbidly obese patients free of gallbladder disease undergoing RYGBP at a public hospital in Brazil between February and October 2007. They were followed up clinically, biochemically (lipid profile), and ultrasonographically at 6 months and 1, 2, and 3 years after surgery. Postoperative prophylactic bile salt therapy (ursodiol) was not prescribed. Of the 40 patients, 38 completed the 3-year follow-up. They were divided into two groups: those who formed gallstones and those who did not. These groups were compared with respect to gender, age, preoperative body mass index (BMI) and lipid profile results, and postoperative percentage of excess BMI lost (%EBL) and lipid profile results. RESULTS: The overall postoperative incidence of CL was 28.9 % (11 out of 38), with a 15.7 % incidence of symptomatic CL (6 out of 38). Gender, age, preoperative BMI, postoperative %EBL, and preoperative and postoperative lipid profile results were not identified as predictive factors for CL after RYGBP. CONCLUSIONS: There was a high incidence of CL after RYGBP, occurring primarily in the first 2 years postoperatively. There was no identified predictive factor for gallstone formation after RYGBP. Most patients who formed gallstones were symptomatic, some with potentially severe complications.

Prophylactic cholecystectomy, a mandatory step in morbidly obese patients undergoing laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass?

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of symptomatic gallstone disease requiring cholecystectomy (CCE) after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGBP) and to identify the peri-operative risk factors associated with postoperative symptomatic gallstone disease. METHODS: Between August 2003 and November 2009, 724 patients underwent LRYGBP at the Groeninge Hospital. Preoperative ultrasound was performed in 600 of 641 patients without history of CCE and 120 (20.0%) were diagnosed with cholecystolithiasis. RESULT: Six hundred twenty-five patients were included, 43(6.9%) developed delayed symptoms related to biliary disease. Of these 43 patients, 39 underwent post-LRYGBP CCE. Of these 39 patients, 9 (7.5%) had a positive ultrasound prior to LRYGBP. Multivariate analysis identified weight loss at 3 months post-LRYGB of more than 50% of excess weight [HR (95% CI), 2.04 (1.04-4.28); p = 0.037) as the sole significant independent predictor of delayed symptomatic cholecystolithiasis. CONCLUSIONS: Symptomatic gallstone disease occurred only in 6.9% of patients post-LRYGBP. Multivariate analysis identified weight loss at 3 months post-LRYGBP of more than 50% of excess weight as the sole significant independent predictor of delayed symptomatic cholecystolithiasis. Prophylactic CCE should not be recommended at the time of LRYGBP.

[Biochemical characteristics of operating bile composition in different types of cholecystolithiasis].

With a view to predicting the outcomes of surgical treatment of cholelithiasis, depending on the composition of concretions by high performance liquid chromatography was studied lipid composition and the spectrum of the operating bile acids in 10 patients with bile pigment cholelithiasis, 15--with cholesterol cholelithiasis, 15--with a combination of cholesterol cholelithiasis, and scab forms cholesterosis gallbladder, 6--to polypous-mesh form cholesterosis gallbladder. As a control, use the operating bile 6 patients with adenomatous and fibro-adenomatous polyps of the gallbladder. Based on the results of the study was proved the need for correction of biliary insufficiency in patients operated on for cholesterin associated pathology of the gallbladder. Spectrum of bile acids of operating bile helped justify holding litholytic therapy to prevent aggregation of bile.

Peroral cholecystoscopy with electrohydraulic lithotripsy for treatment of symptomatic cholelithiasis in end-stage liver disease (with videos).

BACKGROUND: Patients with end-stage liver disease have an increased risk of symptomatic gallstone disease, as well as complications associated with cholecystectomy. We hypothesized that peroral transpapillary cholecystoscopy with electrohydraulic lithotripsy of gallbladder stones is technically feasible and beneficial in patients who are high operative risks. DESIGN: Observational, descriptive. PATIENTS: Patients with Child's class C cirrhosis and with gallstone symptoms who were awaiting liver transplantation. INTERVENTIONS: Gallbladder stenting, dilation of the cystic duct, cholecystoscopy, electrohydraulic lithotripsy, ursodiol therapy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Gallbladder access and visualization, stone clearance, symptom relief, and complications. RESULTS: The gallbladder wall and stones were adequately visualized. Electrohydraulic lithotripsy achieved stone clearance after two sessions. Mild postprocedure pancreatitis occurred after the first treatment. The patient remained symptom free, stent free, and stone free until a liver transplantation, which was performed 25 months later. LIMITATIONS: Proof of concept performed in a single patient. CONCLUSIONS: Peroral transpapillary cholecystoscopy is technically feasible. Electrohydraulic lithotripsy of gallbladder stones under direct vision can achieve stone clearance. Patients with cirrhosis who are awaiting transplantation and other high-risk surgical candidates with symptomatic gallstone disease may benefit from this treatment option. Studies to assess the efficacy and safety of this novel technique are needed before routine clinical use can be recommended.

[Gallbladder complications after bariatric surgery]. / Complications vésiculaires après chirurgie bariatrique.

With the increased incidence of obesity in the developed countries, and the failure of medical treatments, bariatric surgery has increased rapidly. Although laparoscopic gastroplasty is the most popular bariatric intervention in France, the gold standard tends to be the laparoscopic gastric bypass. The severe weight loss caused by this type of procedure induces specific middle or long term complications such as biliary lithiasis. In this literature we describe different physiopathological mechanisms of lithiasis after gastric bypass by coeliosurgery or gastroplasty, their diagnosis, and preventive treatment to avoid these complications.

[Common occurrence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and cholecystolithiasis]. / A nem alkoholos zsírmáj és az epekövesség együttes elofordulásának megfigyelése.

INTRODUCTION: Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease is an acquired metabolic disease of the liver caused by accumulation of triglycerides in hepatocytes that is followed by necrobiotic inflammatory reaction, fibrosis and cirrhosis. Obesity, insulin resistance, diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidaemia are important pathogenetic factors of the process. It is known that among patients with cholecystolithiasis and diabetes mellitus in their anamnesis complications of cholecystolithiasis occur much more frequently like among patients without diabetes. AIM: The aim of the study is observation of the incidence of cholecystolithiasis and its complications in patients with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and comparison of cholecystolithiasis incidence between healthy population and population with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. METHODS: Abdominal ultrasonographical findings were analysed in patients hospitalised at our department and in outpatients, patients with severe accompanied diseases were excluded of the analysis. The analysed basic file of patients could be considered as a selected file. The independence of the two examined variables was measured by chi(2) test. RESULTS: Steatosis was described in 38% of the examined patients, cholecystolithiasis was described in 16% of patients. Cholecystolithiasis and its complications occur two times more frequently in patients with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (33%) like Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in patients with cholecystolithiasis (16%). Complications of cholecystolithiasis occur more frequently among patients with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease like in healthy individuals. The chi(2) test did not bring significant results concerning the independence of cholecystolithiasis and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. CONCLUSION: Pathogenetic factors of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease participate in the pathogenesis of cholecystolithiasis. Their common pathogenetic factors bring about that the formation of cholecystolithiasis is probably faster than the progression of steatosis.

Expectant management of the asymptomatic gallbladder at Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

BACKGROUND: Because of the claim that about one third of patients develop gallstones within 6 months of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), many have recommended preoperative ultrasonography for all patients and/or prophylactic cholecystectomy (CCY), or ursodiol to prevent stone formation. METHODS: Prospective data were collected from 1391 consecutive patients followed up for > or = 6 months after RYGB (2000-2005) to assess our practice of not routinely removing the gallbladder and not administering ursodiol. RESULTS: Of the 1391 patients, 334 (24%) had undergone CCY before RYGB. Of the remaining 1057 asymptomatic patients, 516 had undergone preoperative ultrasonography. Stones were identified in 99 (19%), sludge in 5 (0.97%), and polyps in 6 (1.1%). Of the 984 patients with gallbladders left in situ after RYGB, only 80 (8.1%) became symptomatic and required delayed CCY. The average excess weight loss at the delayed CCY was 65%. The risk of undergoing delayed CCY seemed to be restricted to the first 29 months after RYGB, because none of 165 patients followed up for 30-144 months required CCY. CONCLUSION: Although CCY should be performed whenever symptoms mandate, the value of routine preoperative ultrasonography and CCY was not apparent from the results of our study. Waiting until symptoms develop might simplify the operative procedure because of the significant weight loss that should have occurred after RYGB. Using an expectant approach, most patients undergoing RYGB will not require CCY.

Acute cholecystitis complicating cardiac surgery: case series involving more than 16,000 patients.

BACKGROUND: Acute cholecystitis after cardiac surgery is rare but carries a high mortality. Its management remains controversial. METHODS: We reviewed all cases of calculous cholecystitis (CC) and acalculous cholecystitis (ACC) encountered at our institution over the past 11 years. Data collection included preoperative variables, details of performed procedures, postoperative course, and outcome. RESULTS: The overall incidence was 0.03% for CC and 0.08% for ACC (5 and 13 of 16,576 patients, respectively). Patients in the ACC group appeared to be sicker patients whereas most patients in the CC group had an uncomplicated recovery from cardiac surgery. The diagnosis was straightforward with typical presentation and ultrasonographic findings in the CC group. In the ACC group, the presentation was less specific, and although useful as diagnostic tool, ultrasonography findings were not as consistent as in the CC group. In the CC group, 3 patients underwent surgery, and 2 patients were treated conservatively. One patient died of cardiac causes after uncomplicated cholecystectomy. In the ACC group, 7 patients were treated medically and 6 patients underwent surgery. The overall mortality was 23% (3 patients). All deaths occurred in patients treated surgically. CONCLUSIONS: Given the low incidence of CC, we do not recommend preoperative screening or intervention for cholelithiasis. Treatment should be according to established guidelines. Patients with ACC, without overt peritonitis, should initially be treated conservatively with appropriate antibiotics. However, failure of significant improvement within 48 hours or a worsening clinical picture should lead to surgical intervention.

Complications of gallstone disease in kidney transplantation patients.

BACKGROUND: We studied the complications of gallstone disease in kidney transplantation patients and evaluated whether the screening and treatment of gallstones before acceptance to the kidney waiting list is relevant. METHODS: Complications of gallstone disease were evaluated in 1608 kidney transplantation patients on cyclosporine and long-term steroid treatment with median age 45.5 years, transplanted between 1990 and 2000. To evaluate the prevalence of cholecystolithiasis after kidney transplantation an abdominal ultrasound examination was cross-sectionally performed to a subgroup of 304 patients and the results were correlated to their serum lipid values, changes in BMI and use of statins. RESULTS: Pre-transplant cholecystectomy due to cholecystolithiasis (prerequisite for acceptance to kidney waiting list) had been performed on 71 (4%) of the patients. Thirty (15%) patients with diagnosed post-transplant gallstones and four without gallstones developed biliary complications. There were 25 cases of cholecystitis of which three resulted in gallbladder perforations. Seventeen patients (50%) with biliary complications required urgent surgery and one (3%) patient died of post-operative complications. In the subgroup of ultrasound examination patients (median 7 years post-transplant follow-up) 81% of the patients had no gallstones and 9% of the patients had gallstones had developed after transplantation. Patients with pre-transplant gallstones were older (P < 0.01) and patients with post-transplant gallstones gained the most weight during the follow-up. No differences in lipid values were found. CONCLUSION: In transplantation patients, the complications of gallstone disease may be severe. Screening and treatment of pre- and post-transplantation gallstone disease are recommended.

Porcelain gallbladder complicated with pancreas divisum.

We report a rare case of porcelain gallbladder associated with pancreas divisum (PD). A 60-year-old woman suffered from discomfort in the back of the right side. An abdominal radiograph revealed a calcified spherical mass in the right upper quadrant. Ultrasonography revealed a scattered echo with a posterior acoustic shadow in the gallbladder wall. A plain computed tomography (CT) scan showed flecks of intramural calcification in the wall of the gallbladder. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) showed separate openings for the Santorini and Wirsung ducts. The patient underwent cholecystectomy after porcelain gallbladder and pancreas divisum had been diagnosed. The porcelain gallbladder resulted from a stone impacted in the neck of the gallbladder. Patients with PD should be followed carefully, because gallstones often accompany PD, and porcelain gallbladder may result, as in this patient.

Is routine cholecystectomy necessary at the time of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass?

BACKGROUND: Morbid obesity is associated with an increased incidence of gallstones. Rapid weight loss, as occurs after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP) may also increase gallstone development. Standard surgical treatments for gallbladder disease and its complications might be more difficult following RYGBP. Controversy still exists whether prophylactic cholecystectomy is indicated at the time of RYGBP. METHODS: Retrospective analysis was performed on a database of 535 patients who underwent RYGBP for morbid obesity during a 5.5-year period. Patients were followed and medical records were reviewed. Ursodeoxycholic acid was not prescribed following surgery. RESULTS: 8% of patients had had cholecystectomy before the RYGBP. 75 of 492 patients (15%) were found to have gallstones at RYGBP, and cholecystectomy was performed at the same time. 3 of these patients had bile leaks but only 1 required further intervention (percutaneous transhepatic drainage for 3 weeks). Following RYGBP, 14 patients (3%) have required cholecystectomy for symptomatic cholelithiasis in the postoperative period. All were performed laparoscopically and without complication. CONCLUSIONS: Symptomatic gallbladder disease after RYGBP has not been frequent. Prophylactic cholecystectomy for a normal gallbladder is not necessary at the time of RYGBP. Patients without biliary tract symptoms may not require routine preoperative sonogram. If an abnormal gallbladder or gallstones are found at the time of an RYGBP operation, concomitant cholecystectomy should be considered.

Mini-laparoscopic cholecystectomy in children under 10 years of age with sickle cell disease.

BACKGROUND: Cholelithiasis is very common in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) and is responsible for recurrent attacks of abdominal pain. The ideal management, especially for children, remains controversial. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the safety and outcome of mini-laparoscopic cholecystectomy (MLC) in young children under age of 10 years with SCD. METHODS: A prospective study was carried out of 75 children with SCD under 10 years of age with recurrent abdominal pains seen between August 2001 and March 2004 at Armed Forces Hospital, Khamis Mushayt, Saudi Arabia, who were screened for cholelithiasis. Twelve (16%) of the 75 children were found to have gallstones. The mean age was 7.8 years (range 4-9 years). All 12 children underwent MLC. Anaemia was corrected preoperatively in all the patients. Operative time, intraoperative complications, hospital stay, and postoperative recurrent abdominal pain were recorded. RESULTS: The mean operating time was 46.5 min (range: 35-65 min). Intraoperative cholangiogram failed in two children due to narrow cystic ducts. The mean hospital stay was 2.1 days (range: 2-4 days). No patient required intra-abdominal drain. The mean follow-up period was 13.4 months (range: 4-24 months). The only postoperative complication was deep jaundice 1 month postoperatively due to cholestasis, and this responded to medical treatment. None of the children had recurrent abdominal pain after MLC. CONCLUSION: Mini-laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a safe surgical procedure for the management of cholelithiasis in children with SCD and leads to improvement in the quality of life by decreasing the frequency of recurrent abdominal pain.

Gallbladder reefing for cholelithiasis as a complication of colon cancer.

In an 83-year-old woman presenting with gallstones and a cancer in the sigmoid colon, resection was performed through a median incision, after which the wound was extended, the stones were crushed, and the gallbladder was infolded and sutured (reefed). Even in elderly patients, some treatment for bile stones should be done at abdominal section to avoid future cholecystitis or complications. Reefing is a useful technique that can be done easily from a comparatively narrow field of view.

Increased risk of cholelithiasis after esophagectomy.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Truncal vagotomy enhances gallstone formation. As esophagectomy involves truncal vagotomy, it was hypothesized that esophagectomy would increase the risk of cholelithiasis. This study was intended to test this hypothesis and to elucidate factors influencing the incidence of cholelithiasis after esophagectomy. METHODS: The study was a retrospective analysis of 136 patients with esophageal carcinoma who had survived for 5 years or longer after esophagectomy. Eight patients (5.9%) had cholelithiasis before esophagectomy. Of the remaining 128 patients, 113 underwent abdominal ultrasonographic examination for cholelithiasis twice a year after esophagectomy; the median follow-up time was 89.5 months (range, 60-117 months). RESULTS: Gallstones developed in 26 (23%) of the 113 patients undergoing regular ultrasonographic examination. The cumulative incidence of cholelithiasis reached a plateau of 34% at 10 years after esophagectomy. Reduction of body mass index after esophagectomy was the strongest independent predictor of gallstone formation after esophagectomy ( P = 0.0001, log-rank test; P = 0.0003, Cox's proportional hazards model). The prevalence of cholelithiasis at 5 years after esophagectomy (18/113; 16%) was significantly higher than that before esophagectomy (8/136; 5.9%; P = 0.012, Fisher's exact test). CONCLUSIONS: Esophagectomy yields an increased risk of the development of cholelithiasis. Truncal vagotomy and postsurgical malnutrition may contribute to this increased gallstone formation after esophagectomy.

Segmental adenomyomatosis of the gallbladder predisposes to cholecystolithiasis.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to clarify the association between adenomyomatosis of the gallbladder and cholecystolithiasis. METHODS: A cholecystectomy was performed for cholelithiasis or various other conditions in 1099 patients, of whom 608 had cholecystolithiasis. Adenomyomatosis of the gallbladder was classified as one of three variants: segmental, fundal, and diffuse. Segmental adenomyomatosis has an annular stricture dividing the gallbladder lumen into the "neck compartment" and the "fundal compartment". Bile lipid analysis was performed in 8 patients with segmental adenomyomatosis. RESULTS: Adenomyomatosis of the gallbladder was observed in 156 patients (14.2%), of whom 99 had segmental adenomyomatosis, 54 had fundal adenomyomatosis, and 3 had diffuse adenomyomatosis. The prevalence of cholecystolithiasis was higher in patients with segmental adenomyomatosis (88.9%) than in those without adenomyomatosis (52.3%; P < 0.001). Gallstones were detected earlier in patients with segmental adenomyomatosis than in those without ( P < 0.001) and were located predominantly in the fundal compartment. Bile in the fundal compartment had lower concentrations of total bile acids ( P = 0.012), with an increased cholesterol saturation index ( P = 0.012), compared to bile in the neck compartment. CONCLUSIONS: Segmental adenomyomatosis is a condition predisposing to cholecystolithiasis, probably due to the lithogenic environment in the fundal compartment. Fundal or diffuse adenomyomatosis appears to be unrelated to cholecystolithiasis.