Transcatheter arterial embolization for massive hemobilia with N-butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA) Glubran 2.

BACKGROUND: Massive hemobilia is a life-threatening condition and therapeutic challenge. Few studies have demonstrated the use of N-butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA) for massive hemobilia. PURPOSE: To investigate the efficacy and safety of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) using NBCA Glubran 2 for massive hemobilia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between January 2012 and December 2019, the data of 26 patients (mean age 63.4 ± 12.6 years) with massive hemobilia were retrospectively evaluated for TAE using NBCA. The patients' baseline characteristics, severities of hemobilia, and imaging findings were collected. Emergent TAE was performed using 1:2-1:4 mixtures of NBCA and ethiodized oil. Technical success, clinical success, procedure-related complications, and follow-up outcomes were assessed. RESULTS: Pre-procedure arteriography demonstrated injuries to the right hepatic artery (n = 24) and cystic artery (n = 2). Initial coil embolization distal to the lesions was required in 5 (19.2%) patients to control high blood flow and prevent end-organ damage. After a mean treatment time of 11.2 ± 5.3 min, technical success was achieved in 100% of the patients without non-target embolization and catheter adhesion. Clinical success was achieved in 25 (96.2%) patients. Major complications were noted in 1 (3.8%) patient with gallbladder necrosis. During a median follow-up time of 16.5 months (range 3-24 months), two patients died due to carcinomas, whereas none of the patients experienced recurrent hemobilia, embolic material migration, or post-embolization complications. CONCLUSION: NBCA embolization for massive hemobilia is associated with rapid and effective hemostasis, as well as few major complications. This treatment modality may be a promising alternative to coil embolization.

Rapid identification of source of delayed hemobilia following endoscopic metallic stenting for malignant biliary obstruction.

Delayed hemobilia, a rare but potentially fatal complication of endoscopic metallic stenting for malignant biliary obstruction, requires prompt identification of the source of bleeding and subsequent embolization. However, hemobilia is characteristically intermittent, and computed tomography (CT) often fails to show pseudoaneurysms or extravasations. In particular, because the posterior superior pancreaticoduodenal artery (PSPDA) runs alongside the common bile duct for its whole length, it is readily obscured by metallic artifacts in that duct, such as stents, making identification of the source of bleeding by CT difficult. We have encountered three patients with delayed hemobilia from the PSPDA following endoscopic biliary stenting for malignant biliary obstruction in whom no extravasation or pseudoaneurysms were detected by contrast-enhanced CT during bleeding. However, when we identified that the PSPDA had a smaller diameter than in previous CTs in all three cases, we suspected that the PSPDA was the source of the bleeding. No extravasation or pseudoaneurysms were detected with celiac arteriography or superior mesenteric arteriography; however, extravasation and pseudoaneurysms were detected by direct PSPDA angiography. Hemostasis was achieved through embolization. Detecting a large decrease in the diameter of the PSPDA on contrast-enhanced CT during biliary bleeding may help to identify the source of that bleeding.

Hemobilia due to porto-biliary fistula complicating endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography after a recent liver transplantation.

A 60-year-old woman with autoimmune hepatitis submitted to liver transplantation presented with a biliary anastomotic stenosis. An endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) was complicated with a porto-biliary fistula due to the misplacement of a biliary stent. After multidisciplinary discussion, and the stent was endoscopically removed while a percutaneous transhepatic fully-covered self-expanded metal stent was placed in portal vein. Iatrogenic porto-biliary fistula following biliary stent placement is a rare and potentially life-threatening ERCP complication. In a suspected stent-related portal vein injury, this multidisciplinary strategy combining gastroenterology and radiology proved to be an effective and safe minimally invasive technique avoiding catastrophic consequences.

Challenges in Diagnosis and Management of Hemobilia.

Hemobilia, or hemorrhage within the biliary system, is an uncommon form of upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding that presents unique diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Most cases are the result of iatrogenic trauma, although accidental trauma and a variety of inflammatory, infectious, and neoplastic processes have also been implicated. Timely diagnosis can often be difficult, as the classic triad of upper GI hemorrhage, biliary colic, and jaundice is present in a minority of cases, and there may be considerable delay in the onset of bleeding after the initial injury. Therefore, the radiologist must maintain a high index of suspicion for this condition and be attuned to its imaging characteristics across a variety of modalities. CT is the first-line diagnostic modality in evaluation of hemobilia, while catheter angiography and endoscopy play vital and complementary roles in both diagnosis and treatment. The authors review the clinical manifestations and multimodality imaging features of hemobilia, describe the wide variety of underlying causes, and highlight key management considerations.©RSNA, 2021.

Revisiting Quincke's Triad: A Case of Idiopathic Hepatic Artery Aneurysm Presenting with Obstructive Jaundice.

INTRODUCTION: Hepatic artery aneurysm (HAA) is a rare occurrence. Quincke's triad of hemobilia; abdominal pain, obstructive jaundice, and upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding could be detected in one-third of HAA patients. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case of HAA with all signs of Quincke's triad and shock. The diagnosis of HAA was enforced by CT angiography. An urgent open surgical approach was elected by the surgical team. The patient underwent an uneventful resection of the HAA, and primary repair of the CHA followed with bilioenteric reconstruction. CONCLUSIONS: Recognizing the signs of Quincke's triad aids in prompt diagnosis of hemobilia in HAA, which suggests a rupture of the aneurysm or fistula formation into the biliary tree that would need urgent management by both vascular and HBP surgeons.

Triple Covered Metal Stent Deployment Using Side-by-Side Technique for Hemobilia due to Hepatocellular Carcinoma (with Video).

A hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) rarely expands into the biliary tract. In this situation, because of its hypervascular nature, cholangitis or hemobilia may sometimes occur. Surgery is one of the options in this situation. However, patients with HCC and bile duct invasion are sometimes in a poor general condition, as in the case presented in this report. For such patients, surgical treatment may need to be invasive. Thus, here we report technical tips for triple covered metal stent deployment using side-by-side technique for hemobilia due to HCC. After guidewire deployments at the left, anterior, and posterior bile ducts, 6-mm covered self-expandable metal stents were placed at each bile duct. This may be useful for high-grade hepatic hilar obstruction due to HCC because drainage and hemostasis effects are obtained.

Active bleeding due to a hepatic arterial pseudoaneurysm that occurred after acute cholangitis.

We read with interest the article by Guido Villa-Gómez, Manuel Alejandro Mahler and Dante Manazzoni "A new case of pseudoaneurysm of the right hepatic artery secondary to laparoscopic cholecystectomy". A 57-year-old cholecystectomized female was admitted due to abdominal pain with an analytical pattern of cholestasis and liver enzyme alterations, with cholangitis that progressed to septic shock of a biliary origin with gradual anemia and hypotension.

Isolated gallbladder injury from blunt abdominal trauma: A rare co-incidence.

Gallbladder injury resulting from blunt abdominal trauma is a rare entity and generally associated with other intra-abdominal injuries. Incidence of isolated gallbladder injury has not been reported yet. The most common mechanism of injury reported is road traffic accident. Diagnosis is usually made on imaging as clinical presentation may vary from no symptoms to peritonitis due to extravasation of bile in the abdominal cavity. Cholecystectomy is the treatment of choice and minimally invasive approach can be considered in haemodynamically stable patients.

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.

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.

Hemobilia following laparoscopic cholecystectomy: computed tomography findings and clinical outcome of transcatheter arterial embolization.

BACKGROUND: Hemobilia following laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) can occur in the early or late postoperative course and poses a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. PURPOSE: To assess computed tomography (CT) findings and clinical outcomes after transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) in patients presenting with hemobilia following LC. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fourteen patients treated for hemobilia following LC were included in the study. Three patients were diagnosed by endoscopy and 11 by abdominal contrast-enhanced CT. Coils or microcoils were superselectively deployed to occlude the bleeding vessel during TAE. Abdominal CT findings of hemobilia, and the success rate and complication of TAE were observed. RESULTS: Abdominal CT provided the following signs of hemobilia: hematoma within the abdominal cavity and gallbladder fossa, blood clots containing high attenuation within the bile duct, biliary dilatation, pseudoaneurysm of the right hepatic artery, contrast extravasation, enhancement of the bile duct wall, and hypoperfusion of the right lobe. The success rate of TAE was 100% and rebleeding did not occur in any patient. Post-embolization syndrome and hepatic ischemia occurred in nine patients, which was associated with age and the time interval between the LC and TAE. CONCLUSION: Abdominal CT provided direct signs that can aid in the diagnosis of hemobilia after LC. TAE allowed for successful treatment of hemobilia with minor complications.

Hemobilia due to a cystic artery pseudoaneurysm on ultrasound.

The present paper describes a case of hemobilia in a woman with a cystic artery pseudoaneurysm. The pseudoaneurysm could be seen with ultrasound, Doppler sonography and CT angiography. In our case, Doppler sonography was the most useful technique for diagnosis, revealing the turbulent forward and backwards flow within the gallbladder, representing the focally dilated artery. This was later confirmed by CT angiography. A recent bleeding site was found on the cholecystectomy specimen.

Hemobilia related to cystic artery pseudoaneurysm as a cause of acute pancreatitis.

Hemobilia is a rare cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB). It is commonly iatrogenic, and is more rarely caused by tumors, lithiasis, and inflammatory or vascular disease. We describe a case of cystic artery pseudoaneurysm, which caused acute pancreatitis as an unusual complication.

Hemobilia due to intracholecystic papillary neoplasm.

We report the case of a 39-year-old patient who presented an episode of upper gastrointestinal bleeding due to hemobilia. The imaging tests showed the gallbladder occupied by solid tissue, with a diagnosis of intracholecystic papillary neoplasm after the cholecystectomy. The intracholecystic papillary neoplasm of the gallbladder is a newly established entity and it is considered a subtype of intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct. Its presentation in the form of hemobilia has barely been described in the literature.

Multidetector CT diagnosis of massive hemobilia due to gallbladder polyposis in a child with metachromatic leukodystrophy.

Hemobilia secondary to gallbladder polyposis is rare in children but has been reported in a few children with metachromatic leukodystrophy. We present a case with preoperative multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) diagnosis of massive hemobilia caused by gallbladder polyposis in a patient with metachromatic leukodystrophy. Our report highlights the importance of both awareness of the association of gallbladder polyposis with other syndromes such as metachromatic leukodystrophy as well as the possibility of this entity presenting with life-threatening bleeding.

Haemobilia following blunt liver injury.

Blunt liver trauma is commonly managed by non-operative measures. We report a case of an American Association for the Surgery of Trauma grade III liver injury and its complications, successfully managed by a combination of minimally invasive interventions.