Successful endoscopic management of a persistent bronchobiliary fistula with Histoacryl®/Lipiodol® mixture.

Introduction A bronchobiliary fistula (BBF) following liver directed therapy (resection/ablation) is a rare complication in which an abnormal communication between the biliary tract and bronchial tree is formed. This case report describes the successful management of a persistent BBF following multiple liver wedge resections and microwave ablation in a patient with a metastatic neuroendocrine tumour of the terminal ileum. Case history A 69-year-old man presented with unexplained weight loss and was subsequently diagnosed with a neuroendocrine tumour of the terminal ileum and liver metastasis. Following elective right hemicolectomy and multiple bilobar liver wedge resections combined with liver microwave ablation, he developed an early bile leak. A month later, a right subphrenic collection was identified and four months following surgery, biloptysis was noted. Numerous attempts with endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage (ERBD) failed to achieve sufficient drainage. The patient was treated successfully with endoscopic injection of a mixture of Histoacryl® glue (B Braun, Sheffield, UK) and Lipiodol® (Guerbet, Solihull, UK). There was no evidence of the BBF one year following intervention. Conclusions This novel approach for persistent BBF management using endoscopic Histoacryl® glue embolisation of the fistula tract should be considered either as an adjunct to ERBD or when biliary tract decompression by drainage and/or sphincterotomy fails, prior to proceeding with surgical interventions.

Successful management of cholecystocolic fistula by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography: a report of two cases.

Cholecystocolic fistula is a rare cause of diarrhoea, and the diagnosis may be significantly delayed. Air in the biliary tree on imaging should raise suspicion, and barium enema or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography will be diagnostic. Cholestyramine should provide effective symptomatic relief until definitive treatment is arranged. We report on two patients with cholecystocolic fistula presenting with severe diarrhoea. They were treated successfully by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.

Cholecystocolonic fistula preoperatively diagnosed by endoscopic ultrasound of the colon.

The patient was a 58-year-old woman. Gallbladder stones and occult blood in feces were detected during a physical check-up, then the patient was referred to Nagoya University Hospital. In this case the fistula was difficult to diagnosed by ultrasound and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) of the upper intestinal tract because the gallbladder was filled with stones. Barium enema and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography did not reveal fistula. Curved-linear array EUS of the colon showed fistula.

Pneumobilia--clue to an unusual cause of diarrhea.

A 65-year lady presented with diarrhea and weight loss of six months duration. Initial evaluation suggested that malabsorption was the possible underlying mechanism for the diarrhea. Work up for the common etiologies of malabsorption was non-contributory. Presence of pneumobilia raised the suspicion of a bilio-enteric fistula, which was subsequently confirmed on barium enema and endoscopic cholangio-pancreaticography to be a cholecystocolic fistula. At surgery, a fistulous tract from the fundus of the gallbladder was found to be communicating with the hepatic flexure. Fistulectomy with cholecystectomy resulted in prompt relief of symptoms. Cholecystocolic fistula (CCF) is a rare biliary fistula with diverse presentation.

Laparoscopic treatment of cholecystocolonic fistula: report of a case preoperatively diagnosed by barium enema.

The authors present a case of cholecystocolonic fistula with no specific symptoms, such as severe diarrhea or pneumobilia, preoperatively diagnosed and treated by the laparoscopic approach. A preoperative barium enema demonstrated a cholecystocolonic fistula. The fistula was divided by the laparoscopic stapling technique. Important features in the management of this case are (1) preoperative diagnosis of the fistula by barium enema carried out for screening colorectal cancer, (2) dissection of the gallbladder from its bed before division of the fistula, and (3) use of the laparoscopic stapling technique to divide the fistula while preventing fecal soilage.

Spontaneous multiple cholecystoenteric fistulas--a case report.

Spontaneous multiple cholecystoenteric fistulas are relatively rare complications of chronic cholecystitis. One cholecystoduodenal and two cholecystocolonic fistulas were observed in a 65-year-old woman whose symptoms included fever, chills, jaundice, diarrhea, and prolonged right upper quadrant pain. Pneumobilia, which is a pathognomonic sign of bilioenteric fistula, was also detected by her plain abdomen X-ray on admission. Both types of fistulas were correctly diagnosed preoperatively by barium enema, upper GI series and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticography. The patient was referred for surgery and fistulas were identified during laparotomy. Cholecystectomy, division of these fistulas, and primary repair of these bowel defects were successfully performed. The postoperative course was unremarkable. We report this unusual case and briefly review the hypothesized pathogenesis, typical symptomatology, radiographic diagnosis, complications and therapeutic modalities of this condition.

[Spontaneous cholecystocolic fistula]. / Spontan kolecystokolisk fistel.

Cholecystoenteric fistula is a rare complication of biliary tract diseases. The symptoms are abdominal pain, fever, nausea, vomiting, flatulence, fat intolerance, diarrhoea and weight loss. The fistula may often be asymptomatic for a long time. We report a 76-year-old woman with a cholecystocolic fistula between the gallbladder and the right flexure of the colon. The symptoms were persistent right upper quadrant pain and diarrhoea. Barium enema demonstrated the fistula. The patient was treated with an open cholecystectomy and a resection of the fistula.

The clinical and radiological features of cholecystocolic fistulae.

The clinical and radiological features of seven patients presenting with cholecystocolic fistulae are reviewed. The majority of the patients were elderly (age range 43-85 years, mean 70.7 years) and there was a female preponderance (6:1). The condition usually has a benign clinical course. Diarrhoea was the most common presenting symptom and the typical clinical features of gallbladder disease were absent. Cholangitis occurred in only one patient. The time between onset of symptoms and diagnosis varied from 1 week to 2 years (mean 22 weeks). In only one patient was the diagnosis of biliary-intestinal fistula suspected on the basis of the plain abdominal radiograph (Case 5). A diagnosis of cholecystocolic fistula was established by barium enema (5 cases), endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) (1 case) and diagnostic laparotomy (1 case). The only cause identified in this series was acute or chronic cholecystitis.

Laparoscopic approach to cholecystocolic fistula: report of a case.

The development of a fistulous tract from the gallbladder is associated with gallstones in 90% of cases. Cholecystocolic fistula (CCF) accounts for 10 to 20% of all enteric biliary fistulas. The conventional treatment advocated is cholecystectomy and closure of the fistulous communication. In this report a case of a patient whose only complaint was severe diarrhea is described. CCF was demonstrated by barium enema. The patient was treated by laparoscopic surgery. The case history and laparoscopic approach to enteric biliary fistula are described.

Cholecystocolic fistula: an unusual presentation and diagnosis by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.

This report describes a patient with a cholecystocolic fistula whose presentation was unusual because it lacked the signs and symptoms that suggest biliary disease (abdominal pain, food intolerance, and belching) and because the fistula was not visualized on barium enema but was apparent on endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography after incidental pneumobilia discovered on ultrasound directed our attention to the biliary tree. A previous Billroth II with vagotomy may have predisposed to the development of the fistula.

Spontaneous cholecystocolonic fistula: a model situation for bile acid diarrhea and fatty acid diarrhea as a consequence of a disturbed enterohepatic circulation of bile acids.

Fistulas between the biliary and gastrointestinal tract complicate 12% of cases with cholecystitis. Communications of the biliary tract occur with decreasing frequency into the duodenum, colon and stomach. Clinical symptoms of cholecysto-colonic fistulas are chills and temperature elevation indicating ascending cholangitis. As bile acids bypass the small intestine, diminished fat absorption results. The unusual amount of bile acids in the colon delays water absorption, causing bile acid diarrhea. A pneumocholangiogram is seen in only 50% of the cases. Barium enema will visualize the fistula most often.