Right hepatectomy due to hepatolithiasis caused by endoclip migration after laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a case report.

Complications related to cholecystectomy occur in <3% of patients. Endoclip migration after laparoscopic cholecystectomy with hepatolithiasis is an extremely rare complication. We report a case of hepatolithiasis secondary to endoclip migration after laparoscopic cholecystectomy treated successfully via right hepatectomy. A 35-year-old female presented with upper abdominal pain, fever and vomiting 9 years after laparoscopic cholecystectomy for chronic calculus cholecystitis. Laboratory investigation revealed gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase of 550 U/L and alkaline phosphatase of 350 U/L. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography revealed a dilated intrahepatic bile duct in segment 6 filled with stones. After preoperative evaluation, a right hepatectomy was performed using the intermittent Pringle maneuver. The postoperative recovery was uneventful and the patient was well after 4 months of follow-up. Although rare, endoclip migration should be considered in patients presenting with intrahepatic lithiasis even many years after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Liver resection may be necessary in cases of failure of endoscopic extraction.

Risk factors for long-term mortality in a large cohort of patients wait-listed for liver transplantation in Brazil.

Liver donor shortage and long waiting times are observed in many liver transplant programs worldwide. The aim of this study was to evaluate the wait list in a developing country, before and after the introduction of the MELD scoring system. In addition, the MELD score ability to predict mortality in this setting was assessed. A single-center retrospective study of patients wait-listed for liver transplantation between 1997 and 2010 was undertaken. There were 1339 and 762 patients on the list in pre-MELD and MELD era, respectively. A competitive risk analysis was performed to assess age, gender, disease diagnosis, serum sodium, MELD, Child-Pugh, ABO type, and body mass index. Also, MELD score predictive ability at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after list enrollment was evaluated. The overall mortality rates on waiting list were 31.0% and 28.1% (P = 0.16), and the median waiting times were 412 and 952 days (P < 0.001), in pre and MELD eras, respectively. The competitive risk analysis yielded the following significant P values for both eras: HCC (0.03 and <0.001), MELD (<0.001 and 0.002), sodium level (0.002 and <0.001), and Child-Pugh (0.02 and <0.001). The MELD mortality predictions at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months were similar. In conclusion, in a liver transplant program with long waiting times, the MELD system introduction did not improve mortality rate. In either pre and MELD eras, HCC diagnosis, serum sodium, Child-Pugh, and MELD were significant predictors of prognosis. Short- and long-term MELD based mortality predictions were similarly accurate. Strategies for increasing the liver donor pool should be implemented to improve mortality.

Extrahepatic right hepatic duct diverticulum: a rare entity.

BACKGROUND: Douglas described choledochal cysts in 1852 and Todani proposed an anatomy-based classification in 1977. The classification is the most extensively used, but does not include some rare variations. We present a case of hepatic duct diverticulum, one of the variations, and discuss its diagnosis and treatment. METHODS: A 57-year-old woman presented with upper abdominal pain and discomfort associated with nausea and vomiting. She was finally diagnosed with cholelithiasis and right hepatic duct diverticulum. RESULT: The patient underwent resection of the hepatic duct diverticulum and cholecystectomy, and was asymptomatic 26 months after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Hepatic duct diverticulum is a rare form of choledochal cyst, not included in Todani's classification. Todani's classification including this and other uncommon variations of choledochal cysts must be reviewed. The best diagnostic imaging methods and treatment for choledochal cysts must be defined.