Laparoscopic bile duct exploration during pregnancy: a multi-center case series and literature review.

BACKGROUND: The physiological changes of pregnancy increase the risk of gallstone formation and choledocholithiasis. Traditionally, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) has been the main approach for managing choledocholithiasis during pregnancy, but recent progress in laparoscopic bile duct exploration (LBDE) has demonstrated this technique as a safe and effective alternative option. METHODS: A retrospective multicenter study of all patients who underwent LBDE during pregnancy from five centers with proven experience in LBDE between January 2010 and June 2020 was performed. The primary endpoint was to analyze the role of LBDE during pregnancy and to further characterize its position as a safe and effective alternative for the management of choledocholithiasis. A systematic review of the published literature relating to LBDE during pregnancy until February 2022 was also performed. RESULTS: Five institutions reported performing LBDE during pregnancy in 8 patients. Median surgical time was 75 min (range: 60-140 min). The bile duct was cleared successfully in all patients, and the median hospital stay was 2 days (range: 1-3 days). The literature review identified a total of 7 patients with a successful CBD clearance rate of 86%. There were no major maternal, fetal, or pregnancy-related complications in any of the total 15 patients included. The symptomatic common bile duct lithiasis with deranged liver function tests was the most frequent indication (n=7). CONCLUSION: LBDE during pregnancy appears to be safe and effective. More evidence reporting outcomes of LBDE during pregnancy is needed before any strong recommendations can be made.

Leveraging access to technology and enhanced surgical technique (LATEST) in laparoscopic bile duct exploration (LBDE).

Single-stage management of choledocholithiasis with concomitant gallstones consists of performing either laparoscopic bile duct exploration (LBDE) or intra-operative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography at the same time as laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Transductal LBDE is associated with significantly higher post-operative morbidity, longer operative times and longer hospital stay when compared to transcystic LBDE. The aim of this study was to report the transcystic exploration rate and post-operative outcomes from LBDE before and after implementation of the LATEST (Leveraging Access to Technology and Enhanced Surgical Technique) principles. METHODS: A retrospective review of 481 consecutive patients between February 1998 and July 2021 was performed. Patients were assigned into two groups determined by whether they were operated before or after the implementation of LATEST. Data collected included pre-operative demographic information, medical co-morbidity, pre-operative investigations, and intra-operative findings (including transcystic exploration rate, negative choledochoscopy rate, use of holmium laser lithotripsy and operative time). Outcomes of this study were the transcystic exploration rate, stone clearance rate, conversion to open surgery, post-operative morbidity and mortality, and length of post-operative hospital stay. RESULTS: The pre-LATEST group contained 237 patients and the LATEST group comprised of 244 patients. Ultra-thin choledochoscopes and holmium laser lithotripsy were used more frequently in the LATEST group (41.4% and 18.4%, respectively). Enhanced surgical techniques (correction of the cystic duct-CBD junction and the trans-infundibular approach) were also performed more frequently in the LATEST group. More patients in the LATEST group received transcystic LBDE (86.1% vs 11.0%, p < 0.0001). The LATEST group had significantly higher stone clearance rates (98.8% vs 93.7%, p = 0.0034), reduced post-operative morbidity and shorter post-operative hospital stay (4 days vs 1 day, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: LATEST describes four key factors that can be used when performing LBDE. The adoption of LATEST in LBDE is associated with an increased stone clearance, a higher transcystic exploration rate and reduced post-operative morbidity.

Laparoscopic hand-sewn cardioplasty: an alternative procedure for end-stage achalasia.

BACKGROUND: Primary achalasia is a rare oesophageal motor disorder characterized by the absence of swallow-induced relaxation of the lower oesophageal sphincter and diminished or absent oesophageal body peristalsis. Around 5% of these patients will develop end-stage achalasia, where oesophagectomy may be advocated. We present the laparoscopic hand-sewn cardioplasty as an alternative 'oesophagus-preserving' procedure in patients with end-stage achalasia. METHODS: We present a retrospective review of four patients who underwent laparoscopic hand-sewn cardioplasty. Data collected included pre-operative demographic information and investigations; and post-operative outcomes. Patients were scored pre- and post-operatively using Reflux Symptom Index, Eating Assessment Tool-10 and Voice Handicap Index-10 questionnaires. RESULTS: Four patients underwent laparoscopic hand-sewn cardioplasty during the study period. In one patient, it was performed as a rescue procedure during attempted myotomy following multiple perforations of friable mucosa. In the other three patients, laparoscopic hand-sewn cardioplasty was performed for end-stage achalasia. None of the patients had post-operative complications and all patients were discharged on the second post-operative day. All patients experienced improvement in swallowing symptoms (EAT-10; p = 0.03) but developed post-operative gastroesophageal reflux. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first published case series of laparoscopic hand-sewn cardioplasty for end-stage achalasia. It appears to be a safe and effective procedure for the treatment of end-stage achalasia, offering an alternative minimally invasive procedure to oesophagectomy. Laparoscopic hand-sewn cardioplasty can also be used as a 'rescue' procedure during myotomy in patients who have poor-quality mucosa which perforates intra-operatively or is at high risk of perforation/leaking post-operatively.

Porcine Aorto-Renal Artery (PARA) model for laparoscopic transcystic common bile duct exploration: the evolution of a training model to meet new clinical needs.

BACKGROUND: The transcystic approach to laparoscopic common bile duct exploration has gained popularity for the single-stage management of choledocholithiasis with concomitant gallstones. Our team previously described the use of a porcine aorta segment to simulate the common bile duct during laparoscopic skill training. METHODS: With the advent of the transcystic approach as a contender for the first-line technique of accessing the common bile duct, we present an evolution of the laparoscopic training model using a Porcine Aorta-Renal Artery (PARA) specimen to simulate the structural integrity, dimensions and spatial distribution of both the human cystic and common bile ducts. RESULTS: This training model allows the use of a choledochoscope for transcystic exploration of the biliary tree. It combines fidelity and reproducibility required for a simulated training model to offer experience in laparoscopic transcystic common bile duct exploration. Validation of the model was demonstrated by 21 surgeons who completed a questionnaire after performing the simulated procedure. In all sections assessing reliability, face validity and content validity of the model, mean rating scores were between 4 and 5 out of five (good or excellent). CONCLUSIONS: We present the evolution of an established training model for laparoscopic common bile duct exploration which focusses the attention on the transcystic approach to the common bile duct and the use of lithotripsy techniques. The need for such a model reflects the shift in the current practice of the laparoendoscopic management of choledocholithiasis with concomitant gallstones from transductal to transcystic approach.

Risk factors for symptomatic anastomotic postoperative recurrence following ileo-colic resection in Crohn's disease.

AIM: Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease characterized by alternating periods of exacerbation and remission. Surgical resection is not curative and postoperative recurrence (POR) remains a challenge in these patients. The aim of this study was to identify clinical variables that influence the risk of symptomatic anastomotic POR in patients with ileo-colonic Crohn's disease. METHOD: A retrospective study of Crohn's disease patients who had undergone ileo-colic resection between January 2014 and December 2018 was performed. For each patient, data including demographic information, Crohn's disease clinical setting, preoperative radiological data, operative and histological data, pre- and postoperative medication history and postoperative clinical course, including recurrence of disease, were extracted. Symptomatic anastomotic POR was defined as symptoms of Crohn's disease in the presence of confirmed anastomotic POR (endoscopic and/or radiological POR). RESULTS: For the study period, 104 patients were eligible and included for analysis. The cumulative probability of symptomatic anastomotic POR was 14%, 30%, 42%, 50% and 50% at 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 years, respectively. Two clinical variables on multivariate analysis were associated with increased risk of symptomatic anastomotic POR, namely age <17 years at diagnosis [hazard ratio (HR) 2.17, p = 0.019] and gastrointestinal involvement (extent) >30 cm (HR 1.85, p = 0.048). CONCLUSION: This study describes the natural history of POR after ileo-colic resection for Crohn's disease, as defined by endoscopic, radiological and clinical outcomes. Age <17 years at diagnosis and gastrointestinal involvement (extent) >30 cm were independent risk factors for symptomatic anastomotic POR.

Transductal versus transcystic laparoscopic common bile duct exploration: an institutional review of over four hundred cases.

BACKGROUND: Many studies have failed to demonstrate significant differences between single- and two-staged approaches for the management of choledocholithiasis with concomitant gallstones in terms of post-operative morbidity. However, none of these studies paid specific attention to the differences between the methods of accessing the bile duct during laparoscopy. The aim of this study was to report outcomes of transcystic versus transductal laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LCBDE) from our experience of over four hundred cases. METHODS: Retrospective review of 416 consecutive patients who underwent LCBDE at a single-centre between 1998 and 2018 was performed. Data collected included pre-operative demographic information, medical co-morbidity, pre-operative investigations, intra-operative findings (including negative choledochoscopy rates, use of holmium laser lithotripsy and operative time) and post-operative outcomes. RESULTS: Transductal LCBDE via choledochotomy was achieved in 242 patients (58.2%), whereas 174 patients (41.8%) underwent transcystic LCBDE. Stone clearance rates, conversion to open surgery and mortality were similar between the two groups. Overall morbidity as well as minor and major post-operative complications were significantly higher in the transductal group. The main surgery-related complications were bile leak (5.8% vs 1.1%, p = 0.0181) and pancreatitis (7.4% vs 0.6%, p = 0.0005). Median length of post-operative stay was also significantly greater in the transductal group. CONCLUSION: This study represents the largest single study to date comparing outcomes from transcystic and transductal LCBDE. Where possibly, the transcystic route should be used for LCBDE and this approach can be augmented with various techniques to increase successful stone clearance and reduce the need for choledochotomy.

The ABCdE score for PREdicting Lithotripsy Assistance during transcystic Bile duct Exploration by Laparoendoscopy (PRE-LABEL).

BACKGROUND: Common bile duct (CBD) stones are reported in ~ 15% of patients who undergo laparoscopic cholecystectomy for symptomatic gallstones. Prior to lithotripsy techniques, transcystic laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LCBDE) was limited to smaller CBD stones. The addition of lithotripsy to LCBDE increases cost, operative time and staffing requirements. Predicting which patients might require lithotripsy would be useful in operative planning. The primary aim was to investigate clinical variables for predicting lithotripsy assistance during transcystic bile duct exploration by laparoendoscopy (PRE-LABEL). Secondary aims were to develop and validate a predictive scoring tool. METHODS: A retrospective review of a prospectively collected database of consecutive patients who underwent transcystic LCBDE at a single centre in the UK was performed to investigate clinical variables for PRE-LABEL and develop a scoring tool (ABCdE score: age, bilirubin, CBD diameter, ERCP). Binary logistic regression was used to investigate which independent variables (predictors) were associated with lithotripsy assistance during transcystic LCBDE. The ABCdE score was applied to both UK and Spain patient cohorts to determine its sensitivity, specificity and accuracy. RESULTS: From 8 pre-operative clinical variables analysed, age ≤ 40 years, bilirubin > two-times upper limit of normal, CBD diameter ≥ 10 mm and ERCP failure of stone extraction were independent predictors of requiring lithotripsy during transcystic LCBDE and formed the ABCdE score. The hazard ratios were 2.87, 3.79, 2.78 and 10.06, respectively. An ABCdE score ≥ 2 resulted in 71% sensitivity, 81% specificity and 79% accuracy in predicting lithotripsy during LCBDE (UK cohort). Validation using a contemporary cohort from Spain yielded similar sensitivity, specificity and accuracy. CONCLUSIONS: This study represents the only study to date reporting independent predictors of requiring lithotripsy assistance during transcystic LCBDE. ABCdE score ≥ 2 can highlight patients that may require lithotripsy in order to avoid failure of transcystic LCBDE and therefore avoid choledochotomy or post-operative ERCP.

Cirugía biliar 2.0 / Biliary Surgery 2.0

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Varices coledocianas: un hallazgo colangioscópico infrecuente / Choledochal varices: An uncommon cholangioscopic finding

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Laparoscopic management of type II Mirizzi syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Mirizzi syndrome is an uncommon complication of longstanding gallstone disease. Pre-operative diagnosis is challenging, and to date, there is no consensus on the standard management for this condition. Until recently open cholecystectomy was the standard of care for type II Mirizzi syndrome (McSherry classification). The objective of this study was to assess the incidence and management of type II Mirizzi syndrome in patients with proven or suspected choledocholithiasis undergoing laparoscopic common bile duct (CBD) exploration and present our experience in the laparoscopic management of this rare condition over the last 21 years. METHODS: Prospective data collection of eleven cases of type II Mirizzi syndrome amongst a series of 425 laparoscopic bile duct explorations was performed between 1998 and 2019. Demographic, clinical, diagnostic, intra-operative, and post-operative data were recorded. RESULTS: The incidence of type II Mirizzi syndrome was 2.6% in 425 laparoscopic CBD explorations. All operations were completed laparoscopically with closure of the defect over a decompressed CBD (T-tube n = 3, antegrade stent n = 5, transcystic drain n = 2), and in one case a non-drained duct was closed with Endoloop. Stone clearance rate was 100% (11 cases). In two patients the transinfundibular approach was used in conjunction with holmium laser lithotripsy to enable choledochoscopy and successful stone clearance. Three patients were complicated in the post-operative period with bile leak (n = 2) and lower respiratory tract infection (n = 1). An incidental gallbladder carcinoma was found in one patient. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic management of type II Mirizzi syndrome is feasible and safe when performed by experienced laparoscopic foregut surgeons. Laparoscopy and choledochoscopy can be combined with novel approaches and techniques to increase the likelihood of treatment success.

Holmium laser lithotripsy improves the rate of successful transcystic laparoscopic common bile duct exploration.

PURPOSE: Transcystic laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LCBDE) seems safer than transductal LCBDE and is associated with fewer biliary complications. It has traditionally been limited to smaller bile duct stones however. This study aimed to assess the ability of laser-assisted bile duct exploration by laparoendoscopy (LABEL) to increase the rate of successful transcystic LCBDE in patients with bile duct stones at the time of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. METHODS: Patients undergoing LCBDE between 2014 and 2018 were retrospectively analysed. Baseline demographic and medical characteristics were recorded, as well as intra-operative findings and post-procedure outcomes. Standard LCBDE via the transcystic route was initially attempted in all patients, and LABEL was only utilised if there was failure to achieve transcystic duct clearance. The transductal route was utilised for failed transcystic extraction. RESULTS: One hundred and seventy-nine consecutive patients underwent LCBDE; 119 (66.5%) underwent unaided transcystic extraction, 29 (16.2%) required LABEL to achieve transcystic extraction and 31 (17.3%) failed transcystic extraction (despite the use of LABEL in 7 of these cases) and hence required conversion to transductal LCBDE. As such, LABEL could be considered to increase the rate of successful transcystic extraction from 66.5% (119/179) to 82.7% (148/179). Patients requiring LABEL were however more likely to experience major complications (CD III-IV 5.6% vs 0.7%, p = 0.042) although none were specifically attributable to the laser intra-operatively. CONCLUSIONS: LABEL is an effective adjunct to LCBDE that improves the rate of successful transcystic extraction.

Quantifying tension in tension-free hiatal hernia repair: a new intra-operative technique.

BACKGROUND: A similar technique to measure crural closure tension has not been described before and with this method there is now a possibility to optimise this operation with objective measures, a hundred years after it was first described. The aims of this study were to develop a reliable method for measuring the tension of crural closure during hiatal hernia repair and to describe the tension characteristics of crural closure. METHODS: 50 patients underwent crural tension measurement. Hiatal surface area (HSA) was measured intraoperatively and a Sauter FH 50 Universal Digital Force Gauge was used to measure the tension of crural closure during cruroplasty. Outcome measures included the mean tension of the crural closure and the presence of any muscle splitting during the cruroplasty. RESULTS: A combined total of 148 interrupted cruroplasty sutures were performed in all fifty patients. Each interrupted suture had three tension measurements recorded. The mean standard deviation amongst 148 sets of tension measurements was 0.27. Age, hiatal width and HSA were positively correlated with crural tension with r values of 0.44 (p = 0.0015), 0.81 (p < 0.0001) and 0.78 (p < 0.0001), respectively. Strength of association was low for age (r2 = 0.19) but moderate for hiatal width and HSA (r2 = 0.65 and 0.61, respectively). The presence of muscle splitting occurred at higher crural closure tension (5.3 N vs. 1.62 N, p < 0.0001). The lowest observed mean crural closure tension causing muscle splitting was 3.52 N (IQR 3.93-6.77 N). CONCLUSIONS: We have developed a technique for measuring the tension of crural closure during laparoscopic repair of hiatal hernia which is reproducible, quick, of low cost and requires only minimal additional equipment. Initial findings suggest that crural closure tension up to ~ 4 N could be the permissible tension threshold for suture cruroplasty and higher tension often results in muscle splitting during cruroplasty.

Eficacia del sellante de fibrina-colágeno para reducir la incidencia de fístulas biliares tras la exploración laparoscópica de la vía biliar / Efficacy of fibrin-collagen sealant for reducing the incidence of biliary fistulae after laparoscopic exploration of the bile duct

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Trans-infundibular choledochoscopy: a method for accessing the common bile duct in complex cases.

PURPOSE: During laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LCBDE) where Calot's triangle cannot be safely dissected due to a 'frozen' hepatic hilum secondary to severe inflammation or fibrosis, the preferred transcystic approach to the common bile duct (CBD) is precluded. The aim of this paper is to describe a safe method of accessing the CBD via a trans-infundibular approach (TIA) in complex cases where conventional access to the cystic duct or CBD is denied. METHODS: A retrospective review of 154 consecutive patients who underwent LCBDE at a single centre between 2014 and 2018 was performed. Outcomes of this study were successful access to the CBD to achieve choledochoscopy, successful stone clearance (when required), conversion to open surgery, total or subtotal cholecystectomy, post-operative complications, and length of hospital stay. RESULTS: Nine (5.8%) patients underwent access to the CBD via TIA choledochoscopy. TIA-LCBDE resulted in a stone extraction rate of 86% with one patient requiring choledochotomy. There were zero conversions to open surgery, and total/near total cholecystectomy was achieved in all patients. One patient suffered a post-operative complication for bilateral atelectasis and lower respiratory tract infection. Median length of hospital stay was 3 days. CONCLUSIONS: The use of a trans-infundibular approach to the CBD is indicated when the hepatic hilum is 'frozen' with severe inflammation and/or fibrosis precluding safe dissection of the critical structures within Calot's triangle. This strategy enables exploration of the CBD via the transcystic route without the need for critical view dissection or choledochotomy.