Interobserver Agreement for Classifying Post-liver Transplant Biliary Strictures in Donation After Circulatory Death Donors.

INTRODUCTION: Biliary strictures are a common complication of donation after circulatory death (DCD) liver transplantation (LT) and require multiple endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) procedures. Three classification systems, based on cholangiograms, have been proposed for categorizing post-LT biliary strictures. We examined the interobserver agreement for each of the three classifications. METHODS: DCD LT recipients from 2012 through March 2017 undergoing ERCP for biliary strictures were included in the study. Initial cholangiograms delineating the entire biliary tree prior to endoscopic intervention were selected. One representative cholangiogram was selected from each ERCP. Five interventional endoscopists independently viewed each anonymized cholangiogram and classified the post-LT stricture according to each of the three classification systems. The Ling classification proposes four types of post-LT strictures based on their location. The Lee classification proposes four classes based on location and number of intrahepatic strictures. The binary system classifies strictures into anastomotic or non-anastomotic types. The Krippendorff's alpha reliability estimate was used to grade the strength of agreement as "poor," "fair," "moderate," "good," or "excellent" for values between 0-0.20, 0.21-0.4, 0.41-0.6, 0.61-0.08, and 0.81-1, respectively. RESULTS: One hundred DCD LT recipients (age 57.07 ± 8.8 years; 71 males) were initially evaluated. Of these, 49 patients who underwent 206 ERCP procedures for biliary strictures were included in the analysis. One hundred thirty-nine cholangiograms were selected and subsequently classified by five endoscopists. Interobserver agreement for post-LT biliary strictures was 0.354 for Ling classification (fair agreement), 0.405 for Lee classification (fair agreement), and 0.421 for the binary classification (moderate agreement). The binary classification provided the least amount of detail regarding the location and number of biliary strictures. DISCUSSION: The currently available classification systems for assessing post-LT biliary strictures have sub-optimal interobserver agreement. A better-designed classification system is needed for categorizing post-LT biliary strictures.

Accuracy of ASGE criteria for the prediction of choledocholithiasis

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Evolution in the utilization of biliary interventions in the United States: results of a nationwide longitudinal study from 1998 to 2013.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Bile duct surgery (BDS), percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC), and ERCP are alternative interventions used to treat biliary disease. Our aim was to describe trends in ERCP, BDS, and PTC on a nationwide level in the United States. METHODS: We used the National Inpatient Sample to estimate age-standardized utilization trends of inpatient diagnostic ERCP, therapeutic ERCP, BDS, and PTC between 1998 and 2013. We calculated average case fatality, length of stay, patient demographic profile (age, gender, payer), and hospital characteristics (hospital size and metropolitan status) for these procedures. RESULTS: Total biliary interventions decreased over the study period from 119.8 to 100.1 per 100,000. Diagnostic ERCP utilization decreased by 76%, and therapeutic ERCP utilization increased by 35%. BDS rates decreased by 78% and PTC rates by 24%. ERCP has almost completely supplanted surgery for the management of choledocholithiasis. Fatality from ERCP, BDS, and PTC have all decreased, whereas mean length of stay has remained stable. The proportion of Medicare-insured, Medicaid-insured, and uninsured patients undergoing biliary procedures has increased over time. Most of the increase in therapeutic ERCP and decrease in BDS occurred in large, metropolitan hospitals. CONCLUSIONS: Although therapeutic ERCP utilization has increased over time, the total volume of biliary interventions has decreased. BDS utilization has experienced the most dramatic decrease, possibly a consequence of the increased therapeutic capacity and safety of ERCP. ERCPs are now predominantly therapeutic in nature. Large urban hospitals are leading the shift from surgical to endoscopic therapy of the biliary system.

Colecistostomía percutánea como tratamiento de la colecistitis aguda en pacientes con alto riesgo quirúrgico / Percutaneous cholecystostomy to treat acute cholecystitis in patients with high risk for surgery

Objetivo. Evaluar los resultados de las colecistostomías percutáneas realizadas como tratamiento urgente de colecistitis aguda, en busca de predictores de supervivencia. Valorar la recurrencia de colecistitis tras la retirada del catéter en pacientes descartados para cirugía diferida, y buscar factores predictores de recurrencia. Material y métodos. Se revisan retrospectivamente 40 pacientes sometidos a colecistostomía durante dos años. Se analiza la relación de la supervivencia durante el periodo de hospitalización con la evolución de fiebre, dolor abdominal, leucocitosis y proteína C reactiva después del procedimiento. Se analiza la recurrencia de colecistitis tras la retirada del catéter en pacientes descartados para colecistectomía diferida por alto riesgo quirúrgico, así como la influencia de la colangiografía no permeable, la edad, el sexo y las comorbilidades en el porcentaje de recurrencias. Resultados. Durante la hospitalización fallecieron cuatro pacientes por shock séptico (10%). La colecistostomía mejoró significativamente la fiebre, la leucocitosis y el dolor abdominal en un máximo de 5 días tras el procedimiento, pero estas mejoras no tuvieron un efecto estadísticamente relevante sobre la supervivencia, por lo que no se consideran útiles como factores pronósticos. Entre los 15 pacientes descartados para cirugía hubo seis recurrencias de colecistitis (40%) con un seguimiento medio de 6,7 meses tras la retirada del catéter. Un paciente falleció por recurrencia. No se encontró asociación de recurrencia con los parámetros analizados. Conclusiones. La colecistostomía ofrece resultados similares a los obtenidos en otras series como tratamiento urgente de la colecistitis aguda en pacientes con alto riesgo quirúrgico. La retirada del catéter en pacientes descartados para cirugía con colecistitis litiásica es una opción desaconsejable debido al elevado riesgo de recurrencia de colecistitis en comparación con otras series (AU)

Objective. To evaluate the results of percutaneous cholecystostomy for urgent treatment of acute cholecystitis, with the aim of identifying factors that predict survival. To analyze the recurrence of cholecystitis after catheter withdrawal in patients considered unsuitable candidates for delayed surgery, with the aim of identifying factors that predict recurrence. Material and methods. We reviewed 40 patients who underwent percutaneous cholecystostomy in a two-year period. We analyzed survival during hospitalization in relation with fever, abdominal pain, leukocytosis, and C-reactive protein before and after the procedure. We analyzed the recurrence of cholecystitis after catheter withdrawal in patients considered unsuitable candidates for delayed surgery, as well as the influence of obstruction seen on cholangiography, age, sex, and comorbidities on the recurrence rate. Results. During the hospital stay, 4 (10%) patients died of septic shock. Cholecystostomy improved fever, leukocytosis, and abdominal pain within five days of the procedure, but these improvements did not have a statistically significant effect on survival and were not therefore considered useful prognostic factors. Among the 15 patients considered unsuitable candidates for delayed surgery, 6 (40%) had recurrences of cholecystitis during a mean follow-up period of 6.7 months after catheter withdrawal. We found no association between recurrence and any of the parameters analyzed. Conclusions. Outcomes in our series of patients with high risk for surgery who underwent cholecystostomy for urgent treatment of acute cholecystitis were similar to those reported in other series. Withdrawing the catheter in patients considered unsuitable candidates for delayed surgery is not recommended due to the high risk of recurrence of cholecystitis in comparison with other series (AU)

Direct peroral cholangioscopy with a conventional videogastroscope in a transplanted patient with anastomotic stricture and choledocholithiasis

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Magnetic resonance cholangiography: Current and future perspectives.

Magnetic resonance cholangiography (MRC) has become the standard of reference for imaging of the biliary ducts. The use of three-dimensional (3D) sequences has resulted in improved spatial resolution with virtually isotropic voxel and improved signal/noise ratio. In addition to MRC images, 3D fat suppressed T1-weighted MR images should be systematically obtained to search for intrahepatic calculi. MRC plays a major role in the diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma and assessment of its resectability. With modern MR systems the performance of MR is basically the same that of CT for evaluation of arterial and portal vein extent. MRC is a key imaging modality for the diagnosis of primary sclerosing cholangitis. Different imaging patterns may be observed including multifocal intra- and extrahepatic strictures alternating with slightly dilated ducts. Focal signal abnormality of the liver parenchyma and focal parenchymal atrophy represent the consequences of biliary duct obstruction on liver parenchyma. Diagnosis of biliary lithiasis is performed by combination of MRC and T1-weighted MR imaging. MRC can be performed for the diagnosis of secondary cholangitis including ascending cholangitis, ischemic cholangitis and IgG4-related sclerosing cholangitis. Hepatobiliary contrast agents could be used for demonstrating the site of biliary duct leakage after surgery and for functional imaging. MR imaging can also be used to determine the prognosis of PSC. The inherent limitations of MRC of bile ducts are still the suboptimal spatial resolution for evaluation of distal intrahepatic biliary ducts.

Innovation and the difficult gallbladder: tread lightly.

Innovation has advanced the treatment of biliary disease significantly, but further progress is needed to improve safety. An uncommonly used technique is described, which could potentially prevent serious complications for the difficult gallbladder.

Pancreatic dysontogenetic cysts / Quistes disontogénicos pancreáticos

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Colecistitis hemorrágica y hemofilia: dos complicaciones infrecuentes del lupus eritematoso sistémico / Hemorrhagic cholecystitis and hemobilia: two infrequent complications of systemic lupus erythematosus

Introducción: los pacientes afectos de lupus eritematoso sistémico (LES) sufren con frecuencia síntomas gastrointestinales. Debe incluirse en su diagnóstico diferencial la patología de la vesícula biliar. Presentamos el caso de una paciente con colecistitis alitiásica y hemobilia. Caso clínico: mujer de 24 años diagnosticada de LES en tratamiento con Sintrom®, Dacortin® y Dolquine® que presentó cuadro de colecisititis aguda litiásica y hemobilia, con presencia de cálculo enclavado en papila. Se realizó colecistectomía y apertu - ra del colédoco, lo que permitió confirmar la hemobilia y extracción del cálculo. Discusión: el tratamiento de la colecistitis en los pacientes con LES es controvertido ya que, aunque la mayoría de los casos revisados se han resuelto con la colecistectomía, otros lo han hecho mediante tratamiento conservador con corticosteroides. En nuestra opinión, la presencia de colelitiasis en un paciente con LES, dolor en hipocondrio derecho y sospecha analítico-ecográfica de colecistitis precisa un tratamiento quirúrgico ya que la causa de la colecistitis puede ser vascular por su enfermedad de base, pero también litiásica o mixta. Además, las posibles complicaciones no responderán al tratamiento farmacológico(AU)

Introduction: the patients affected by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) often suffer gastrointestinal symptoms. The differential diagnosis should contemplate pathology of the gall bladder. We present the case of a patient with hemorrhagic lithiasic cholecystitis and hemobilia. Case report: 24 year old female diagnosed with SLE under treatment with Sintrom®, Dacortin® and Dolquine® that presented acute lithiasic cholecystitis and hemobilia with a distal calculus. Cholecystectomy and aperture of the ductus choledochus were performed allowing to confirm the hemobilia and to extract the calculus. Discussion: the treatment of cholecystitis in the patients with SLE is controversial due to the fact that most reviewed cases have been solved with cholecystectomy, or in other cases with conservative treatment with corticosteroids. We believe that the presence of cholelithiasis in a patient with SLE with pain on the right hypochondrium and ultrasound confirming the suspicion of cholecystitis demands a surgical treatment since the cause may be vascular, lithiasic or combined. Besides, the possible complications will not respond to pharmaceutical treatment(AU)

An update on biliary imaging.

This article provides an overview of the gamut of biliary imaging techniques currently available to the clinician. It provides a brief history of biliary imaging, particularly intravenous cholangiography, including most commonly used contrast agents. This history is followed by a detailed discussion of modern-day practice modalities, including fluoroscopic and barium cholangiography, CT cholangiography, and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography.

Colangiografía por resonancia magnética (CRM). ¿Ha cumplido las expectativas? / Magnetic resonance cholangiography: has it met expectations?

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Intraoperative cholangiography: past, present, and future.

The extrahepatic biliary tree was first visualized in 1918 when Reich injected bismuth and petrolatum and defined a biliary fistula, thus opening the field for further studies of the biliary tree. Mirizzi recorded the first series of intraoperative cholangiography in 1932 using static films. Later, the mobile C-arm image intensifier using a TV monitor was reported in a series by Berci and colleagues in 1978. They emphasized the importance of using routine cholangiography in all laparoscopic cholecystectomies. This procedure can be performed through the cystic duct or through the gallbladder with excellent visualization of the anatomy of the extrahepatic biliary tree, including the potential of finding bile duct stones, stricture, and tumor, as well as defining the function and anatomy of Oddi's sphincter. Numerous benefits of this technique can be observed, including early definition of a bile duct leak or injury. X-ray resolution will continue to improve as well as three-dimensional imaging, and intraoperative magnetic imaging cholangiopancreatography may be developed as the future intraoperative cholangiogram.

The substitution of endoscopic ultrasonography for endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography: implications for service development and training.

Diagnostic indications of endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography (ERCP) have not completely disappeared. But the substitution of this examination by endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) in the work-up of biliary and pancreatic diseases is supported by EUS's reliability and cost-effectiveness. In the future EUS will be challenged by magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP), when easily available. Therefore, the choice between EUS, MRCP and ERCP will become simplified: MRCP as the first option for diagnosis, EUS in doubtful cases needing sampling for pathology and ERCP as a therapeutic alternative to some surgical procedures.