Management of Major Postcholecystectomy Biliary Injuries: An Analysis of Surgical Results in 62 Patients.

BACKGROUND: Management of injuries sustained during cholecystectomy requires expertise and involves a patient who is troubled, usually drained of personal resources. There has been an increase in incidence with laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The standard surgical management done for major biliary injuries is Roux-en-Y Hepaticojejunostomy (R-en-Y HJ). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients managed surgically for definitive management of biliary injuries in the form of R-en-Y HJ were included. Data were collected from prospectively maintained records and through outpatient follow-up. Demographic data, early and late surgical complications, long-term outcomes, and follow-up results were analyzed. RESULTS: Among the 62 patients, 26 were males, with a mean age of 37.4 ± 13.5 years. A total of 24 patients presented with ongoing biliary fistula. The Strasberg-Bismuth type of injury included types E1 in 8 (13%), E2 in 31 (50%), E3 in 19 (30.6%), and E4 in four patients (6.4%). There were no postoperative mortality and morbidity in 27.4% of patients. Atrophy-hypertrophy complex was seen in four patients, vascular injury in six patients, and an internal fistulisation with duodenum in two patients. Presence of comorbidities (P = 0.05), male gender (P = 0.03), tobacco use (P = 0.04), low albumin (P = 0.016), and more proximal (E4-E1) type of injury (P = 0.008) were independent predictors of postoperative morbidity (P < 0.05). The mean duration of patient follow-up was 26.2 ± 21.1 months. CONCLUSION: Optimization of preoperative nutrition, avoidance of intraoperative blood transfusion, proper timing of repair, and tension-free R-en-Y HJ draining all the ducts which is done at an experienced hepatobiliary center provide the best outcome.

Management of major postcholecystectomy biliary injuries: An analysis of surgical results in 62 patients

Background: Management of injuries sustained during cholecystectomy requires expertise and involves a patient who is troubled, usually drained of personal resources. There has been an increase in incidence with laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The standard surgical management done for major biliary injuries is Roux-en-Y Hepaticojejunostomy (R-en-Y HJ). Materials and Methods: Patients managed surgically for definitive management of biliary injuries in the form of R-en-Y HJ were included. Data were collected from prospectively maintained records and through outpatient follow-up. Demographic data, early and late surgical complications, long-term outcomes, and follow-up results were analyzed. Results: Among the 62 patients, 26 were males, with a mean age of 37.4 ± 13.5 years. A total of 24 patients presented with ongoing biliary fistula. The Strasberg­Bismuth type of injury included types E1 in 8 (13%), E2 in 31 (50%), E3 in 19 (30.6%), and E4 in four patients (6.4%). There were no postoperative mortality and morbidity in 27.4% of patients. Atrophy­hypertrophy complex was seen in four patients, vascular injury in six patients, and an internal fistulisation with duodenum in two patients. Presence of comorbidities (P = 0.05), male gender (P = 0.03), tobacco use (P = 0.04), low albumin (P = 0.016), and more proximal (E4-E1) type of injury (P = 0.008) were independent predictors of postoperative morbidity (P < 0.05). The mean duration of patient follow-up was 26.2 ± 21.1 months. Conclusion: Optimization of preoperative nutrition, avoidance of intraoperative blood transfusion, proper timing of repair, and tension-free R-en-Y HJ draining all the ducts which is done at an experienced hepatobiliary center provide the best outcome

Pegylated interferon alfa-2b plus ribavirin for treatment of chronic hepatitis C.

AIM: To study the safety and efficacy of pegylated interferon alfa-2b, indigenously developed in India, plus ribavirin in treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV). METHODS: One-hundred HCV patients were enrolled in an open-label, multicenter trial. Patients were treated with pegylated interferon alfa-2b 1.5 µg/kg per week subcutaneously plus oral ribavirin 800 mg/d for patients with genotypes 2 and 3 for 24 wk. The same dose of peginterferon plus weight-based ribavirin (800 mg/d for ≤ 65 kg; 1000 mg/d for > 65-85 kg; 1200 mg/d for > 85-105 kg; 1400 mg/d for > 105 kg body weight) was administered for 48 wk for patients with genotypes 1 and 4. Serological and biochemical responses of patients were assessed. RESULTS: Eighty-two patients (35 in genotypes 1 and 4 and 47 in 2 and 3), completed the study. In genotype 1, 25.9% of patients achieved rapid virologic response (RVR): while the figures were 74.1% for early virologic response (EVR) and 44.4% for sustained virologic response (SVR). For genotypes 2 and 3, all patients bar one belonged to genotype 3, and of those, 71.4%, 87.5%, and 64.3% achieved RVR, EVR, and SVR, respectively. In genotype 4, 58.8%, 88.2%, and 52.9% of patients achieved RVR, EVR, and SVR, respectively. The majority of patients attained normal levels of alanine aminotransferase by 4-12 wk of therapy. Most patients showed a good tolerance for the treatment, although mild-to-moderate adverse events were exhibited; only two patients discontinued the study medication due to serious adverse events (SAEs). Eleven SAEs were observed in nine patients; however, only four SAEs were related to study medication. CONCLUSION: Peginterferon alfa-2b, which was developed in India, in combination with ribavirin, is a safe and effective drug in the treatment of HCV.

Portal hypertension: effect of early splenic artery ligation on platelets count during splenectomy.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Hypersplenism due to splenic congestion is observed in portal hypertensive patients. This study was done to know the change in platelets count following early ligation of splenic artery during splenectomy in patients with thrombocytopenia due to portal hypertension with a hypothesis that splenic decongestion results in increased platelets count; thereby platelet transfusion can be avoided. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with platelets count <100,000 per mm(3) due to portal hypertension were involved and we followed a protocol of ligating splenic artery first, followed by 30 minutes waiting period for splenic decongestion. Blood sample was collected at 5 and 30 minutes for the estimation of platelets count. RESULTS: Significant rise in platelets was observed after 5 and 30 minutes of early ligation of splenic artery with mean rise being 23735 ± 15417 and 35085 ± 20458 per mm(3), respectively. The rise in platelets at 30 minutes was significant when compared with 5 minutes rise with mean platelets count being 91661 and 103070 per mm(3) at 5 and 30 minutes, respectively. The platelets rise was equal to 4 and 6 units of platelets concentrates, respectively. CONCLUSION: Early ligation of splenic artery during splenectomy for portal hypertension results in significant rise in platelets after 5 and 30 minutes. This method conserves platelets and avoids platelets transfusion and its complications.

Choledochal cysts : a review of literature.

Choledochal cysts are cystic dilation of extrahepatic duct, intrahepatic duct, or both that may result in significant morbidity and mortality, unless identified early and managed appropriately. The incidence is common in Asian population compared with western counterpart with more than two third of the cases in Asia being reported from Japan. The traditional anatomic classification system is under debate with more focus on etiopathogenesis and other aspects of choledochal cysts. Even though categorized under the same roof, choledochal cysts vary with respect to their natural course, complications, and management. In this review, with the available literature on choledochal cysts, we discuss different views about the etiopathogenesis along with the natural course, complications, diagnosis, and surgical approach for choledochal cysts, which also explains why the traditional classification is questioned by some authors.