Laparoscopic repair of transected right hepatic artery during cholecystectomy: A report of two cases.

In laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC), the treatment of iatrogenic biliary tract injury has been given much attention. However, most accidental right hepatic artery (RHA) injuries are treated with simple clipping. The reason is that the RHA has difficulty in revascularization, and it is generally considered that RHA injury does not cause serious consequences. However, some studies suggest that some cases of RHA ligation can cause a series of pathological changes correlated to arterial ischemia, such as liver abscess, bile tumor, liver atrophy and anastomotic stenosis. Theoretically, RHA blood flow should be restored when possible, in order to avoid the complications of right hepatic ischemia. The present study involved two patients, including one male and one female patient. Both patients were admitted to the hospital with the diagnosis of chronic cholecystitis and gallbladder stone, and developed ischemia of the right half hepatic after accidental transection of the RHA. Both patients underwent continuous end-end anastomosis of the RHA with 6-0 Prolene suture. After the blood vessel anastomosis, the right half liver quickly recovered to its original bright red. No adverse complications were observed in follow-ups at three and six months after the operation. Laparoscopic repair of the RHA is technically feasible. Reconstruction of the RHA can prevent complications associated with right hepatic ischemia.

Factores determinantes de las conversiones en la colecistectomía laparoscópica / Determining Factors in Conversions in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Introducción: en ocasiones es necesario culminar una colecistectomía laparoscópica por la vía convencional, esta estrategia se conoce como conversión. Objetivo: determinar y cuantificar la influencia de diferentes factores que condicionan la conversión durante la colecistectomía laparoscópica. Método: durante 2000 a 2010, se realizó una investigación transversal en una población de 22 pacientes tratados con colecistectomía en los que fue necesario convertir la intervención vía laparoscópica en cirugía abierta. Se determinó y cuantificó la influencia de diferentes variables en la conversión; basados en la estimación del Odds Ratio (OR), se obtuvo estimaciones puntuales y por intervalo de confianza (del 95 %) del OR. Resultados: en las intervenciones urgentes se produjeron cinco conversiones para el 6,02 %, este porcentaje fue inferior en las electivas (0,42 %); el valor general para toda la población estudiada fue de 0,53 %. La lesión de la vía biliar principal con ocho casos, al igual que la colecistitis aguda fueron las principales causas de conversión. Los pacientes convertidos por cirujanos con menos de 200 intervenciones fueron 9 (1,8 %). De los pacientes intervenidos por cirujanos con más de 200 intervenciones se convirtieron 13 (1,6 %). Conclusiones: el índice de conversiones presentó un descenso considerable con el transcurso de los años. Las condiciones locales desfavorables incrementaron el riesgo de conversiones. La experiencia del cirujano en más de 200 intervenciones redujo considerablemente las posibilidades de conversión, así como, el índice de lesiones sobre la vía biliar principal.

Introduction: sometimes it is necessary to complete a laparoscopic cholecystectomy by the conventional way, this approach is known as conversion. Objective: to identify and quantify the influence of different factors affecting the conversion during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Methods: a cross-sectional study was carried out during 2000-2010 in a population of 22 patients that underwent cholecystectomy in which the intervention was necessary to modify to open surgery. The influence of different variables in the conversion was determined and quantified; based on the estimated odds ratio (OR) point estimations and confidence intervals (95%) of the OR were obtained. Results: five conversions were done in the urgent interventions (6.02 %), this percentage is lower in elective ones (0.42 %), the overall value for the whole study population was 0.53 %. Injuries of the main biliary tract in eight cases as well as acute cholecystitis were the main causes of conversion. There were nine patients (1.8 %) that underwent conversions with less than 200 interventions. Patients converted by surgeons with less than 200 interventions were 9. Of the patients operated on with more than 200 interventions 13 (1.6 %) of then underwent conversion. Conclusions: conversion rate showed a significant decrease over the years, unfavorable local conditions increased the risk of conversions. The surgeon's experience in over 200 interventions significantly reduced the conversion possibilities as well as the rates of lesions.

Efecto del tamaño de la incisión en la gravedad de la lesin de la vía biliar iatrogénica posterior a colecistectomía abierta / Association between wound size after open cholecystectomy with severity of iatrogenic biliary tract lesions

Antecedentes: La lesión transoperatoria de la vía biliar durante la colecistectomía abierta y laparoscópica es un evento catastrófico que se asocia con morbilidad y mortalidad significativas. El objetivo fue documentar si el tamaño de la incisión en colecistectomía abierta está asociado a lesiones más complejas de la vía biliar. Métodos: Estudio de cohorte prospectivo de marzo de 2006 a febrero de 2007. Se incluyeron 66 pacientes con lesiones de la vía biliar posterior a colecistectomía abierta. Se analizó el tamaño de la incisión. Resultados: Se incluyeron 66 pacientes, 70% del sexo femenino, con un promedio de edad de 44 años. El 70% fue tratado por colecistitis aguda. La mayoría tuvo sobrepeso o sufría diferentes grados de obesidad. En 76% de los casos, la lesión no fue advertida durante el procedimiento quirúrgico primario. Todos los pacientes con lesión de vía biliar grave (Strasberg E-3 y E-4) tuvieron incisiones menores a 10 cm de longitud. El tamaño de la incisión se asoció con lesiones inadvertidas (p=0.000), así como con el grado de lesión (p=0.000). No pudo demostrarse asociación estadísticamente significativa entre lesiones de la vía biliar y colecistectomía electiva o urgente, e incisión quirúrgica media o subcostal para la colecistectomía. Conclusiones: Nuestros hallazgos sugieren que el acceso quirúrgico menor durante la colecistectomía abierta puede ser un factor de riesgo, ya que incisiones pequeñas se asociaron con lesiones de la vía biliar más graves e imposibilidad para reconocer este daño durante el procedimiento. Sugerimos cumplir estrictamente los principios quirúrgicos de una adecuada exposición durante la colecistectomía abierta como medida para prevenir lesiones de la vía biliar.

BACKGROUND: Transoperative biliary tract injury during open or laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a catastrophic event associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Our objective was to determine if wound size during open cholecystectomy is associated with more complex biliary tract injuries. METHODS: Prospective cohort study performed between March 2006 and February 2007. Sixty-six patients with biliary tract injuries after open cholecystectomy were included. Wound size was analyzed. RESULTS: Sixty six patients were included, 70% were female with a median age of 44. Seventy four percent were treated for acute cholecystitis. Most participants were overweight or had various degrees of obesity. Biliary tract injuries were not recognized during the primary surgical procedure in 76% of cases. All patients with severe biliary tract injuries (Strasberg E-3 and E-4) had a wound size less than 10 cm in length. Wound size was associated with unrecognized injuries (p=0.000), as well as with injury severity (p=0.000). We were notable to demonstrate a statistically significant association between biliary tract injuries and elective or emergency surgical procedures and midline or subcostal surgical incision for cholecystectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that minor surgical access during open cholecystectomy may constitute a risk factor since smaller incisions were associated with more severe biliary tract injuries and an inability to observe this damage during the surgical procedure. We suggest to adhere strictly to the guidelines of an adequate surgical exposure during open cholecystectomy to prevent biliary tract injuries.