POSTCHOLECYSTECTOMY SYNDROME: UNDERSTANDING THE CAUSES AND DEVELOPING TREATMENT STRATEGIES FOR PERSISTENT BILIARY SYMPTOMS AFTER GALLBLADDER REMOVAL.

Persistent biliary symptoms following gallbladder removal, known as postcholecystectomy (PCS), can significantly impact patients' quality of life. The term PCS describes biliary symptoms that emerge or continue after the surgical removal of the gallbladder. Cholecystectomy is generally a safe procedure; however, some individuals may still experience symptoms of the biliary system thereafter. Biliary stones are more likely to be retained in patients who arrive later. Many of those people won't have a known reason for their condition. Therefore, this group will have fewer therapy alternatives. After a cholecystectomy, up to 10% of individuals may develop PCS. Patients with cholecystectomy procedures can appear with extra-biliary and associated biological illnesses. A wide range of therapeutic options are available for PCS, each having a different chance of being the cause of the condition. The purpose of this study is to present an overview of the many causes of PCS, as well as the effectiveness and prevalence of various treatments. PCS has a variety of etiologies, many of which may be related to extra-biliary reasons that may exist before the operation. From the beginning, an endoscopy of the upper gastrointestinal tract may be necessary when symptoms first appear. Biliary rocks are more likely to be retained in patient presentations that are postponed. PCS has various causes, including extra-biliary conditions that could have existed before operations. Initial symptoms might involve higher digestive problems. As a result, this group will only have a few therapeutic alternatives.

Postcholecystectomy syndrome: biliary-related complications.

In Italy, about 100,000 cholecystectomies are carried out annually, the majority of them laparoscopically. Complications following cholecystectomy are common and increase morbidity and cost burden. Biliary damage (0.08-0.5%), bile leak (0.42-1.1%), retained common bile duct stones (0.8-5.7%), postcholecystectomy syndrome (10-15%), and postcholecystectomy diarrhea (5-12%) are a few of the most often occurring laparoscopic cholecystectomy consequences. In many instances, endoscopy can offer conclusive management and is crucial for the identification and treatment of biliary problems. Regarding the ideal treatment strategy for biliary problems, there is no universal agreement. A skilled interdisciplinary team should therefore approach biliary problems. The surgeon must be knowledgeable on how to handle these issues.

Cystic duct stones in postcholecystectomy Mirizzi syndrome - A novel endoscopic treatment.

Mirizzi syndrome is a rare type of cholelithiasis, and the main treatment is still surgery. The development of endoscopic technology has made surgeons more active in the management of rare diseases of the biliary tract and pancreas. Here we report that our center applied the new endoscopic method to treat a Mirizzi patient with residual cystic neck duct stones after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Late postcholecystectomy Mirizzi syndrome due to a sessile gall bladder remnant calculus managed by laparoscopic completion cholecystectomy: a feasible surgical option.

Postcholecystectomy Mirizzi syndrome (PCMS) is an uncommon entity that can occur due to cystic duct stump calculus, gall bladder remnant calculus or migrated surgical clip. It can be classified into early PCMS or late PCMS. It is often misdiagnosed and the management depends on the site of impaction of stone or clip. Endoscopy can be performed for cystic duct stump calculus. However, surgery is the treatment for remnant gall bladder calculus. Role of laparoscopic management is controversial. We present here a case of a 48-year-old woman with late PCMS due to an impacted calculus in a sessile gall bladder remnant following a subtotal cholecystectomy, managed with laparoscopic completion cholecystectomy, review the literature, provide tips for safe laparoscopy for PCMS and summarise our algorithmic approach to the management of the postcholecystectomy syndrome.

A systematic review of the aetiology and management of post cholecystectomy syndrome.

BACKGROUND: 10% of patients who undergo a cholecystectomy go on to develop post-cholecystectomy syndrome (PCS). The majority of these patients may suffer from extra-biliary or unrelated organic disorders that may have been present before cholecystectomy. The numerous aetiological causes of PCS result in a wide spectrum of management options, each with varying success in abating symptoms. This systematic review aims to provide a summary of the causative aetiologies of post cholecystectomy syndrome, their incidences and efficacy of available management options. METHODS: The Medline, Embase and Cochrane databases were searched for studies patients who developed PCS symptoms following laparoscopic cholecystectomy, published between 1990 and 2016. The aetiology, incidence and management options were extracted, with separate collation of randomised control trials and non-randomised studies that reported intervention. Outcomes included recurrent symptoms following intervention, unscheduled primary and secondary care attendances and complications. RESULTS: Twenty-one studies were included (15 case series, 2 cohort studies, 1 case control, 3 RCTs). Five studies described medical treatment (nifedipine, cisapride, opiates); seven studies described endoscopic or surgical intervention. Early presentation of PCS (<3 years post-cholecystectomy) was more likely to be gastric in origin, and later presentations were found to be more likely due to retained stones. Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction (SOD) accounted for a third of cases in an unselected population with PCS. CONCLUSIONS: Causes of post cholecystectomy syndrome are varied and many can be attributed to extra-biliary causes, which may be present prior to surgery. Early symptoms may warrant early upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Delayed presentations are more likely to be associated with retained biliary stones. A large proportion of patients will have no cause identified. Treatment options for this latter group are limited.

Endoscopic sump syndrome secondary to EUS-guided choledocho-duodenostomy with a lumen-apposing metal stent.

Sump syndrome (SS) is associated with choledocho-duodenostomy (CDD) dysfunction, which occurs due to accumulation of detritus, biliary mud and food remains in the suprapapillary distal common bile duct. The prevalence is low after CDD. Currently, biliary drainage endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided with a lumen-apposing metal stent (LAMS) is a new minimally invasive alternative for biliary stenosis for patients in whom endoscopy retrograde cholangial-pancreatography (ERCP) is not feasible. CDD via EUS-guided LAMS is increasing. Thus, SS has become a potential associated complication that was previously unreported in the literature.

[Isolated gallbladder agenesis mimicking biliary colic: A difficult preoperative diagnosis]. / Coliques hépatiques révélant une agénésie de la vésicule biliaire : un diagnostic préopératoire difficile.

Isolated gallbladder agenesis is a very rare and unrecognized congenital anomaly. Patients are usually asymptomatic, but 23% present with symptoms suggestive of biliary colic. Ultrasound investigation often fails to diagnose this malformation, misinterpreted as scleroatrophic gallbladder, leading to unnecessary and potentially dangerous surgery. We report on a case of a 9-year-old child who complained of biliary colic. Ultrasound showed a possible scleroatrophic gallbladder. This diagnosis was in doubt, however, because the patient had no previous history of cholecystitis. Finally, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography failed to show any gallbladder. The absence of the visualization of the gallbladder in a context of right upper quadrant pain should suggest gallbladder agenesis. Pain can be explained by the so-called postcholecystectomy syndrome.

[Upper abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting in a 63-year-old woman]. / Oberbauchschmerzen, Übelkeit und Brechreiz bei einer 63-jährigen Patientin.

We present a case of myotonic dystrophy type I and its complications including cholangitis and cardiac arrhythmias. The therapy options focus on the consequences of the disease and result in an endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC) and implantation of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). Myotonic dystrophy is a disease which results in a loss of smooth and skeletal muscle cells leading to multiple consequences such as gastrointestinal symptoms and cardiac manifestations.

[Diagnosis of sphincter of Oddi dysfunction in patients with postcholecystectomy syndrome from hepatobiliary scintigraphic findings].

OBJECTIVE: to diagnose and estimate the clinical value of postcholecystectomy sphincter of Oddi dysfunction in patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Examinations were made in 100 postcholecystectomy patients without signs of cholestasis; of them 14 postpapillotomy patients formed a comparison group. Hepatobiliary scintigraphy using the radiotracer 99mTC-bromeside was performed for 90 minutes with cholagogue breakfast at 45 minutes. Common bile duct and duodenal functions and duodenogastric reflux (DGR) were evaluated comparing them with clinical, laboratory, and instrumental findings. RESULTS: Two patient groups were identified according to bile outflow changes. In Group I consisting of 20 (23.2%) patients, the time of maximum accumulation (Tmax) of the radiopharmaceutical in the projection of the choledochus coincided with that in the cholagogue test (46.0 1.8 min) and in Group 2 including 66 (76.8%) patients that was shorter than in the cholagogue test (32.9 +/- 6.8 min) (p<0.05). In Group 2, Tmax was similar to that in the comparison group (30.9 +/- 7.5 min; p > 0.05) and there was no significant difference in intestinal imaging time (18.6 +/- 6.0 min versus 17.6 +/- 0.8) either, which could be indicative of sphincter of Oddi dysfunction. Diarrhea was observed in 73% of the patients with sphincter of Oddi dysfunction and in 86% of the patients in the comparison group versus 10% of the patients with normal bile passage (p<0.01). Statistical data processing showed a correlation of the indicators of sphincter of Oddi dysfunction with those of duodenal evacuator function (r = 0.57; p < 0.0005) and DGR (r = 0.74; p < 0.009). CONCLUSION: Postcholecystectomy sphincter of Oddi dysfunction assumes the greatest clinical value in patients with duodenal motor-evacuator dysfunction, which should be hepatobiliamy scintigraphic, kept in mind when choossphincter of Oddi dysfunction ing a treatment policy.

[SIMULTANT OPERATIONS FOR BILIARY CALCULOUS DISEASE AS A METHOD OF PREVENTION OF POSTCHOLECYSTECTOMY SYNDROME].

Abstract Own experience of treatment of patients for biliary calculous disease, coexistent with other abdominal and retroperitoneal organs diseases, was analyzed. The rate of postcholecystectomy syndrome (PCHES) occurrence in such patients was determined, the impact of simultant operative interventions using laparoscopic and laparotomic accesses on the rate of the PCHES occurrence was established. The elaborated diagnostic-treatment algorithm with application of measures, directed on the PCHES prophylaxis, was elaborated. There was established, that performance of simultant operations in accordance to strict indications secures a trustworthy reduction of the PCHES occurrence rate.

Utility of endoscopic ultrasound to diagnose remnant stones in symptomatic patients after cholecystectomy.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Stones in the cystic duct stump (CDS) or gallbladder remnant after cholecystectomy are difficult to identify. The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) in the diagnosis of stones in the CDS or gallbladder remnant in patients with postcholecystectomy syndrome. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted between January 2011 and December 2012 in consecutive patients with pancreaticobiliary-type pain or acute pancreatitis (n = 112) following cholecystectomy. Diagnostic modalities including EUS were used to diagnose the cause of postcholecystectomy syndrome. RESULTS: A total of 11 patients (10 %) were found to have stones in the gallbladder remnant (n = 8), CDS (n = 2), or both (n = 1). In eight patients, EUS was the first imaging procedure to make the diagnosis. Seven patients agreed to undergo repeat surgery, and six of them remained free of symptoms postoperatively after a median follow-up period of 4 months (range 1 - 13 months). CONCLUSION: EUS may be an important procedure to consider in the study of patients with symptoms after cholecystectomy, as the diagnosis of residual stones is frequently missed by other imaging modalities.