Hemobilia in the setting of cystic artery pseudoaneurysm secondary to type I Mirizzi syndrome.

Hemobilia is an uncommon diagnosis and is often not suspected in the absence of recent hepatobiliary intervention or trauma. Hemobilia in the setting of cystic artery pseudoaneurysm secondary to type I Mirizzi syndrome is a rare occurrence. We report the case of a 61-year-old male who presented with epigastric pain and vomiting. Blood tests demonstrated hyperbilirubinemia with elevated inflammatory markers. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography revealed type I Mirizzi syndrome in the presence of a 21 mm cystic duct stone. During endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, hemobilia was identified. Subsequent triple phase computed tomography imaging identified a 12 mm cystic artery pseudoaneurysm. Angiography with successful coiling of the cystic artery was accomplished. Cholecystectomy was performed, confirming type I Mirizzi syndrome. This case demonstrates the importance of considering ruptured pseudoaneurysm in patients presenting with evidence of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in the setting of biliary stone disease. Transarterial embolization, followed by surgical management, is effective in both the diagnosis and management of ruptured cystic artery pseudoaneurysm with associated hemobilia.

Long term outcomes of hepatic resection following orthotopic liver transplant.

BACKGROUND: Liver resection is sometimes used as a graft saving procedure following orthotopic liver transplantation. METHODS: In this single centre retrospective cohort study, 12 adult patients underwent resection over a 20 year period, including recipients of split livers and second grafts. RESULTS: Indications for resection were vascular (portal vein obstruction and hepatic artery thrombus), biliary (ischaemic cholangiopathy, chronic biliary obstruction, biliary-vascular fistula and biloma) and recurrence of disease (primary sclerosing cholangitis [PSC] and hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC]). There was no perioperative mortality. Median follow up was 89 months. At the completion of the study 40% of patients had functioning grafts. One third required retransplantation with a median 1 year 6 months post resection. Three patients were deceased (recurrent HCC n = 1, PSC n = 1 and unspecified causes n = 1). Total graft survival was 91.7% at 1 year, 73.3% at 5 years and 64.2% at 10 years. CONCLUSIONS: Liver resection following liver transplant in select patients may salvage the graft or delay the need for retransplantation.

Duodenal perforation by an inferior vena cava filter in a polyarteritis nodosa sufferer.

INTRODUCTION: Inferior vena cava (IVC) filters are currently used in the management of pulmonary embolism (PE) and lower limb venous thromboembolism (VTE). Despite their widespread use, associated complications including duodenal perforation have been reported. PRESENTATION OF CASE: We describe a unique case of duodenal perforation 2 years post IVC filter insertion in a patient with polyarteritis nodosa (steroid dependent) and thrombocytopenia secondary to chronic cyclophosphamide use. DISCUSSION: IVC filters are commonly employed in the management of VTE. Associated complications have been reported including filter migration, fracture and adjacent organ perforation. There is growing consensus that temporary IVC filters should be retrieved as soon as possible with dedicated IVC filter registries to ensure patients are not lost to follow-up post insertion. CONCLUSION: Duodenal perforation is a rare complication of IVC filter insertion. This case however illustrates the potentially catastrophic consequences of a relatively common endovascular procedure. Caution should be taken when considering the insertion of IVC filters in patients with longstanding vasculopathies who are on immunosuppressants.

Surgical implications of a left-sided gallbladder.

BACKGROUND: A left-sided gallbladder in a normally positioned liver is considered to be a very uncommon anomaly. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy can be performed safely, but bile duct injury is not unusual. It is associated with anomalous intrahepatic portal and biliary systems which impacts any form of partial hepatectomy. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of patients with left-sided gallbladder who were managed by the hepatobiliary surgeons at our institution since 1996. RESULTS: Nineteen patients with left-sided gallbladder underwent a hepatobiliary procedure. Of the 13 patients with gallstones, only 1 was diagnosed before cholecystectomy. Nine operations were completed laparoscopically, whereas 4 required an open procedure. Two patients were referred with bile duct injuries. There was 1 liver resection for a colorectal metastasis. Left-sided gallbladders in 3 deceased organ donors resulted in major implications in the performance of liver transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: Left-sided gallbladders are probably more common than generally believed but are rarely diagnosed before cholecystectomy. Associated bile duct injury appears to be not infrequent. Because of the aberrant vasculobiliary anatomy, any form of liver resection requires careful planning.

Synchronous presentation of cardiac and abdominal paragangliomas.

A 28-year-old male presenting with a hypertensive crisis was found to have synchronous right atrial and retrocaval masses. Serum normetadrenaline was elevated in keeping with functional paragangliomas. After preoperative optimization both masses were successfully excised, including a saphenous vein graft to the right coronary artery. Serum catecholamines returned to the normal range postoperatively and all antihypertensive therapy was ceased.

Fast track recovery following en bloc heart-lung-liver transplantation in a patient with cystic fibrosis complicated by severe portal hypertension.

A 36-year-old man with cystic fibrosis and severe portal hypertension underwent en bloc heart-double lung-liver transplantation. An early extubation with an aggressive physiotherapy made an early ambulation feasible and contributed to an early discharge from the hospital.

Long-term results of liver resection for non-colorectal, non-neuroendocrine metastases.

INTRODUCTION: The safety and efficacy of liver resection for colorectal and neuroendocrine liver metastases is well established. However, there is lack of consensus regarding long-term effectiveness of hepatic resection for non-colorectal, non-neuroendocrine (NCNN) liver metastases. METHODS: A review of prospectively collected data of patients undergoing hepatic resection for NCNN liver metastases at two tertiary referral centres in the UK and Australia was undertaken. Survival analysis was used to evaluate the clinical, demographic and operative factors associated with long-term survival. RESULTS: A total of 114 hepatic resections in 102 patients were performed between 1986 and 2006. Postoperative mortality and morbidity was 0.8% and 21.1%, respectively. At 3 and 5 years overall survival was 56.1% and 38.5%, whereas disease-free survival was 37.2% and 26.5%, respectively. On multivariate analysis, factors associated with poor overall survival were diameter of liver metastasis [<5 cm versus >5 cm: hazard ratio (HR) = 2.83, p = 0.001] and the presence of extrahepatic nodal disease (HR = 3.58, p = 0.001). The type of tumor, the presence of distant extra-hepatic metastases, tumor-free interval, number and distribution of metastases did not effect long-term survival. CONCLUSION: These results of the present study suggest that liver resection is an effective management option in selected patients with NCNN metastases confined to the liver.