Trauma to the gallbladder is associated with concurrent injuries to the extra hepatic biliary system: A South African experience.

INTRODUCTION: Gallbladder trauma is a rare injury. This study aimed to describe the significance of these injuries and the appropriate management strategies. METHODS: A retrospective study was undertaken at a major trauma centre in South Africa and included all patients diagnosed with a gallbladder injury between January 2012 and October 2020. RESULTS: A total of 51 cases were included (88% male, mean age: 38 years), with 44 (86%) penetrating trauma cases [28 stab wounds (SW), 16 sustained gunshot wounds (GSW)]. Of the 7 (13%) blunt trauma cases, five were involved in a motor vehicle crash, and two were injured via assault. All patients underwent laparotomy. Full-thickness gallbladder laceration or perforation was the most common type of injury (84%) and all patients with a gallbladder perforation or laceration had a cholecystectomy at index operation. Two out of 5 patients with a gallbladder contusion were managed conservatively without a cholecystectomy and the remaining three had evidence of gallbladder necrosis which were managed with cholecystectomy. Associated extrahepatic bile duct injuries occurred in 4% of cases, and 18 cases (35%) required intensive care unit (ICU) admission. The overall mortality was 8%. CONCLUSION: Gallbladder injury is rare but when encountered implies a significant degree of trauma. Although cholecystectomy is usually definitive, there is an association with other occult extra-hepatic biliary tract injuries. The severity of the associated injuries usually determines patient outcomes.

Mortality following severe liver trauma is declining at Auckland City Hospital: a 14-year experience, 2006-2020.

INTRODUCTION: Liver injuries sustained in blunt and penetrating abdominal trauma may cause serious patient morbidity and even mortality. AIM: To review the recent experience of liver trauma at Auckland City Hospital, describing the mechanism of injury, patient management, outcomes and complications. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed, including all patients admitted to Auckland City Hospital with liver trauma identified from the trauma registry. Patient clinical records and radiology were systematically examined. RESULTS: Between 2006-2020, 450 patients were admitted with liver trauma, of whom 92 patients (20%) were transferred from other hospitals. Blunt injury mechanisms, most commonly motor-vehicle crashes, predominated (87%). Stabbings were the most common penetrating mechanism. Over half of liver injuries were low risk American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) grade I and II (56%), whereas 20% were severe grade IV and V. Non-operative management was undertaken in 72% of patients with blunt liver trauma and 92% of patients with penetrating liver trauma underwent surgery. Liver complications occurred in 11% of patients, most commonly bile leaks (7%), followed by delayed haemorrhage (2%). Thirty-two patients died (7%), with co-existing severe traumatic brain injury as the leading cause of death. There was a significant reduction in death from haemorrhage in patients with grade IV and V liver trauma between the first and second half of the study period (p=0.0091). CONCLUSION: Although the incidence and severity of liver trauma at Auckland City Hospital remained stable, there was a reduction in mortality, particularly death as a result of haemorrhage.

Optimal treatments for hepato-pancreato-biliary trauma in severely injured patients: a narrative scoping review.

SUMMARY: Hepato-pancreato-biliary (HPB) injuries can be extremely challenging to manage. This scoping review (8438 citations) offers a number of recommendations. If diagnosis and therapy are rapid, patients with major hepatic injuries who present in physiologic extremis have high survival rates despite prolonged hospital stays. Nonoperative management of major liver injuries, as diagnosed using computed tomography, is typically successful. Adjuncts (e.g., angioembolization, laparoscopic washouts, biliary stents) are essential in managing high-grade injuries. Injury to the extrahepatic biliary tree is rare. Cholecystectomy is indicated for all gallbladder trauma. Full-thickness common bile duct injuries require a hepaticojejunostomy, although damage control remains closed suction drainage. Injuries to the pancreatic head often involve concurrent trauma to regional vasculature. Damage control necessitates drainage after stopping hemorrhage. Injury to the left pancreas commonly requires a distal pancreatectomy. Outcomes for high-grade pancreatic and liver injuries are improved by involving an HPB team. Complications are multidisciplinary and should be managed without delay.

Treatment of bile duct injuries during cholecystectomy / Cholecystectomia során bekövetkezo epeútsérülések ellátása

Biliary injury is a rare but a very serious complication of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). Our aim was to analyse the incidence of the biliary injuries and its therapeutic outcome on patients who underwent LC or converted LC. Our research was conducted at the 1st Department of Surgery, Semmelweis University, Budapest between 2006 and 2016, retrospectively. We analysed the LCs and converted LCs performed at our Department and as well as cases where the primary operations were conducted at other institutions but they were unable to provide the adequate therapy for the injury, thus the patients were transferred to our institution. At the 1st Department of Surgery complications occurred in 0,66% (30/4885) of all LCs. 327 converted LCs were done, complications occurred in 26 (7.95%) times. 22 patients were transferred to the 1st Department of Surgery from other institutions. Bilio-vascular injuries occurred in 61% (41/78). ERCP was performed in 25 cases with a 92% success rate. Reoperation was needed in 41% (28/41). Biliary reconstruction during the reoperation was performed via hepaticojejunostomy in 82% of all reoperations. The therapeutic solutions of LC's complications are complex. Therefore, the treatment is recommended only in institutions with appropriate experience.

Extrahepatic cholangiography in near-infrared II window with the clinically approved fluorescence agent indocyanine green: a promising imaging technology for intraoperative diagnosis.

Rationale: Biliary tract injury remains the most dreaded complication during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. New intraoperative guidance technologies, including near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence cholangiography with indocyanine green (ICG), are under comprehensive evaluation. Previous studies had shown the limitations of traditional NIR light (NIR-I, 700-900 nm) in visualizing the biliary tract structures in specific clinical situations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of performing the extrahepatic cholangiography in the second NIR window (NIR-II, 900-1700 nm) and compare it to the conventional NIR-I imaging. Methods: The absorption and emission spectra, as well as fluorescence intensity and photostability of ICG-bile solution in the NIR-II window were recorded and measured. In vitro intralipid® phantom imaging was performed to evaluate tissue penetrating depth in NIR-I and NIR-II window. Different clinical scenarios were modeled by broadening the penetration distance or generating bile duct injuries, and bile duct visualization and lesion site diagnosis in the NIR-II window were evaluated and compared with NIR-I imaging. Results: The fluorescence spectrum of ICG-bile solution extends well into the NIR-II region, exhibiting intense emission value and excellent photostability sufficient for NIR-II biliary tract imaging. Extrahepatic cholangiography using ICG in the NIR-II window obviously reduced background signal and enhanced penetration depth, providing more structural information and improved visualization of the bile duct or lesion location in simulated clinical scenarios, outperforming the NIR-I window imaging. Conclusions: The conventional clinically approved agent ICG is an excellent fluorophore for NIR-II bile duct imaging. Fluorescence cholangiography with ICG in the NIR-II window could provide adequate visualization of the biliary tract structures with increased resolution and penetration depth and might be a valid option to increase the safety of cholecystectomy in difficult cases.

Endoscopic and surgical management of iatrogenic biliary tract injuries.

BACKGROUND: Iatrogenic biliary tract injury (BTI) is a rare complication but has high risks of morbidity and mortality when it is not early noticed. Although the treatment varies depending on the size of injury and the time until the injury is noticed, endoscopic and percutaneous interventions are usually sufficient. However, it should be remembered that these interventions may cause major complications in the following years, such as biliary stricture, recurrent episodes of cholangitis and even cirrhosis. In this paper, we aimed to present our approach to BTI following cholecystectomy and our treatment management in the light of the literature. METHODS: The medical records of 105 patients who were treated for BTI between January 2015 and July 2019 were evaluated retrospectively. The majority of the patients consisted of the patients who underwent cholecystectomy at an external medical center and were referred to our clinic due to biliary leakage (BL). Patients were grouped according to Strasberg classification determined by the place of leakage. RESULTS: Among 105 patients included in this study, 55 were male, and 50 were female. Mean age was 55.2±16.26 years (range, 21-93 years). According to Strasberg classification, type A, B, C, D and E injuries were detected in 57, 1, 3, 29 and 15 patients, respectively. Eighty-five patients were successfully treated with endoscopic and percutaneous interventions, while 20 patients underwent surgery. CONCLUSION: In all patients with suspected BTI, a detailed screening and appropriate treatment provide a significant decline in morbidity and mortality. Therefore, early diagnosis is very important for both early and late outcomes.

Fístulo-yeyunostomía como alternativa de tratamiento en la reparación de una fístula biliar compleja / Fistulo-jejunostomy as an alternative treatment in the repair of a complex biliary leak

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Hepatobiliary Scintigraphy-Role in Preliminary Diagnosis and Management of Biliary Tract Injuries.

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to identify the role of hepatobiliary scintigraphy (HBS) in the management of biliary tract injuries. METHODS: We retrospectively studied 54 patients (28 male and 26 female patients) aged 3 to 78 years with evidence of bile leak on HBS performed between January 2015 and October 2017. Following intravenous injection of Tc-mebrofenin, dynamic images were acquired for 30 minutes followed by static images until 24 hours. SPECT/CT was performed in patients with suspicion of bile leak on the planar images. Patients were classified as those with free intraperitoneal or localized bile leak. Any abdominal drain output was documented, and its statistical significance was assessed using Mann-Whitney U test. Subsequent management was also documented. RESULTS: Of the 54 patients, 28 demonstrated free intraperitoneal bile leak and 26 localized leak on HBS. Thirty-four patients (24 with free intraperitoneal leak and 10 with localized leak) had an abdominal drain. Drain output was significantly higher in patients with free intraperitoneal leak compared with patients with localized leak (370 vs 78 mL/d per patient, P < 0.01). All patients with free intraperitoneal bile leak underwent interventional procedures such as endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and stenting or Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy later on. Patients with localized bile leak were managed conservatively and were free of symptoms at 1-year follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that, in addition to detecting biliary leak, HBS may be used to identify patients with localized bile leak (48% of patients in our study) who do not require active intervention.

Retrograde Pancreatic Duct Stent Migration into the Biliary Tract Presenting as a Rare Early Complication of Pancreaticoduodenectomy (Whipple Procedure).

BACKGROUND Pancreaticoduodenectomy (Whipple procedure) is an established surgical procedure for the treatment of carcinoma of the head of the pancreas. Modifications to this procedure include gastropancreaticoduodenectomy, which includes the removal of parts of the pancreas, duodenum, and stomach. Complications of surgery include fistula formation, failure of the anastomosis, and leak of pancreatic enzymes, which can be reduced by stenting the pancreatic duct. This report is of a rare complication of pancreaticoduodenectomy and describes a case of retrograde migration of a pancreatic duct stent into the biliary tract through the orifice of the hepaticojejunostomy. CASE REPORT A 50-year-old man with a history of gastric cancer, underwent gastropancreaticoduodenectomy. Surgery was complicated by displacement of the pancreatic stent to the biliary system, which resulted in postoperative obstructive jaundice and bile leakage from the hepaticojejunostomy between the hepatic duct and the jejunum. An endoscopy was performed and the stent was successfully retrieved. The patient recovered rapidly, the bile leakage resolved, the patient's jaundice resolved, and was discharged home with no further surgical complications. CONCLUSIONS A case is reported of a rare early complication of pancreaticoduodenectomy in a patient with gastric cancer. Endoscopy successfully retrieved the pancreatic duct stent that had migrated into the biliary tract through the orifice of the hepaticojejunostomy.

Role of Transplant in Biliary Disease.

Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) has many roles in biliary disease. OLT provides excellent results for patients with unresectable hilar cholangiocarcinoma. OLT prolongs survival in primary biliary cirrhosis not responsive to therapy and improves quality of life. OLT remains the durable option for patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis and complications of end-stage liver disease or recurrent cholangitis secondary to biliary obstruction. Indications for OLT after bile duct injury are chronic liver disease secondary to biliary cirrhosis and acute liver failure from associated vascular injury. OLT is treatment of choice for Caroli disease and syndrome when fibrosis leads to portal hypertension and esophageal varices.

Elimination of Wnt Secretion From Stellate Cells Is Dispensable for Zonation and Development of Liver Fibrosis Following Hepatobiliary Injury.

Alterations in the Wnt signaling pathway including those impacting hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) have been implicated in liver fibrosis. In the current study, we first examined the expression of Wnt genes in human HSC (HHSCs) after treatment with a profibrogenic factor TGF-ß1. Next, we generated HSC-specific Wntless (Wls) knockout (KO) using the Lrat-cre and Wls-floxed mice. KO and littermate controls (CON) were characterized for any basal phenotype and subjected to two liver fibrosis protocols. In vitro, TGF-ß1 induced expression of Wnt2, 5a and 9a while decreasing Wnt2b, 3a, 4, and 11 in HHSC. In vivo, KO and CON mice were born at normal Mendelian ratio and lacked any overt phenotype. Loss of Wnt secretion from HSCs had no effect on liver weight and did not impact ß-catenin activation in the pericentral hepatocytes. After 7 days of bile duct ligation (BDL), KO and CON showed comparable levels of serum alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, total and direct bilirubin. Comparable histology, Sirius red staining, and immunohistochemistry for α-SMA, desmin, Ki-67, F4/80, and CD45 indicated similar proliferation, inflammation, and portal fibrosis in both groups. Biweekly administration of carbon tetrachloride for 4 or 8 weeks also led to comparable serum biochemistry, inflammation, and fibrosis in KO and CON. Specific Wnt genes were altered in HHSCs in response to TGF-ß1; however, eliminating Wnt secretion from HSC did not impact basal ß-catenin activation in normal liver nor did it alter the injury-repair response during development of liver fibrosis.

The Double Trouble: A Case of Duplicated Extrahepatic Bile Duct with Choledochal Cyst.

Biliary tract shows a large number of anatomic variations and duplication of the bile duct is an extremely rare anomaly. It has been reported to be associated with other congenital conditions like Abnormal Pancreato Biliary Junction (APBJ), biliary atresia and choledochal cyst and may lead to complications like cholangitis, choledocholithiasis and malignancy. The clinical presentation may be with one of the above complications and the condition usually reveals itself only on imaging investigations, as a surprise to the radiologist and the surgeon. Its detection is important prior to any biliary tract surgery to prevent inadvertent bile duct injury. The authors report a case of a rare subtype of extrahepatic bile duct duplication with coexisting choledochal cyst.

Posttraumatic biloma formation: diagnosis and management

One of the rarest complications of the hepatic trauma is a biloma, defined as an abnormal bile collection outside the biliary tree, with intra or extrahepatic localization. Patients with biloma do not present with specific clinical features, which demands a challenging radiological diagnosis. In this report, we present a case of biloma due to blunt hepatic trauma, in which the patient experienced a changing symptomatic spectrum after surgery and had an interesting radiological investigation. The clinical course, imaging features, and management of this case are discussed. (AU)

Tratamiento mínimamente invasivo de una lesión de la vía biliar secundaria a un traumatismo abdominal cerrado: Caso clínico / Minimally invasive treatment of biliary tract injury secondary to closed abdominal trauma: Clinical case

Las lesiones hepáticas y de las vías biliares por causa traumática son poco usuales en la edad pediátrica. Del total de pacientes con trauma abdominal cerrado, menos del 9 % presentan lesión hepática, y la frecuencia varía entre el 2 % y el 3 % de la lesión de las vías biliares. Actualmente, el tratamiento recomendado para el trauma abdominal cerrado con lesión hepática sin repercusión hemodinámica es conservador; en caso de presentar lesión de la vía biliar intra- o extrahepática, los abordajes de preferencia son mínimamente invasivos, como la cirugía percutánea o endoscópica, y se utiliza la laparotomía en casos seleccionados. Se presenta el caso de un paciente con trauma abdominal cerrado y trauma hepático, inicialmente laparotomizado en 2 ocasiones por inestabilidad hemodinámica y hemoperitoneo; presentó un bilioma subdiafragmático y coleperitoneo, en el que se realizó un manejo mínimamente invasivo por drenaje percutáneo bajo control tomográfico.

Hepatic and biliary tract injuries due to traumatic causes are rare in pediatric patients. Of the total number of patients with closed abdominal trauma, less than 9 % have liver injury, and the frequency varies between 2 and 3 % of biliary tract lesions. Currently, the recommended treatment for closed abdominal trauma with liver injury without hemodynamic repercussion is conservative. In case of presenting intra or extrahepatic biliary tract lesion, the preferred approaches are minimally invasive, such as percutaneous or endoscopic surgery, using laparotomy in selected cases. We present the case of a patient with closed abdominal trauma and liver trauma, initially laparotomized on 2 occasions due to hemodynamic instability and hemoperitoneum; presented a subdiaphragmatic and coleperitoneal bilioma; it was performed minimally invasive percutaneous drainage under tomographic control.

[Minimally invasive treatment of biliary tract injury secondary to closed abdominal trauma: Clinical case]. / Tratamiento mínimamente invasivo de una lesión de la vía biliar secundaria a un traumatismo abdominal cerrado: Caso clínico.

Hepatic and biliary tract injuries due to traumatic causes are rare in pediatric patients. Of the total number of patients with closed abdominal trauma, less than 9 % have liver injury, and the frequency varies between 2 and 3 % of biliary tract lesions. Currently, the recommended treatment for closed abdominal trauma with liver injury without hemodynamic repercussion is conservative. In case of presenting intra or extrahepatic biliary tract lesion, the preferred approaches are minimally invasive, such as percutaneous or endoscopic surgery, using laparotomy in selected cases. We present the case of a patient with closed abdominal trauma and liver trauma, initially laparotomized on 2 occasions due to hemodynamic instability and hemoperitoneum; presented a subdiaphragmatic and coleperitoneal bilioma; it was performed minimally invasive percutaneous drainage under tomographic control.

Las lesiones hepáticas y de las vías biliares por causa traumática son poco usuales en la edad pediátrica. Del total de pacientes con trauma abdominal cerrado, menos del 9 % presentan lesión hepática, y la frecuencia varía entre el 2 % y el 3 % de la lesión de las vías biliares. Actualmente, el tratamiento recomendado para el trauma abdominal cerrado con lesión hepática sin repercusión hemodinámica es conservador; en caso de presentar lesión de la vía biliar intra- o extrahepática, los abordajes de preferencia son mínimamente invasivos, como la cirugía percutánea o endoscópica, y se utiliza la laparotomía en casos seleccionados. Se presenta el caso de un paciente con trauma abdominal cerrado y trauma hepático, inicialmente laparotomizado en 2 ocasiones por inestabilidad hemodinámica y hemoperitoneo; presentó un bilioma subdiafragmático y coleperitoneo, en el que se realizó un manejo mínimamente invasivo por drenaje percutáneo bajo control tomográfico.

Impact of Machine Perfusion on Biliary Complications after Liver Transplantation.

We describe in this review the different types of injuries caused to the biliary tree after liver transplantation. Furthermore, we explain underlying mechanisms and why oxygenated perfusion concepts could not only protect livers, but also repair high-risk grafts to prevent severe biliary complications and graft loss. Accordingly, we summarize experimental studies and clinical applications of machine liver perfusion with a focus on biliary complications after liver transplantation. Key points: (1) Acute inflammation with subsequent chronic ongoing liver inflammation and injury are the main triggers for cholangiocyte injury and biliary tree transformation, including non-anastomotic strictures; (2) Hypothermic oxygenated perfusion (HOPE) protects livers from initial oxidative injury at normothermic reperfusion after liver transplantation. This is a unique feature of a cold oxygenation approach, which is effective also end-ischemically, e.g., after cold storage, due to mitochondrial repair mechanisms. In contrast, normothermic oxygenated perfusion concepts protect by reducing cold ischemia, and are therefore most beneficial when applied instead of cold storage; (3) Due to less downstream activation of cholangiocytes, hypothermic oxygenated perfusion also significantly reduces the development of biliary strictures after liver transplantation.

Pancreaticobiliary Trauma: A Multimodality Imaging Update.

Pancreaticobiliary injury is an uncommon entity which more often occurs in the setting of blunt than penetrating trauma. We present cases of pancreaticobiliary traumatic injuries from our Level 1 trauma center to illustrate an imaging update on the spectrum of injuries and correlation with current grading systems.

Preliminary Report of Percutaneous Cholecystostomy as Diagnosis and Treatment of Biliary Tract Trauma.

BACKGROUND: Biliary leak following severe blunt liver injuries is a complex problem becoming more frequent with improvements in non-operative management. Standard treatment requires main bile duct drainage usually performed by endoscopic sphincterotomy and stent placement. We report our experience with cholecystostomy as a first minimally invasive diagnostic and therapeutic approach. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of consecutive patients with post-traumatic biliary leak between 2006 and 2015. In the first period (2006-2010), biliary fistula was managed using perihepatic drainage and endoscopic, percutaneous or surgical main bile duct drainage. After 2010, cholecystostomy as an initial minimally invasive approach was performed. RESULTS: Of 341 patients with blunt liver injury, 18 had a post-traumatic biliary leak. Ten patients received standard treatment and eight patients underwent cholecystostomy. The cholecystostomy (62.5%) and the standard treatment (80%) groups presented similar success rates as the first biliary drainage procedure (p = 0.41). Cholecystostomy presented no severe complications and resulted, when successful, in a bile flow rate inversion between the perihepatic drains and the gallbladder drain within a median [IQR] 4 days [1-7]. The median time for bile leak resolution was 26 days in the cholecystostomy group and 39 days in the standard treatment group (p = 0.09). No significant difference was found considering median duration of hospital stay (54 and 74 days, respectively, p = 0.37) or resuscitation stay (17.5 and 19.5 days, p = 0.59). CONCLUSION: Cholecystostomy in non-operative management of biliary fistula after blunt liver injury could be an effective, simple and safe first-line procedure in the diagnostic and therapeutic approach of post-traumatic biliary tract injuries.