Hepatic transplant complicated by hepatic artery thrombosis and bile duct necrosis: case report and potential application of contrast-enhanced MR cholangiography following intravenous mangafodipir trisodium in the emergency room setting

Biliary tract strictures and leaks are the second most common complications following orthotopic liver transplantation. Nonanastomotic bile duct complications are most often caused by hepatic artery thrombosis and can result in fulminant hepatic necrosis, bile duct strictures, and bile duct leaks that increase the risk of cholangitis, sepsis, and abscess. The emergency physician and radiologist should strongly suspect biliary disease in a post-transplant patient presenting with elevated liver function tests, jaundice, fever, and/or abdominal pain in order to achieve diagnosis and treatment rapidly. We present the case of a liver transplant patient who developed bile duct necrosis and hepatic infarction secondary to hepatic artery thrombosis 5 months after surgery. In addition, we discuss a new contrast-enhanced MR cholangiographic technique that has the potential to be performed in the emergency setting as the only diagnostic test prior to appropriate therapy. Electronic Publication     

MRI结合MRCP对肝门部胆管狭窄病因的评价

目的:探讨MRI结合MRCP对肝门部胆管狭窄病因的诊断价值.材料和方法:回顾性分析66例肝门部胆管狭窄患者的临床、MRI资料,所有病例均进行MR平扫、增强及MRCP检查,其中12例经ERCP证实、6例经PTC证实,48例经手术病理证实.结果:66例肝门部胆管狭窄患者中,26例损伤性狭窄,9例肝门部胆管癌,6例肝门部转移性肿瘤,14例炎性狭窄,4例胆管结石,Mirizzi综合征及硬化性胆管炎各2例,3例先天性胆管囊肿.胆管受累范围按Bismuth分级,MRI和MRCP均显示了胆管狭窄情况及病变特征.结论:MRI和MRCP对肝门部胆管狭窄病因的诊断具有重要价值,对指导临床采取正确的治疗措施具有重要意义.     

移植肝排斥反应血管和胆管改变的MR表现

目的：探讨磁共振血管造影（MRA）和胰胆管成像（MRCP）对诊断肝移植术后排斥反应的价值。方法：6例原位肝移植术（OLT）后排斥反应患者均用磁共振（MR）快速自旋回波（TSE）序列及快速小角度激发梯度回波（FLASH）序列常规扫描、磁共振胆管成像（MRCP）、钆喷替酸葡甲胺（Gd-DTPA）动态增强3D MRA检查,分析各序列图像特点。结果：①形态和信号改变：6例患者均有肝脏体积增大,饱满。仅1例重度急性排斥反应患者肝实质信号异常;②血管异常表现：1例急性排斥反应肝左动脉串珠样改变及供体段门静脉明显变细。1例急性排斥反应肝静脉末梢分支杵状扩张而下腔静脉吻合口通畅。其余4例血管无明显异常表现;③胆管异常表现：4例急性排斥反应患者肝内胆管纤细稀疏,1例肝内胆管未显影,1例无明显异常表现。3例慢性排斥反应患者中2例肝内胆管分支稀疏并左肝管串珠样改变;1例胆总管胆泥形成而肝内胆管未见扩张。结论：肝移植术后排斥反应有一些特征性的血管和胆管MR表现。磁共振血管造影和胆管造影作为一种非侵袭性影像检查方法,可以辅助临床诊断肝移植术后排斥反应。     

Main Bile Duct Stricture Occurring After Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical course of main bile duct stricture at the hepatic hilum after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Among 446 consecutive patients with HCC treated by TACE, main bile duct stricture developed in 18 (4.0%). All imaging and laboratory data, treatment course, and outcomes were retrospectively analyzed. All patients had 1 to 2 tumors measuring 10 to 100 mm in diameter (mean ± SD 24.5 ± 5.4 mm) near the hepatic hilum fed by the caudate arterial branch (A1) and/or medial segmental artery (A4) of the liver. During the TACE procedure that caused bile duct injury, A1 was embolized in 8, A4 was embolized in 5, and both were embolized in 5 patients. Nine patients (50.0%) had a history of TACE in either A1 or A4. Iodized oil accumulation in the bile duct wall was seen in all patients on computed tomography obtained 1 week later. Bile duct dilatation caused by main bile duct stricture developed in both lobes (n = 9), in the right lobe (n = 3), in the left lobe (n = 4), in segment (S) 2 (n = 1), and in S3 (n = 1). Serum levels of alkaline phosphatase and γ-glutamyltranspeptidase increased in 13 patients. Biloma requiring drainage developed in 2 patients; jaundice developed in 4 patients; and metallic stents were placed in 3 patients. Complications after additional TACE sessions, including biloma (n = 3) and/or jaundice (n = 5), occurred in 7 patients and were treated by additional intervention, including metallic stent placement in 2 patients. After initial TACE of A1 and/or A4, 8 patients (44.4%), including 5 with uncontrollable jaundice or cholangitis, died at 37.9 ± 34.9 months after TACE, and 10 (55.6%) have survived for 38.4 ± 37.9 months. Selective TACE of A1 and/or A4 carries a risk of main bile duct stricture at the hepatic hilum. Biloma and jaundice are serious complications associated with bile duct strictures.     

彩色多普勒超声在原位肝移植术后黄疸鉴别诊断中的价值

目的:探讨彩色多普勒超声(CDFI)在原位肝移植术后黄疸鉴别诊断中的应用价值。方法:使用彩色多昔勒超声观察18例原位肝移植术后发生黄疸患者的肝脏动静脉血流变化及胆管、肝实质声像图改变,主要观察指标有最大血流速度、时间平均血流速度(TAV)、阻力指数(RI)及胆管内径,并结合临床资料、肝穿刺活检病理结果和内镜逆行胰胆管造影(ERCP)表现等进行综合分析。结果:18例患者于术后6天-5个月发生黄疸,持续时间为12天-1年。其中13例为胆道并发症,5例为胆总管吻合口狭窄,2例为慢性胆管炎,2例为肝内胆管结石,1例为左肝管胆泥形成并霉菌感染,3 例为肝内胆管轻度扩张,其余5例经肝穿刺活检证实为轻度急性排斥反应4例、临界急性排斥反应1例。结论:彩色多普勒超声成像技术对原位肝移植术后黄疸具有重要的鉴别诊断价值,对临床医生判断病情有重要意义。     

肝门部胆道引流管折叠技术在肝移植后胆道非吻合口狭窄治疗中的应用

目的 介绍全新设计经皮经肝胆道引流管肝门部胆管折叠技术,以单一入路实现双侧胆道支撑引流;研究该技术在治疗原位肝移植后肝门部非吻合口胆道狭窄中的疗效和安全性.方法 2000年7月至2010年7月收治10例原位肝移植后非吻合口胆道狭窄患者.胆道狭窄处予球囊扩张,胆道引流管置入后,在肝门部胆管内折叠成Y形,实现左、右肝管并肝总管三向支撑引流.分析其技术成功率、临床疗效、并发症率及复发率等.结果 技术成功率为10/10.9例临床症状缓解,生化指标恢复正常,影像学检查有明显改善.26个月(中位数)的随访中,未见复发.2例有轻微并发症.1例治疗失败,行第2次肝移植后死亡.结论 经皮经肝胆道引流管肝门部胆管汇合部折叠技术在技术上是可行的;在原位肝移植后非吻合口肝门部胆道狭窄治疗中的初步应用结果表明,其技术成功率、疗效、安全性均令人满意.     

肝移植后MR征象的探讨

目的:探讨原位肝移植术后MR征象形成及临床意义。方法:13例原位肝移植术后患者均用SE序列及FSE序列常规扫T1WI及脂肪抑制T2WI,部分选用磁共振胰胆管成像(MRCP)、钆喷替酸葡甲胺(Gd-DTPA)动态增强3D MRA检查,分析各序列图像特点。结果:13例患者均在脂肪抑制T2WI上出现门静脉周围间隙增宽,并伴有长T1、长T2信号;1例出现肝内胆管的弥漫性囊柱状扩张;10例出现移植肝周围及叶间裂少量积液,部分患者合并胸腔积液;10例MRCP示胆道明显或稍狭窄,其中5例为吻合口狭窄,2例为肝门部淋巴结压迫所致,3例ERCP结果与之相符;5例见可疑胆湖。2例ERCP发现吻合口胆漏而MRCP表现为阴性;4例追踪发现肝内肿瘤复发或出现远处转移灶;1例诊断为局灶性肝坏死。结论:通过对肝移植术后门周间隙增宽,弥漫性胆管扩张及胆汁瘤等征象进行探讨,为临床评价移植物功能,诊断胆漏提供了一定的信息。     

AIDS-related cholangitis: radiographic findings in nine patients

Acalculous inflammation of the biliary tract is a recently reported complication of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). In a 33-month period, nine men with AIDS were evaluated because of right upper quadrant and/or epigastric pain, jaundice, or abnormal liver function test results. Each patient underwent ultrasonography and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography; seven also underwent computed tomography. In eight of nine patients the imaging studies disclosed intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile duct changes identical to those seen in sclerosing cholangitis (strictures, focal dilatation, thickened duct walls). Isolated papillary stenosis and ductal dilatation were present in one patient, while eight patients had some stricturing of the distal common duct. The combination of papillary stenosis and intrahepatic ductal strictures appears unique to AIDS-related cholangitis. Endoscopic papillotomy provided variable relief to symptoms and biochemical abnormalities. Cholangitis caused by cytomegalovirus and/or Cryptosporidium infection is the proposed pathophysiologic mechanism.     

Communicating arcade between the right and left hepatic arteries: evaluation with CT and angiography during temporary balloon occlusion of the right or left hepatic artery

PURPOSE: To evaluate prospectively the relationship between the arterial collateral system at the hepatic hilum and the blood supply to the hilar bile duct by using computed tomography (CT) and angiography during temporary balloon occlusion of the right or left hepatic artery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Institutional review board approval and informed consent were obtained. The study included 13 patients with no lesions at the hepatic hilum (eight men and five women; age range, 41-78 years; mean, 65.8 years). After serial angiographic studies were performed for preoperative evaluation or transcatheter arterial chemoembolization, a 5.5-F catheter with an occlusion balloon was positioned in the right or left hepatic artery. Eleven patients underwent angiography of the left hepatic artery with temporary occlusion of the right hepatic artery, and two patients underwent angiography of the right hepatic artery with temporary occlusion of the left hepatic artery. In addition, 11 patients underwent single-level dynamic CT during hepatic arteriography (CTHA) with temporary occlusion of the right or left hepatic artery. The images from angiography and CTHA were interpreted by two authors who assessed the existence of the arterial communication and its branching points, location, and relationship to the hilar bile duct and caudate lobe. RESULTS: During temporary occlusion of the right or left hepatic artery, the communicating arcade (CA) between the right and left hepatic arteries was immediately evident in all patients. On the left side, the CA originated from the segment IV artery in eight patients (62%) and from the left hepatic artery in five (38%). On the right side, the CA originated from the right anterior hepatic artery in six patients (46%), the right hepatic artery in two (15%), and both arteries in five (38%). The CA was extrahepatically located close to the hilar bile duct and forked into a few branches to the caudate lobe. CONCLUSION: The CA may play an important role not only in the interlobar arterial collateral system but also in the blood supplies to the caudate lobe and hilar bile duct.     

Percutaneous treatment of benign bile duct strictures

PURPOSE: To evaluate long-term results of treatment of benign bile duct strictures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From February 1994 to November 2005, 21 patients (9 men, 12 women) with median age of 50.6 years (range 27-77 years) were indicated to percutaneous treatment of benign bile duct stricture. Stricture of hepatic ducts junction resulting from thermic injury during laparoscopic cholecystectomy was indication for treatment in one patient, stricture of hepaticojejunostomy was indication for treatment in all other patients. Clinical symptoms (obstructive jaundice, anicteric cholestasis, cholangitis or biliary cirrhosis) have appeared from 3 months to 12 years after surgery. RESULTS: Initial internal/external biliary drainage was successful in 20 patients out of 21. These 20 patients after successful initial drainage were treated by balloon dilatation and long-term internal/external drainage. Sixteen patients were symptoms free during the follow-up. The relapse of clinical symptoms has appeared in four patients 9, 12, 14 and 24 months after treatment. One year primary clinical success rate of treatment for benign bile duct stricture was 94%. Additional two patients are symptoms free after redilatation (15 and 45 months). One patient is still in treatment, one patient died during secondary treatment period without interrelation with biliary intervention. The secondary clinical success rate is 100%. CONCLUSION: Benign bile duct strictures of hepatic ducts junction or biliary-enteric anastomosis are difficult to treat surgically and endoscopically inaccessible. Percutaneous treatment by balloon dilatation and long-term internal/external drainage is feasible in the majority of these patients. It is minimally invasive, safe and effective.     

Percutaneous dilation of benign biliary strictures

Percutaneous balloon dilation of benign biliary strictures was successful in 15 of 18 patients in whom the procedure was attempted. Successful dilation was achieved in nine of 11 patients who had biliary enteric strictures, with follow-up of 22-55 months (mean, 35.4 months) after catheter removal in seven patients. Five of six strictures in the biliary tree that developed after surgery were successfully dilated, with long-term follow-up available in two patients (58 and 42 months). A patient with an inflammatory common bile duct stricture that was successfully dilated was followed up for 18 months. Percutaneous dilation of biliary tract strictures is a promising technique with good long-term results and may be the initial treatment of choice in biliary stricture management.     

Biliary strictures in hepatic transplantation.

Between August 1985 and December 1990, 198 liver transplantations were performed. Among 18 patients, 20 biliary strictures were identified, which were categorized as anastomotic (n = 6), nonanastomotic central hilar (n = 8), and nonanastomotic peripheral (n = 6). Pretransplant disease, hepatic artery patency, presence of acute or chronic rejection, and donor cold ischemia times were tabulated for each case. Among the six patients with peripheral strictures, three had sclerosing cholangitis prior to transplantation. Three patients with nonanastomotic strictures experienced chronic rejection. The mean cold ischemia time for patients with nonanastomotic strictures was 9.75 hours versus 8.1 hours for nonstrictured transplants (P = .025). Balloon dilation was performed in 13 patients; follow-up longer than 6 months was available for nine patients. Dilation was successful in four cases. Among the five failures, only one patient has needed surgery. An association was noted between nonanastomotic biliary strictures and prolonged donor cold ischemia time, between peripheral nonanastomotic strictures and pretransplant sclerosing cholangitis, and between nonanastomotic strictures and chronic rejection. Percutaneous balloon dilation was found useful in the treatment of the strictured transplant.     

肝移植术后胆道并发症的多层螺旋CT诊断

目的 评价MSCT在诊断肝移植术后胆道并发症中的价值.方法 83例原位肝移植术后患者因临床和生化检查可疑胆道并发症行MSCT增强检查.胆道并发症的确诊依据为直接胆道造影69例、移植肝病理11例、肝管空肠吻合术3例.分析CT诊断胆道并发症的能力,计算其敏感度、特异度、准确度、刚性预测值和阴性预测值,并用x2检验比较胆管吻合口狭窄和非吻合口狭窄的CT特征.结果 83例中,62例(74.7%)证实有胆道并发症,其中胆管吻合口狭窄32例,非吻合口狭窄21例,胆管结石16例(12例合并胆管狭窄),胆总管吻合口漏5例,胆汁瘤4例(合并胆管狭窄)、胆源性肝脓肿2例(合并胆管狭窄).CT诊断胆管狭窄的敏感度、特异度、准确度、阳性预测值、阴性预测值分别为90.6%、86.7%、89.2%、92.3%和83.9%.CT对胆管结石、胆总管吻合口漏、胆汁瘤、胆源性肝脓肿均能正确诊断,无漏诊和误诊.非吻合口狭窄表现为胆管不均匀扩张的发生率(71.4%,15/21)显著高于吻合口狭窄者(25.0%,8/32;P<0.01),而肝外胆管扩张(33.3%,7/21)和胆管均匀扩张(14.3%,3/21)的发生率均显著低于吻合口狭窄者(84.4%,27/32和68.8%,22/32;P<0.01).非吻合口狭窄肝动脉缺血的发生率(66.7%,14/21)明显高于吻合口狭窄者(15.6%,5/32;P<0.01).结论 MSCT对诊断肝移植术后胆道并发症具有重要价值,还可初步诊断胆管狭窄类型;肝动脉缺血是胆管非吻合口狭窄的重要原因.     

Cholangiographic findings in hepatic artery occlusion after liver transplantation

Because the hepatic artery provides the only blood supply to the biliary tree of a liver allograft, posttransplantation arterial occlusion may result in a biliary complication. Cholangiograms were reviewed retrospectively in 31 transplant patients who had proved complete or partial occlusions of the hepatic artery (thrombosis in 29 and marked stenosis in two). Cholangiograms were abnormal in 26 (84%). The most common abnormality, seen in 16 patients, was nonanastomotic contrast leakage from the donor intra- or extrahepatic bile ducts. Strictures of the donor biliary tree occurred in 14 patients, four of whom also had a nonanastomotic bile leak. In 12 of the 14, the strictures were nonanastomotic. Other findings included poor filling of the intrahepatic bile ducts, generalized donor ductal dilatation and irregularity, and intraductal filling defects. Sixteen (89%) of 18 transplants with nonanastomotic contrast leakage had occlusions of the hepatic artery. Of 21 transplants with nonanastomotic strictures, 12 (57%) had occlusions of the hepatic artery. Only two (10%) of 20 transplants with biliary anastomotic strictures had arterial occlusion. We conclude that liver transplant recipients who exhibit nonanastomotic contrast leakage or nonanastomotic strictures on cholangiography should be evaluated for occlusion of the hepatic artery as the probable cause.     

经皮胆道内支架置放术治疗胆道狭窄

目的：采用经皮肝穿胆道支架置入术治疗阻塞性黄疸并探讨其疗效、技术要点及并发症。材料与方法：２５例胆道狭窄接受经皮经肝胆道内支架置入术，其中胆管癌１６例，胰头癌４例，肝门区转移癌３例和胆道术后狭窄２例。结果：技术成功率为９６．０％。２例患者分别行右、左肝管双支架置入。恶性梗阻者６个月生存率为７３．３％，１２个月为４６．６％。６个月胆道再狭窄率为４０．０％。主要并发症为轻度胆道出血（４４．０％）和逆行感染（８．０％），经保守治疗痊愈。结论：结果显示本术治疗胆管狭窄安全有效，技术成功率较经ＥＲＣＰ途径高。配合动脉内化疗灌注可提高恶性阻塞患者的生存率。     

Recurrent bronchobiliary fistula: unsuccessful management with repeated insertion of metallic biliary stent

This case of a recurrent bronchobiliary fistula was first managed temporarily with repeated metallic biliary stent placement, and finally required surgery. A 65-year-old man, who had undergone a hepatic resection for metastatic colon carcinoma, with a bronchobiliary fistula was treated with metallic biliary stent placement for a stenosis in the common bile duct. During 16 months of follow-up, the biliptysis recurred twice by a recurrent stricture of the common bile duct, which was managed by placement of a second and third stent in a coaxial manner. Three months after placement of the third stent, jaundice developed and the patient finally underwent a Roux-en-Y choledochojejunostomy.     

肝动脉与腹主动脉间架桥在肝移植中的作用

目的 改进肝动脉吻合方式，观察肝移植术后移植物恢复情况。方法 2例同种异体背驮式肝移植手术中，利用供体髂动脉进行肝动脉与腹主动脉问架桥，改善供肝动脉供血；观察患者术后肝功能等指标变化。排异反应预防采用FK506和泼尼松二联用药，其他同一般肝移植手术。结果 术后患者供肝恢复良好，2例患者均未出现急性排异反应，痊愈出院。结论 肝动脉与腹动脉吻合或利用供体的髂动脉进行架桥，是预防肝动脉狭窄及栓塞所致并发症的有效方法，值得在肝移植过程中予以选择性加以应用。     

Degree of bile-duct dilatation in liver-transplanted patients with biliary stricture: a magnetic resonance cholangiography-based study

PURPOSE: This study assessed whether the degree of bile-duct dilatation in liver-transplanted patients is correlated with the time from intervention and the type of underlying biliary stricture. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Fifty-seven 3D magnetic resonance cholangiograms (MRCs) performed on 42 liver-transplanted patients were retrospectively evaluated. Diameter was measured at the level of the extrahepatic bile duct (EBD), right hepatic duct (RHD), left hepatic duct (LHD), anterior and posterior right hepatic ducts (aRHD, pRHD) and left lateral and medial ducts (LLD, LMD). Data were stratified according to the type of biliary stricture (all types, anastomotic, ischaemic-like, mixed) and compared, on a per-examination basis: (a) between two groups based on time from transplantation using a 1-year threshold (nonlongitudinal analysis); (b) among 26 repeated examinations on 11 patients (longitudinal analysis); (c) among different stricture groups. RESULTS: The biliary tree was slightly dilated within 1 year from transplantation (2.9±1.3 to 6.1±3.2 mm). In general, nonlongitudinal analysis showed minimally larger duct size after 1 year (mean +1.4±0.5 mm) despite significant differences at most sites of measurement considering all types of strictures (p<0.01; Mann-Whitney U test). Longitudinal analysis showed diameter increase over time, although without statistically significant differences (p>0.01; Kruskal-Wallis test). No significant difference in bile-duct size was observed when comparing types of stricture (p>0.01; Kruskal-Wallis test). CONCLUSIONS: Biliary dilatation after liver transplantation is mild and develops slowly regardless of the underlying type of stricture, possibly in relation to graft properties. MRC has a potential role as first-line imaging modality for a reliable assessment of biliary dilatation and the presence of a stricture.     

Patency and complications of percutaneously inserted metallic stents in malignant biliary obstruction

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to analyze the patency of percutaneously inserted metallic stents in malignant biliary obstruction and to evaluate all the complications associated with the stents and the reinterventions needed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-nine patients with 42 malignant strictures were treated percutaneously with 55 metallic self-expandable stents. Forty-eight were Wallstents and seven were Memotherm stents. Twenty-five strictures were hilar, 16 were in the common bile duct, and one was in the hepaticojejunal anastomosis. The patients were followed until death and the mean follow-up was 6.4 months. RESULTS: Stent insertion was successful in 97% of the patients. Thirty percent had early complications (<30 days), and as many as 66% had late complications, including stent occlusions, which were seen in 10 patients. The patency rates of patients with cholangio-carcinoma were significantly lower than those of the patients with other diagnoses. There was also a tendency toward obstruction with less dilation of the stents, Y, T or tandem-style stent placement, an increasing number of stents, longer strictures, and hilar strictures. Thirty-one percent of the patients alive after the first 30 days had late reinterventions. CONCLUSIONS: Although metallic stents offer an alternative in the palliation of malignant bile duct obstruction, there seem to be numerous early and late complications.     

Balloon dilatation of biliary-enteric strictures in children

OBJECTIVE: The objective of our study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of balloon dilatation in the treatment of anastomotic strictures in children with liver transplants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For a period of 7 years, we treated 20 consecutive biliary-enteric strictures in 19 children (age range, 13 months to 17.9 years, mean, 7.3 years) with balloon dilatation. Dilatation was performed between 30 days and 8.4 years (mean, 2.6 years) following surgical creation of the biliary-enteric anastomosis. Thirteen patients had left lateral segment liver transplant grafts, one patient had a split-liver, left-lobe graft, and five patients had whole liver grafts. RESULTS: Technical success was 100% and there were no procedure-related complications. One patient with a patent anastomosis underwent repeat transplantation 183 days after the procedure for chronic rejection. In 58% (11/19) of the remaining procedures, balloon dilatation resulted in biliary-enteric patency at one year, and continued patency ranges from 1.4 to 5.4 years (mean, 3.6 years). In 40% (8/20) of the procedures, the biliary-enteric stricture persisted after balloon dilatation, and these patients eventually underwent surgical revision, retransplantation, or endobiliary metallic stent placement. CONCLUSION: Balloon dilatation is a safe and effective treatment for biliary-enteric strictures following pediatric liver transplantation.