Preoperative biliary drainage for hilar cholangiocarcinoma

Hilar cholangiocarcinomas grow slowly, and metastases occur late in the natural history. Surgical cure and long-term survival have been demonstrated, when resection margins are clear. Preoperative biliary drainage has been proposed as a way to improve liver function before surgery, and to reduce post-surgical complications. Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) with multiple drains was previously the preferred method for the preoperative relief of obstructive jaundice. However, the introduction of percutaneous transhepatic portal vein embolization (PTPE) and wider resection has changed preoperative drainage strategies. Drainage is currently performed only for liver lobes that will remain after resection, and for areas of segmental cholangitis. Endoscopic biliary drainage (EBD) is less invasive than PTBD. Among EBD techniques, endoscopic nasobiliary drainage (ENBD) is preferable to endoscopic biliary stenting (EBS), because secondary cholangitis (due to the retrograde flow of duodenal fluid into the biliary tree) does not occur. ENBD needs to be converted to PTBD in patients with segmental cholangitis, those with a prolonged need for drainage, or when the extent of longitudinal tumor extension is not sufficiently well characterized.     

Photodynamic therapy prolongs metal stent patency in patients with unresectable hilar cholangiocarcinoma

AIM:To evaluate the effect of photodynamic therapy (PDT) on metal stent patency in patients with unresectable hilar cholangiocarcinoma (CC). METHODS:This was a retrospective analysis of patients with hilar CC referred to our institution from December, 1999 to January, 2011. Out of 232 patients, thirty-three patients with unresectable hilar CC were treated. Eighteen patients in the PDT group were treated with uncovered metal stents after one session of PDT. Fifteen patients in the control group were treated with metal stents alone. Porfimer sodium (2 mg/kg) was administered intravenously to PDT patients. Fortyeight hours later, PDT was administered using a diffusing fiber that was advanced across the tumor by either endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography or percutaneous cholangiography. After performance of PDT, uncovered metal stents were inserted to ensure adequate decompression and bile drainage. Patient survival rates and cumulative stent patency were calculated using Kaplan-Meier analysis with the log-rank test. RESULTS:The PDT and control patients were comparable with respect to age, gender, health status, pretreatment bilirubin, and hilar CC stage. When compared to control, the PDT group was associated with significantly prolonged stent patency (median 244 ± 66 and 177 ± 45 d, respectively, P = 0.002) and longer patient survival (median 356 ± 213 and 230 ± 73 d, respectively, P = 0.006). Early complication rates were similar between the groups (PDT group 17%, control group 13%) and all patients were treated conservatively. Stent malfunctions occurred in 14 PDT patients (78%) and 12 control patients (80%). Of these 26 patients, twenty-two were treated endoscopically and four were treated with external drainage. CONCLUSION:Metal stenting after one session of PDT may be safe with acceptable complication rates. The PDT group was associated with a significantly longer stent patency than the control group in patients with unresectable hilar CC.     

Intraductal ultrasonography combined with percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy for the preoperative evaluation of longitudinal tumor extent in hilar cholangiocarcinoma

Background and Aim: In hilar cholangiocarcinoma, an accurate assessment of preoperative resectability is important to optimize surgical resection. We investigated the accuracy of the combination of intraductal ultrasonography (IDUS) and percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy (PTCS) for evaluating longitudinal extent in hilar cholangiocarcinoma. Methods: Patients diagnosed with hilar cholangiocarcinoma underwent multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) and magnetic resonance cholangiography (MRC) for tumor staging and Bismuth type. Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage was performed at the left or right bile duct of the liver section that was anticipated to be preserved in the surgical treatment. After tract dilation, PTCS with cholangioscope‐directed biopsy and IDUS were sequentially performed to evaluate Bismuth type. Surgical treatment was executed according to tumor staging and longitudinal tumor extent. Postoperative histological Bismuth types were compared to preoperative Bismuth types based on MDCT, MRC, PTCS with biopsy, and IDUS. Results: From June 2006 to November 2008, 25 patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma were enrolled, with 20 of these patients evaluable. The accuracy of MDCT, MRC, PTCS with biopsy, and IDUS for the evaluation of Bismuth type was 80%, 84.2%, 90%, and 85.0%, respectively, in 20 patients, and 82.4%, 82.4%, 94.1%, and 88.2%, respectively, in 18 patients with Bismuth type IIIa, IIIb, or IV cancer. The accuracy of the combination of IDUS and PTCS with biopsy was 95% in 20 patients, and 100% in 18 with Bismuth type IIIa, IIIb, or IV cancer. Conclusions: The combination of IDUS and PTCS with biopsy was highly accurate for assessing Bismuth type and may help in the identification of an optimal surgical plan for the treatment of hilar cholangiocarcinoma, especially in Bismuth type IIIa, IIIb, or IV.     

Oncological benefit of preoperative endoscopic biliary drainage in patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma

Due to advances in endoscopic equipment and techniques, preoperative endoscopic biliary drainage (EBD) has been developed to serve as an alternative to percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD). This study sought to clarify the benefit of EBD in comparison to PTBD in patients who underwent radical resections of hilar cholangiocarcinoma. One hundred and forty‐one patients underwent radical surgery for hilar cholangiocarcinoma between 2000 and 2008 were retrospectively divided into two groups based on the type of preoperative biliary drainage, PTBD (n = 67) or EBD (n = 74). We investigated if the different biliary drainage methods affected postoperative survival and mode of recurrence after median observation period of 82 months. The survival rate for patients who underwent EBD was significantly higher than those who had PTBD (P = 0.004). Multivariate analysis revealed that PTBD was one of the independent factors predictive of poor survival (hazard ratio: 2.075, P = 0.003). Patients with PTBD more frequently developed peritoneal seeding in comparison to those who underwent EBD (P = 0.0003). PTBD was the only independent factor predictive of peritoneal seeding. In conclusion, EBD might confer an improved prognosis over PTBD due to prevention of peritoneal seeding, and is recommended as the initial procedure for preoperative biliary drainage in patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma.     

Advances in the surgical treatment of hilar cholangiocarcinoma

With the improvement of perioperative management and surgical techniques as well as the accumulation of knowledge on the oncobiological behavior of bile duct carcinoma, the long-term prognosis of hilar cholangiocarcinoma has been improving. In this article, the authors review the recent developments in surgical strategies for hilar cholangiocarcinoma, focusing on diagnosis for characteristic disease extension, perioperative management to reduce postoperative morbidity and mortality, surgical techniques for extended curative resection and postoperative adjuvant therapy.     

Comparison of survival of advanced hilar cholangiocarcinoma after biliary drainage alone versus photodynamic therapy with external drainage]

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has a promising effect on non-resectable hilar cholangiocarcinoma. The aim of this study was to compare overall survival of PDT plus biliary drainage versus biliary stent alone in advanced hilar cholangiocarcinoma. METHODS: Twenty patients who were treated with endoscopic biliary drainage alone (Group A) and 27 patients treated with PDT under percutaneous cholangioscopy and additional percutaneous biliary drainage (Group B) were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: The mean bilirubin level declined effectively in both group after treatment. One-year survival was 28% in group A, 52% in group B (p<0.05). Median survival time was 288 days in group A, 558 days in group B (p=0.0143). CONCLUSIONS: PDT under percutaneous cholangioscopy seems to be more effective in extending survival than biliary drainage alone in advanced hilar tumor. To investigate whether PDT can increase survival rates, further prospective, randomized study is needed.     

Factors affecting the yield of percutaneous cholangioscopic biopsy in patients with bile duct cancer

Background: This study analyzed the factors associated with the yield of percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopic biopsies in patients with bile duct cancer. Methods: One‐hundred‐and‐sixteen patients who had received percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy and who had been confirmed as having bile duct cancer were enrolled in this study. Multiple targeted biopsies were taken under direct cholangioscopic view. Results: When the location of the tumor was divided into intrahepatic duct (IHD), hilar duct and common bile duct (CBD), the biopsy yield was significantly higher in IHD cancer (93.7%) than in cases of hilar cancer (69.6%) (P < 0.05). After a bile duct cancer had been classified as a nodular type (n = 31), papillary type (n = 27) or infiltrative type (n = 58) cancer upon cholangioscopic findings, the biopsy yields from nodular (96.8%) or papillary types (96.3%) were significantly higher than from infiltrative types (58.6%; P < 0.01). The positive rate for malignant cells was not influenced by the presence of tumor vessels or the number of biopsy samples taken. However, the sensitivity of the combination of cholangioscopic biopsy and tumor vessel in overall bile duct cancer, especially in the infiltrative type, was significantly increased when it was compared with that of cholangioscopic biopsies (P < 0.01) or tumor vessels alone (P < 0.01). Conclusions: Cholangioscopic biopsy provides a high positive yield of malignant cells in those patients with IHD, nodular‐type and papillary‐type cancers. The cholangioscopic classification of bile duct tumors might thus provide important clues to predict biopsy yield.     

经内镜逆行胰胆管造影胆道金属支架置入治疗不可切除肝外胆道恶性梗阻的效果观察

目的探讨经内镜逆行胰胆管造影(ERCP)胆道金属支架置入对于肝外胆道恶性梗阻的临床疗效及安全性。方法收集2010年1月-2015年12月郑州大学第二附属医院收治的不可切除性肝外胆道恶性梗阻患者40例。根据手术方法不同分为经皮经肝胆管穿刺引流术(PTCD)组和ERCP组各20例。观察2组患者支架通畅期和生存期、术后临床疗效、术后并发症发生情况、术后住院时间等指标。计量资料组间比较采用t检验;计数资料组间比较采用χ2检验或校正的χ2检验。2组支架通畅期和生存期的比较采用Kaplan-Meier法对数秩检验。结果 ERCP组患者的支架通畅期[(225.6±52.5)d vs(156.3±44.5)d]、生存期[(335.6±42.5)d vs(225.5±42.5)d]较PTCD组均明显延长(t值分别为11.45、10.46,P值均<0.05)。ERCP组患者术后发生腹痛(7例)少于PTCD组(10例),差异有统计学意义(35.0%vs 50.0%,χ2=9.45,P<0.05)。ERCP组患者术后严重并发症发生率显著低于PTCD组(10.0%vs 30.0%,χ2=7.49,P<0.05)。与PTCD组相比,ERCP组患者的住院时间更短[(12.4±2.5)d vs(19.8±4.0)d,t=10.67,P<0.05]。结论 ERCP支架置入与PTCD解除胆道恶性梗阻疗效相近,但ERCP术后胆道通畅时间、生存期长,并发症少,住院时间短。因此对于肝外胆道恶性梗阻患者,采用ERCP临床疗效更好,安全性更高。     

Long-term outcome of endoscopic therapy in patients with bile duct injury after cholecystectomy

Background and Aim:  Bile duct lesions, including leaks and strictures, are immanent complications of open or laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Endoscopic procedures have gained increasing potential as the treatment of choice in the management of postoperative bile duct injuries.
Methods:  Between January 1996 and December 2006, 44 patients with biliary leakages and 12 patients with biliary strictures after cholecystectomy were identified by analyzing the endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography database, clinical records, and cholangiograms. The long-term follow up of endoscopic treatment in biliary lesions after cholecystectomy was evaluated by this retrospective study.
Results:  In 34 of 35 patients (97%) with peripheral bile duct leakages, endoscopic therapy was successful. Transpapillary endoprothesis and/or nasobiliary drainage were removed after 31 (5–399) days. After stent removal, the median follow-up period was 81 (11–137) months. In patients with central bile duct leakages, the success rate after median 90 (4–145) days of endoscopic therapy was 66.7% (6/9 patients). The median follow up after stent removal in six successfully treated patients was 70 (48–92) months. Eleven of 12 patients (91.6%) with bile duct strictures had successfully completed stent therapy. The follow-up period of this patient group was 99 (53–140) months.
Conclusions:  Endoscopic treatment of bile duct lesions after cholecystectomy is effective, particularly in patients with peripheral bile duct leakages and bile duct strictures. Therefore, it should be the first-line therapy used in these patients. Although endoscopic management is less successful in patients with central bile duct leakages, an attempt is warranted.     

三种方式同期放置双侧金属支架治疗肝门胆管恶性梗阻的比较研究

目的:探讨内镜下3种方式同期平行放置双侧金属支架治疗无法手术切除肝门胆管恶性梗阻的疗效。方法:回顾性分析2012年1月—2019年2月期间上海东方肝胆外科医院采用内镜下同期平行放置双侧金属支架治疗无法手术切除肝门胆管恶性梗阻(Bismuth Ⅱ～Ⅳ型)的118例患者资料。按照支架放置方式分为3组：双侧支架均跨越十二指肠...     

Preoperative biliary drainage in patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma undergoing major hepatectomy

AIM:To investigate the effect of preoperative biliary drainage(PBD)in jaundiced patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma(HCCA)undergoing major liver resections.METHODS:An observational study was carried out by reviewing a prospectively maintained database of HCCA patients who underwent major liver resection for curative therapy from January 2002 to December 2012.Patients were divided into two groups based on whether PBD was performed:a drained group and an undrained group.Patient baseline characteristics,preoperative factors,perioperative and short-term postoperative outcomes were compared between the two groups.Risk factors for postoperative complications were also analyzed by logistic regression test with calculating OR and 95%CI.RESULTS:In total,78 jaundiced patients with HCCA underwent major liver resection:32 had PBD prior to operation while 46 did not have PBD.The two groups were comparable with respect to age,sex,body mass index and co-morbidities.Furthermore,there was no significant difference in the total bilirubin(TBIL)levels between the drained group and the undrained group at admission(294.2±135.7 vs 254.0±63.5,P=0.126).PBD significantly improved liver function,reducing not only the bilirubin levels but also other liver enzymes.The preoperative TBIL level was significantly lower in the drained group as compared to the undrained group(108.1±60.6 vs 265.7±69.1,P=0.000).The rate of overall postoperative complications(53.1%vs 58.7%,P=0.626),reoperation rate(6.3%vs 6.5%,P=1.000),postoperative hospital stay(16.5 vs 15.0,P=0.221)and mortality(9.4%vs 4.3%,P=0.673)were similar between the two groups.In addition,there was no significant difference in infectious complications(40.6%vs 23.9%,P=0.116)and noninfectious complications(31.3%vs 47.8%,P=0.143)between the two groups.Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that preoperative TBIL>170μmol/L(OR=13.690,95%CI:1.275-147.028,P=0.031),Bismuth-Corlette classification(OR=0.013,95%CI:0.001-0.166,P=0.001)and extended liver resection(OR=14.010,95%CI:1.130-     

成石性胆汁对人肝门部胆管癌细胞增殖的影响

目的观察成石性胆汁（CB）对肝门部胆管癌细胞FRH-0201增殖的影响,探讨胆管系统结石与肝门部胆管癌发生发展的关系。方法胆汁浓度梯度稀释以及细胞毒性试验;应用噻唑蓝（MTT）比色试验分别检测胆汁对肝门部胆管癌细胞FRH-0201生长的影响;观察各组胆汁作用后细胞生长曲线,计算细胞倍增时间;应用流式技术检测细胞周期、测定增殖指数,G0／G1期细胞比例及S期细胞比例;观察细胞克隆形成。结果CB与正常胆汁（NB）比较,能明显促进FRH-0201细胞增殖,以48～72h最明显,CB对细胞的增殖作用具有时间和浓度依赖性。培养48h后1％CB组S期细胞比例明显增高,G0／G1期细胞比例明显降低（P〈0．05）;CB组细胞增殖指数明显高于对照组。结论胆管系统结石患者胆汁具有潜在的促增殖活性,胆管系统结石与胆管癌的发生、发展关系密切。     

Review: Endoscopic biliary therapy in the era of bariatric surgery

There is an increasing demand and availability of bariatric surgery, with a range of procedures performed, some leading to altered upper gastrointestinal anatomy. The patient population undergoing bariatric surgery is also at increased risk of gallstones and biliary stone disease. Endoscopy (ie, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography) is the cornerstone of management of biliary stone disease, but may be challenging after bariatric surgery. In this review the endoscopic, surgery assisted, or percutaneous options that may be considered are discussed, based on the details of surgical anatomy and available expertise.