Intrahepatic biliary strictures after liver transplantation

Biliary complication has been one of the most common complications after liver transplantation. Nonanastomotic strictures and dilatations involving the intrahepatic biliary tree have been recognized as biliary complications. These lesions were reported to be associated with hepatic artery thrombosis; prolonged preservation time; ABO-incompatible organs; and immunological injury, including injuries to vascular endothelial cells (chronic rejection) and the bile duct (primary sclerosing cholangitis). However, the etiology of these lesions appeared to be mostly related to ischemic injury. Anatomical research on the arterial supply of the bile duct has provided further insights into bile duct blood supply and its surgical implications. The biliary tract is supplied with arterial blood by a vasculature called the peribiliary vascular plexus. Any injury to the peribiliary vascular plexus may contribute to ischemic death of the biliary system mucosa. At many points, the process of liver transplantation exposes the endothelial cells and peribiliary vascular plexus to ischemic injury. The majority of intrahepatic biliary strictures (IHBS) are diffuse or bilateral. A percutaneous or an endoscopic approach has been used as the initial treatment. However, a low threshold for surgical intervention (retransplantation) should be adopted, because these patients demonstrate high mortality. The aim of this article is to review the anatomy, etiology, clinical picture, diagnosis, management, and prognosis of IHBS after liver transplantation.     

Ischaemic cholestasis in intensive care unit

Cholestasis is frequently encountered in the ICU and is associated with a poor outcome. Ischaemia should be considered among the numerous aetiologic factors that may trigger cholestasis in the ICU. Blood supply to biliary tract is mainly provided by the hepatic artery, throughout a peribiliary vascular plexus. Interruption of the hepatic artery blood supply leads to cholestasis with a concomitant proliferative biliary reaction. Bile duct proliferation persists, while bile flow restores and biologic cholestasis syndrome spontaneously resolves in several weeks. Liver fibrosis related to the activation of periportal mesenchymental cells is observed in the close vicinity of proliferative bile ducts. Ischaemic cholestasis can be ascribed, at least partly, to hypoxia-induced disorders in the expression of hepatocytes biliary salts membrane transporters.     

Preliminary study of the anatomy of the venous drainage of the intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts and its relevance to the practice of hepatobiliary surgery

Background : Although there have been many studies of the arterial supply of the biliary system, attempts to study the corresponding venous drainage have been few and all have been incomplete. The purpose of the present investigation is to describe the anatomy of the venous drainage of both the intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts and to determine its relevance to hepatobiliary surgery. Methods : The intrahepatic and extrahepatic venous drainage of the bile ducts was investigated in seven specimens by injecting a solution of 10% gelatin coloured with Alcian blue into the portal vein or the superior mesenteric vein to outline the venous drainage. The specimens were dissected under loop magnification and representative drawings were obtained. Results : The surface of the intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts was covered by a fine venous plexus. On the surface of the supraduodenal common hepatic duct and common bile duct the venous plexus drained laterally into marginal veins, usually two in number and known as the 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock marginal veins. Inferiorly the marginal veins and the venous plexus communicated with the pancreaticoduodenal venous plexus, which in its turn drained into the posterosuperior pancreaticoduodenal vein, a branch of the superior mesenteric vein. Superiorly the marginal veins divided into a number of branches. Some branches followed the left and right hepatic ducts into the liver, communicating with the venous plexus and the adjacent branches of the portal vein. Other branches of variable size entered either segment IV or the caudate lobe or process via the hilar venous plexus. A most important finding was that even after dividing the bile duct and all communicating veins at the upper border of the duodenum, the venous plexus and the marginal veins filled normally to the level of transection. This occurred almost certainly by retrograde filling from above. Conclusion : The satisfactory results of end‐to‐end anastomosis in whole liver transplantation depends partly on the presence of adequate venous drainage. This has been amply demonstrated by the injection studies. This would indicate that the poor results of end‐to‐end repair of the bile duct after surgical trauma results from other factors such as poor technique, devascularization of the cut ends due to trauma, and carrying out the anastomosis under tension. After resection of the hilum for cholangiocarcinoma the venous drainage of the left and right hepatic ducts and their branches depends mainly on the communications between the venous plexus on the ducts and the adjacent branches of the portal vein, even at a lobular or sinusoidal level. The satisfactory results obtained after anastomosis of the left and right hepatic ducts or their branches to a Roux loop of jejunum attest to this. This applies also to the transplantation of segments II and III in paediatric patients from related adult donors and in patients receiving split liver transplants. Finally, the venous drainage at the bifurcation of the common hepatic duct has been shown to enter the caudate lobe and segment IV directly. This suggests that a hilar cholangiocarcinoma may metastasize to these segments, and perhaps partly explain the significantly better long‐term results when the caudate lobe and segment IV are resected en bloc with the cholangiocarcinoma as part of modern radical surgery for this condition.     

The development of a pyogenic liver abscess following radical resection of cholangiocellular carcinoma with ligation of the right hepatic artery: Report of a case

We present herein the case of a pyogenic liver abscess developing from hepatic ischemia caused by resection of the right hepatic artery when a left hemihepatectomy with caudate lobectomy and extrahepatic bile duct resection was performed for cholangiocellular carcinoma. Postoperative cholangiography revealed communication between the abscess cavity and the intrahepatic bile duct. The liver abscess was successfully treated by percutaneous transhepatic drainage. Thus, breakdown of the intrahepatic bile duct due to ischemia may play an important role in the development of a pyogenic liver abscess following hepatic arterial occlusion.     

医源性胆管损伤致伤机制与分类初探

目的探讨医源性胆管损伤发生的机制，以期对医源性胆管损伤进行合理的对临床有指导意义的分类。方法对医源性胆管损伤的原因、方式、部位、损伤程度进行分析。结果与结论从致伤原因上看，胆管可受到机械性损伤、热力损伤、缺血性损伤、化学性损伤等，医源性胆管损伤可分为4类，Ⅰ肝内胆管损伤，Ⅱ肝外胆管中上段损伤，Ⅲ胆总管下段损伤，Ⅳ副肝管损伤。     

胆管损伤的预防与治疗指南(2008版)

Bile duct injury is an important clinical problem associated with significantly high perioperative morbidity and mortality, reduced long-term survival and poor quality of life, as well as high rate of malpractice litigation following iatrogenic causes. The management of bile duct injury remains a considerable challenge for even the most skilled hepatobiliary surgeons. Based on this situation, the Biliary Surgery Group of Surgery Branch of Chinese Medical Association compiled the Guideline for the prevention and management of bile duct injury. The guideline systematically explains the concept, causes, classification, diagnosis and treatment of bile duct injury. Three categories of bile duct injury, including intrahepatic bile duct injury, extrahepatic bile duct injury and bile duct injury in the pancreaticoduodenal region are proposed according to the anatomical site, causes, pathological characters, prevention and treatment of bile duct injury. Four types and 4 subtypes of the extrahepatic bile duct injury are classified according to the anatomical plane of the injured bile duct and the pathological character of the main bile duct, respectively.     

Hepatic artery aneurysm: a pitfall in biliary surgery.

This paper describes a patient operated upon for gall-bladder and bile duct stones, who presented with an extrahepatic aneurysm of the main hepatic arterial trunk and with a central intrahepatic haematoma assumed to be caused by the rupture of an intrahepatic aneurysm or by secondary intrahepatic necrosis. Exploration of the bile ducts resulted in haemobilia. The presence of extrahepatic arterial collaterals precluded individualization of the left and right hepatic arteries and subsequent distal arterial ligation or partial hepatectomy. Ligation of the common hepatic artery, although initially successful, was insufficient to avoid a recurrent and fatal haemobilia.     

肝动脉栓塞术后的肝内外胆道损毁性病变

目的 探讨经导管肝动态栓塞术后对胆道损伤的病因、治疗及预防。方法 总结５例因肝动脉栓塞引起的胆道损伤患者,其中４例为肝血管瘤经导管动脉栓塞术后,１例为手术时结扎肝动脉注射ＴＨ胶后。动物实验观察向大鼠肝动脉内注射乙醇复制血管栓塞剂对肝脏的损伤。结果 ５例患者均有胆道毁坏性病变,甚至造成胆汁性肝硬化,４例进行胆管空肠吻合及胆道支撑。实验结果证实肝动脉注射血管硬化剂无水乙醇后可以引起邻近汇管区肝脏局部坏     

THE BLOOD SUPPLY OF THE BILIARY DUCTAL SYSTEM AND ITS RELEVANCE TO VASCULOBILIARY INJURIES FOLLOWING CHOLECYSTECTOMY

Background : Cholecystectomy remains the only satisfactory treatment for symptomatic gall bladder stones. Unfortunately, in some cases the operation is complicated by vasculobiliary injury. The present study was undertaken to investigate the blood supply of the normal biliary system, to simulate vasculobiliary injuries described after cholecystectomy, and to determine the possible effects of the vascular injury on biliary reconstruction. Methods : The blood supply of the biliary system in nine normal livers was investigated by injection of the coeliac axis and superior mesenteric arteries with coloured gelatin. The specimens were dissected under magnification and drawings prepared. Injection dissection studies were also carried out in eight specimens in which various vasculobiliary injuries encountered after cholecystectomy were simulated. Results : The bile ducts possess an arterial plexus on their surface which is supplied from below by ascending marginal vessels derived from the postero-superior pancreaticoduodenal artery. These marginal vessels end above in the right hepatic artery or its branches. The right and left hepatic ductal systems are supplied by the right and left hepatic arteries and their sectoral or segmental branches. The right and left hepatic arteries communicate freely via the hilar plate arterial plexus. This collateral system allows the blood supply to the right hepatic duct to be maintained after ligation of the right hepatic artery and interruption of the common hepatic duct or excision of the confluence. Conclusion : A knowledge of the blood supply of the normal biliary system and the collateral hilar plate arterial plexus forms the anatomical foundation for successful reconstructive surgery, not only in vasculobiliary injuries following cholecystectomy, but also for a wide range of hepatobiliary procedures.     

The blood supply of the biliary ductal system and its relevance to vasculobiliary injuries following cholecystectomy.

BACKGROUND: Cholecystectomy remains the only satisfactory treatment for symptomatic gall bladder stones. Unfortunately, in some cases the operation is complicated by vasculobiliary injury. The present study was undertaken to investigate the blood supply of the normal biliary system, to simulate vasculobiliary injuries described after cholecystectomy, and to determine the possible effects of the vascular injury on biliary reconstruction. METHODS: The blood supply of the biliary system in nine normal livers was investigated by injection of the coeliac axis and superior mesenteric arteries with coloured gelatin. The specimens were dissected under magnification and drawings prepared. Injection dissection studies were also carried out in eight specimens in which various vasculobiliary injuries encountered after cholecystectomy were simulated. RESULTS: The bile ducts possess an arterial plexus on their surface which is supplied from below by ascending marginal vessels derived from the postero-superior pancreaticoduodenal artery. These marginal vessels end above in the right hepatic artery or its branches. The right and left hepatic ductal systems are supplied by the right and left hepatic arteries and their sectoral or segmental branches. The right and left hepatic arteries communicate freely via the hilar plate arterial plexus. This collateral system allows the blood supply to the right hepatic duct to be maintained after ligation of the right hepatic artery and interruption of the common hepatic duct or excision of the confluence. CONCLUSION: A knowledge of the blood supply of the normal biliary system and the collateral hilar plate arterial plexus forms the anatomical foundation for successful reconstructive surgery, not only in vasculobiliary injuries following cholecystectomy, but also for a wide range of hepatobiliary procedures.     

Transcatheter cooling of intrahepatic bile duct during microwave coagulation therapy: A procedure to prevent bile duct injury

Microwave coagulation therapy (MCT) is a widely used and effective minimal invasive therapy for liver tumor. Bile duct injury, however, is a major obstacle to complete tumor necrosis. To facilitate the use of MCT for a liver tumor adjacent to the major bile duct, we developed a method for transcatheter cooling of the major intrahepatic bile duct. The procedure for this technique is: (1) an angular catheter is inserted into the designated bile duct via the cystic duct after cholecystectomy, and a small longitudinal cut is made in the common bile duct for drainage of the cooling liquid; (2) cool saline is continuously infused into the bile duct via the inserted catheter during MCT; (3) after the MCT, the small opening in the common bile duct is simply closed with two or three sutures, and a C-tube is inserted to prevent stenosis of the common hepatic duct. MCT with this newly developed surgical technique enabled complete tumor necrosis and bile duct preservation, and the technique is strongly recommended for treatment of liver tumor adjacent to the major bile duct.     

Causes and consequences of ischemic-type biliary lesions after liver transplantation

Biliary complications are a major source of morbidity, graft loss, and even mortality after liver transplantation. The most troublesome are the so-called ischemic-type biliary lesions (ITBL), with an incidence varying between 5% and 15%. ITBL is a radiological diagnosis, characterized by intrahepatic strictures and dilatations on a cholangiogram, in the absence of hepatic artery thrombosis. Several risk factors for ITBL have been identified, strongly suggesting a multifactorial origin. The main categories of risk factors for ITBL include ischemia-related injury; immunologically induced injury; and cytotoxic injury, induced by bile salts. However, in many cases no specific risk factor can be identified. Ischemia-related injury comprises prolonged ischemic times and disturbance in blood flow through the peribiliary vascular plexus. Immunological injury is assumed to be a risk factor based on the relationship of ITBL with ABO incompatibility, polymorphism in genes coding for chemokines, and pre-existing immunologically mediated diseases such as primary sclerosing cholangitis and autoimmune hepatitis. The clinical presentation of patients with ITBL is often not specific; symptoms may include fever, abdominal complaints, and increased cholestasis on liver function tests. Diagnosis is made by imaging studies of the bile ducts. Treatment starts with relieving the symptoms of cholestasis and dilatation by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticography (ERCP) or percutaneous transhepatic cholangiodrainage (PTCD), followed by stenting if possible. Eventually up to 50% of the patients with ITBL will require a retransplantation or may die. In selected patients, a retransplantation can be avoided or delayed by resection of the extra-hepatic bile ducts and construction of a hepaticojejunostomy. More research on the pathogenesis of ITBL is needed before more specific preventive or therapeutic strategies can be developed.     

Right hepatic lobectomy for recurrent cholangitis after combined bile duct and right hepatic artery injury during laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a report of two cases

BACKGROUND: Bile duct injuries in combination with major vascular injuries may cause serious morbidity and may even require liver resection in some cases. We present two case studies of patients requiring right hepatic lobectomy after bile duct and right hepatic artery injury during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. PATIENTS: Two patients sustained combined major bile duct and hepatic artery injury during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Surgical management consisted of immediate hepaticojejunostomy with reconstruction of the artery in one patient and hepaticojejunostomy alone in the other patient. In both cases the initial postoperative course was uncomplicated. RESULTS: After 4 and 6 months both patients suffered recurrent cholangitis due to anastomotic stricture. Both developed secondary biliary cirrhosis and required right hepatic lobectomy with left hepaticojejunostomy. The patients remain well 31 months and 4.5 years after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The outcome of bile duct reconstruction may be worse in the presence of combined biliary and vascular injuries than in patients with an intact blood supply of the bile ducts. We recommend arterial reconstruction when possible in early recognized injuries to prevent late strictures. Short-term follow-up is most important for early recognition of postoperative strictures and to avoid further complications such as secondary biliary cirrhosis.     

肝门腹侧肝脏切除治疗复杂肝胆管结石并肝门狭窄16例疗效分析

目的 探讨肝门腹侧肝脏切除手术处理复杂肝胆管结石并肝门狭窄的可行性和疗效。方法 回顾性分析2015年1月至2019年8月湖南省人民医院肝胆外科采用肝门腹侧肝脏切除手术治疗的16例复杂肝内胆管结石并肝门狭窄病例的临床资料,随访观察结石清除及术后并发症情况。结果 16例病人中4b段部分切除7例,5段部分切除3例,4b段+5段部分切除4例,部分4b段+5段切除2例。手术均顺利完成,无住院死亡,无严重并发症。术后随访时间6~57个月。所有病人疗效评估均为优。术后胆道造影检查均未见1、2级胆管狭窄,7例有3级胆管狭窄,发现少量结石残留,术后经胆道镜取净结石,5例未能取尽,密切随访观察,无明显临床症状。结论 肝门腹侧肝脏切除手术可充分显露肝门胆管,更有效地处理复杂肝内外胆管结石并肝门狭窄,手术安全可行且能建立通畅的胆肠引流途径。     

彩色多普勒超声在肝移植术后肝动脉并发症的应用价值

目的　探讨彩色多普勒超声 (CDI)监测肝移植术后肝动脉并发症的应用价值。方法　术后连续CDI检查监测 180次原位肝移植。监测指标包括肝门部及肝内肝动脉左、右分支的峰值速度 (HAV) ,加速度 (HAAC) ,加速时间 (SAT) ,阻力指数 (RI) ,观察有无血流信号中断、侧支循环形成、肝内有无梗死灶和肝内、外胆管改变等。结果　 8例病人经选择性动脉造影证实为动脉并发症 (血栓形成 5例 ,肝动脉狭窄 3例 )。CDI表现有 :RI降低 <0 5 (8/ 8) ,SAT延长 >0 0 8s(6 / 8) ,HAAC降低<30 0cm/s2 (6 / 8) ,HAV降低 <4 0cm/s(7/ 8) ,肝内胆管扩张、回声改变等 (4 / 8) ,肝内梗死灶 (2 / 8) ,肝内外动脉血流信号消失 (2 / 8) ,肝门部侧支循环形成 (1/ 8)。CDI对动脉并发症诊断的敏感度和特异度分别为 87 5 % (7/ 8)和 95 3% (16 4 / 172 )。结论　CDI可有效监测肝移植术后肝动脉并发症并对其治疗有一定的指导作用。RI、SAT、HAAC、HAV是CDI诊断肝动脉并发症的敏感指标 ,联合应用可以提高CDI的诊断特异度。     

Pathology and pathogenesis of intrahepatic bile duct loss

In recent years, the pathology and pathogenesis of bile duct loss have been extensively studied, and a num-ber of hepatobiliary diseases have been added to the list of ductopenic diseases. In addition, the biology of biliary epithelial cells is now being studied with respect to bile duct loss, as well as biliary epithelial neoplasia. In this review, recent advances in pathogenetic and pathological studies of intrahepatic bile duct loss are described, with an emphasis on immune-mediated cholangiopathies. The bile duct loss, an acquired and pathologic process that occurs in the biliary tree, is recognizable as an absence of bile duct in an individual portad tract, and also as such absence in the vicinity of parallel running hepatic arterial branches that constitute the portal triad. Immunostaining with biliary cytokeratin and other carbohydrate materials is useful for the identification of biliary elements in the inflamed portal tracts or fibrous septa. The underlying processes responsible for bile duct loss include immunological, ischemic, infectious, metabolic, and toxic processes. Bile duct loss in primary biliary cirrhosis and primary sclerosing cholangitis is immune-mediated, that in interventional radiology using hepatic arterial branches is related to biliary ischemia, while that in hepatic allograft rejection is related to both immunological and ischemic insults. Bacterial and viral cholangitis with bile duct loss is an example of infectious cholangitis. The biliary tree maintains its homeostasis by renewal and dropout, and bile duct loss occurs mainly via biliary apoptosis. In some patients with bile duct loss, such as occurs in drug-induced injuries, the bile ducts regenerate and finally redistribute in the liver, while in other types of bile duct loss, the loss is progressive and is followed by vanishing bile duct syndrome, leading to biliary cirrhosis or liver transplantation. More analysis of the biology of biliary epithelial cells is mandatory for the evaluation of the pathobiology of bile duct loss, as well as for the effective restoration of biliary epithelial cells, in ductopenic liver diseases. Received: October 12, 2000 / Accepted: January 10, 2001     

肝移植术后肝动脉并发症的治疗

目的 探讨肝移植术后肝动脉并发症治疗方式与时机的选择.方法 总结2003年10月至2007年3月中山大学附属第三医院肝脏移植中心25例肝移植术后肝动脉并发症的临床资料,分析介入溶栓、经皮腔内血管成形(PTA)、支架植入和再次肝移植对肝动脉并发症预后的影响.结果 本组患者肝移植术后肝动脉血栓形成(hepatic artery thrombosis,HAT)5例,2例患者因肝功能衰竭行再移植治疗,术后均存活;3例接受介入溶栓治疗后,1例肝功能恢复正常,1例死亡,1例再次出现HAT,并再次移植术后因多器官功能衰竭死亡.术后1个月内出现肝动脉狭窄(hepatic arterystenosis,HAS)者12例,因肝功能衰竭行再移植2例;支架植入10例(治疗后因胆道缺血性改变行再移植4例);6例再移植患者存活4例,因颅内出血和感染死亡2例.术后1个月后出现HAS者8例,行肝动脉支架植入5例,肝功能好转.因胆道缺血性改变接受再移植1例.另外2例行保守治疗,情况稳定未作处理.结论 肝移植术后肝动脉并发症的治疗应根据并发症采用个体化的治疗方案.HAT的治疗以再次肝移植为主,HAS以介入治疗为主,一旦出现胆道缺血性改变,应及时行再次肝移植.     

肝门腹侧肝脏切除治疗复杂肝胆管结石并肝门狭窄16例疗效分析

目的 探讨肝门腹侧肝脏切除手术处理复杂肝胆管结石并肝门狭窄的可行性和疗效。方法 回顾性分析2015年1月至2019年8月湖南省人民医院肝胆外科采用肝门腹侧肝脏切除手术治疗的16例复杂肝内胆管结石并肝门狭窄病例的临床资料,随访观察结石清除及术后并发症情况。结果 16例病人中4b段部分切除7例,5段部分切除3例,4b段+5段部分切除4例,部分4b段+5段切除2例。手术均顺利完成,无住院死亡,无严重并发症。术后随访时间6~57个月。所有病人疗效评估均为优。术后胆道造影检查均未见1、2级胆管狭窄,7例有3级胆管狭窄,发现少量结石残留,术后经胆道镜取净结石,5例未能取尽,密切随访观察,无明显临床症状。结论 肝门腹侧肝脏切除手术可充分显露肝门胆管,更有效地处理复杂肝内外胆管结石并肝门狭窄,手术安全可行且能建立通畅的胆肠引流途径。     

Multicentric recurrence of intraductal papillary neoplasms of bile duct in the remnant intrahepatic bile duct after curative resection

IntroductionThere have been few reports on the prognosis of patients with intraductal papillary neoplasms of the bile duct (IPNB). Here we report a case of IPNB in a patient with early-stage carcinoma who had multicentric recurrence in the remnant hepatic bile duct after curative resection.Case presentationA 78-year-old man with hepatic dysfunction and cholestasis was referred to our hospital. Preoperative imaging studies revealed the presence of papillary tumors in the left hepatic duct and common hepatic duct, while no tumor lesions were detected in the right hepatic duct. This patient underwent left hepatectomy, extra-hepatic bile duct resection with biliary reconstruction, and regional lymphnode dissection. On the basis of pathological examination, this patient was diagnosed with multiple IPNB with early-stage adenocarcinoma with negative surgical margin. Postoperative work-up was periodically performed, indicating no evidence of recurrence, while the patient had sustained hepatic dysfunction, cholestasis, and repetitive cholangitis since the early postoperative period. Finally, recurrence in the remnant intrahepatic bile duct of the posterior segment was revealed by double balloon enteroscopy at 29 months after surgery. At 34 months after surgery, internal drainage stents were replaced in both endoscopic and percutaneous manners within the relapsed intrahepatic bile ducts to address repetitive cholangitis. These procedures enabled the patient to remain asymptomatic until death at 41 months after surgery.DiscussionMulticentric recurrence in the remnant intrahepatic bile duct after surgery may occur in IPNB patients with multiple lesions. An endoscopic approach may be useful in such cases, not only in the diagnosis of remnant intrahepatic bile duct recurrence but also for palliation of symptoms.