Asymptomatic common bile duct stones

Patients with asymptomatic bile duct stones exhibit typical signs, such as elevated liver function tests, dilated bile ducts on ultrasound, a history of jaundice, or pancreatitis. The incidence of asymptomatic bile duct stones is about 10%, but up to 2% of patients show no signs of the disease. Bile duct stones can be diagnosed by using clinical judgement, scoring systems, or discriminant function tests. Which diagnostic modality is most reliable, cost-effective and safe, varies with different hospitals. Which therapy is most effective, safe and the cheapest also varies with different departments, but in the future an increasing number of departments will use the one-stage laparoscopic approach.     

Inflammatory polyps in common bile duct caused by T-tube

We describe two patients who formed inflammatory polyps at the side holes of T-tubes. It seems advisable to remove T-tubes as soon as it is appropriate. New designs and materials may also help avert these lesions.     

腹腔镜胆总管探查胆道一期缝合与T管引流疗效的比较

目的探讨与腹腔镜胆总管T管引流相比,腹腔镜胆总管一期缝合的优点,手术操作的技术关键,手术适应证以及并发症的预防。方法回顾对照分析2008年7月至2010年7月间行腹腔镜胆总管一期缝合的24例患者以及同期行腹腔镜T管引流的24例患者的临床病历资料,分为一期缝合组和T管引流组。结果一期缝合组与T管引流组的平均手术时间分别为（54.03±8.46）、（49.83±7.25）min,术中出血量分别为（15.13±4.26）、（16.23±5.25）ml,两组差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）。而一期缝合组与T管引流组的首次肛门排气时间分别为（1.16±0.46）与（2.02±0.19）d、术后补液量分别为（8.05±2.73）与（11.56±4.72）L、术后住院时间分别为（7.73±1.76）与（13.85±4.09）d、住院费用分别为（11 393±283）与（15 836±296）元,带管时间分别为（6.45±2.15）与（73.68±9.15）d。一期缝合组的平均带管时间较T管引流组缩短（67.23±7）d。以上观察指标,两组差异有统计学意义（P〈0.01）。一期缝合组4例术后2～3 d发生胆汁漏,经保守治疗治愈,无严重并发症,全组患者均痊愈出院,随访1个月到2年,无结石复发和胆管狭窄等并发症。结论胆总管一期缝合有利于患者快速恢复;术中确保胆道无残余结石和胆总管下端通畅是开展胆总管一期缝合的前提条件;严格掌握手术适应证,注重操作技术要点是取得良好疗效的关键。     

Primary closure versus T-tube drainage after laparoscopic choledochotomy for common bile duct stones

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To demonstrate the safety and feasibility of primary closure of the common bile duct (CBD) after laparoscopic choledochotomy in patients with CBD stones. Traditionally, the CBD is closed with T-tube drainage after choledochotomy and removal of CBD stones. However, the insertion of a T-tube is not without complication and the patients have to carry it for several weeks before removal. In the laparoscopic era, surgery is performed with minimally invasive techniques in order to reduce the trauma inflicted on patients, hasten their recovery and hence reduce the hospital stay. T-tube insertion seems to negate these benefits and we believe that primary closure can be as safe as closure with T-tube drainage. METHODOLOGY: This is a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent primary closure of the CBD after successful laparoscopic choledochotomy for ductal stones between January 2000 and December 2003. A concurrent control group of patients who underwent T-tube drainage was used for comparison. RESULTS: Of the 64 patients that underwent laparoscopic exploration of the CBD, 24 (37%) underwent transcystic duct approach and 40 (63%) underwent choledochotomy. There were three open conversions (5%). Stone clearance was achieved in all patients with successful laparoscopic choledochotomy (100%). Of the 38 successful laparoscopic choledochotomies, 12 had primary closure of the CBD and 26 had closure with T-tube drainage. There was no mortality in both groups. One patient in the primary closure group suffered from paralytic ileus and small subhepatic collection which was treated conservatively. The median operative time (90 vs. 120 minutes, p=0.002) and postoperative stay (5 vs. 8.5 days, p=0.003) were shorter in the primary closure group when compared with the T-tube group. CONCLUSIONS: Primary closure of the CBD is feasible and as safe as T-tube insertion after laparoscopic choledochotomy for stone disease.     

Primary common bile duct carcinoid.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography was performed in a 32-year-old man with recurrent episodes of painless jaundice. There was demonstration of a large intraluminal mass causing partial obstruction of the common bile duct. The lesion proved to be a primary carcinoid tumor of the bile duct.     

Isolated common bile duct tuberculosis.

We report a patient with isolated involvement of common bile duct by tuberculosis. The diagnosis was established by histological examination of the resected specimen. Surgery and antitubercular chemotherapy resulted in complete recovery.     

De-novo cholangiocarcinoma in native common bile duct remnant following OLT for primary sclerosing cholangitis

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic, progressive, inflammatory and obstructive disease of the intra-and extra-hepatic bile ducts of unknown etiology. Currently, orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is the only definitive treatment for PSC-related end-stage liver disease. However, PSC has been known to recur in the grafted liver. Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy is more commonly performed than choledocho-choledochostomy for PSC, although choledochocholedochostomy has been found to be safe and efficacious for PSC if the distal common bile duct is uninvolved at the time of OLT. Our case is unique in that it describes a patient who developed de-novo cholangiocarcinoma in the remnant portion of the native common bile duct six years after OLT with choledochocholedochostomy for PSC-associated end-stage liver disease without having PSC recurrence. In conclusion, our case report indicates that choledochocholedochostomy may not be desirable in PSC due to an increased risk of developing cholangiocarcinoma in the native common bile duct. This risk exists as well with a Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy in the remaining intra-duodenal and intra-pancreatic biliary epithelium, although in theory to a lesser extent. Therefore, the risk of developing cholangiocarcinoma in the recipient common bile duct can only be completely eliminated by performing a Whipple procedure at the time of OLT.     

A common bile duct web in association with common bile duct stone]

Webs are diagnosed by their characteristic appearance on imaging studies, typically appearing as thin, radiolucent rings with or without dilatation of the organ proximal to it. Like in other organs, the etiology of webs in the common bile duct is controversial. Some webs are thought to be congenital, whereas others occur in the presence of chronic inflammation, suggesting a pathogenic relationship. We report a case of a common bile duct septum in association with numerous large black pigment stones in a 62-year-old woman. The patient was treated by cholecystectomy with T-tube insertion.     

腹腔镜胆总管探查术后Ι期缝合和T管引流的疗效比较

目的比较分析腹腔镜下胆总管探查后胆管Ⅰ期缝合和T管引流的疗效,探讨胆管Ⅰ期缝合的临床应用标准。方法回顾性分析吉林大学第一医院2014年7月-2015年7月间所有胆总管结石患者的临床资料,选择符合纳入标准的患者51例,其中胆总管Ⅰ期缝合26例,T管引流25例,对比分析两组患者在术前术后TBil的变化、胃肠道功能恢复时间、术后第1天腹腔引流管引流量、腹腔引流管拔出时间、并发症、术后住院时间、住院总费用等情况。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。结果两组患者在术后住院时间、住院总费用等方面差异均有统计学意义(t值分别为-7.067、-3.126,P值分别为0.001、0.003)。两组患者术后各出现1例并发症,治疗后均痊愈。结论在严格把握手术适应证的基础上,胆总管探查术后胆管Ⅰ期缝合具有住院时间短、费用低、患者生活质量高等优点,安全可行,值得临床推广。     

Experience with MTBE as a solvent for common bile duct stones in patients with T-tube in situ

The postcholecystectomy patients who have a T-tube in situ offer a convenient route through the T-tube to perfuse solvents into the common bile duct (CBD) for dissolving any retained common duct stones. If successful, this approach is much simpler and cheaper than the usual therapeutic modality used for CBD stones, namely, endoscopic papillotomy. Thus a most potent cholesterol solvent, methyl t-butyl ether (MTBE) was perfused through the T-tube into the CBD of five patients with retained common duct stones. The dose of the solvent varied, 1.5-5 mL 0.5-1 h, given 7-13 times amounting to a total of 20-66 mL. Instillation of MTBE in the T-tube was alternated with aspiration of the bile through T-tube. Only one patient showed complete disappearance of the bile duct stone following MTBE perfusion. Others did not show any appreciable response and had to be treated by endoscopic papillotomy (three patients) or mono-octanoin perfusion (one patient). Side-effects of MTBE perfusion included pain in the abdomen in all patients, somnolence and nausea/vertigo in two patients and the smell of ether on the breath in two patients. It is concluded that MTBE is not an effective agent for dissolution of retained CBD stones in patients with T-tube in situ.     

Adenomyoma of the common bile duct.

An unusual case of adenomyoma of the common bile duct is reported. A 31 year-old woman with intermittent epigastralgia was found to have cholestasis and stenosis of the common bile duct. A malignant tumor could not be excluded. Resection of the common bile duct with the tumor was performed with choledochojejunostomy reconstruction. The tumor consisted of glandular hyperplasia and proliferation of smooth muscle fibers and fibrous connective tissue. The patient was well at the 30-month follow-up. Although the benign tumors of the extrahepatic bile ducts are rare, the clinical importance lies in the recognition that they can cause biliary tract obstruction. Intra-operative frozen section for histologic examination is required to make the diagnosis and plan the surgical procedure. Complete extirpation of the lesion is recommended. A radical operation is not necessary.     

Laserlithotripsy of common bile duct stones.

Endoscopic retrograde laser lithotripsy of common bile duct stones is a new technique which can be carried out through the endoscope without anaesthesia using ordinary endoscopic equipment. In the method described here a flashlamp pulsed Neodymium YAG laser (wave length 1064 nm) was used. Light energy was transmitted along a highly flexible quartz fibre with a diameter of 0.2 mm. This new technique was used in nine patients with concrements in the common bile duct, which could not be removed with the established endoscopic techniques. In eight of the nine the concrements (maximum diameter 4.7 x 3.1 cm) could be fragmented and in six the fragments could be extracted from the common bile duct. The total energy required was 80-300 J; complications were not observed.     

Primary closure of the common bile duct in open laparotomy for common bile duct stones

It is common these days to treat common bile duct (CBD) stones using endoscopic techniques. However, severe complications sometimes lead to death despite the great benefit of these techniques. If the patient has many and/or large stones, it can take considerable time for duct clearance, and this is associated with high costs. Therefore, we do not hesitate to choose surgical procedures when necessary. In this study, our aim was to evaluate the usefulness of primary closure of the CBD in open laparotomy for CBD stones. Thirty-four patients with CBD stones were operated on by open laparotomy; primary closure was done in 17 patients (group PC), and T-tube insertion was done in 17 (group TT). We compared the patients' medical records, clinical features, laboratory data, complications, and postoperative hospital admission days. There were no significant intergroup differences in patients' medical records, clinical features, or laboratory data, except for the number of CBD stones. There were no differences in complications. All complications were minor and needed no extra care. The number of postoperative hospital admission days showed a significant difference: 18.3 days in group PC and 31.5 in group TT. There are so many methods to treat CBD stones now that the selection of the procedure can be important for the patient's benefit. We prefer primary closure, to get better quality of life postoperatively and to avoid further operations and any severe complications.     

腹腔镜胆总管切开探查术

目的 探讨腹腔镜胆总管切开探查手术的方法与优缺点。方法 选择胆管结石或胆道蛔虫患行腹腔镜胆总管切开探查术。结果 50例患中48例术中取出直径为0．6-2．9cm的结石1-11枚、2例患术中取出死蛔虫1、2条,有6例患因结石嵌顿或取石网故障,术中无法取净结石,其中2例肋缘下作一6cm小切口开腹取净、4例术后经T管窦道取净结石,1例患中转开腹止血。手术时间117．2(45-180)min,术后6．8(3-12)d出院,30例患置T管引流。未置T管直接缝合胆总管20例,1例出现轻度胆汁渗漏。结论 腹腔镜胆总管切开探查取石术是安全的,患术后痛苦小,恢复快、住院期短,部分患不置T管直接缝合胆总管更加体现微创效果。     

Extrahepatic bile duct angulation by T-tube: the elbow sign

The normal shape of the extrahepatic bile ducts approximates a straight line. The cholangiograms of 50 patients with indwelling T-tube catheters were retrospectively reviewed between 4 and 14 weeks postcholecystectomy. We observed a lateral distortion in the shape of the bile ducts in 35 patients (70%) such that an angle measured between the proximal and distal parts of the duct, centered at the site of T-tube insertion, decreased to between 60 degrees and 158 degrees. We have called this observation the "elbow sign," which to our knowledge has not been previously described and appears to be of no clinical consequence.     

Endoscopic removal of retained bile duct calculi via T-tube tract

A simple and safe technique for removal of retained bile duct calculi using a flexible fibreoptic choledochoscope and rigid nephroscope via the T-tube tract has been described. The technique allowed removal of large impacted calculi under direct vision without damage to the bile duct.