Cholescintigraphy in the diagnosis and follow up of hepatobiliary injury

Cholescintigraphy is a simple and reliable way of detecting a liver injury accompanied by biliary leakage and is also well suited to assess the effectiveness of treatment and to follow recovery. To emphasize these points, a case report of a patient suffering from a severe injury to the liver is presented.     

MR cholangiopancreatography of a case with a biliary tract variation and postoperative biliary duct injury

Because of the increasing frequency of surgical procedures such as hepatic resection, partial liver transplantation, and laparoscopic cholecystectomy, the number of patients requiring biliary imaging has increased. In this report, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography findings of a case with an aberrant right posterior hepatic duct draining directly into the gallbladder, which was overlooked prior to laparoscopic cholecystectomy, is presented and the importance of magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography in the evaluation of congenital biliary anomalies and iatrogenic bile duct injury is discussed.     

Gallbladder perforation during liver biopsy diagnosed using hepatobiliary scintigraphy: a case report

Serious complications of liver biopsy are uncommon with injury to the gallbladder being rare. Rapid diagnosis and proper management of injuries to the biliary system are necessary because of potential morbidity associated with bile peritonitis. Scintigraphy is an accepted means of evaluating traumatic injuries of the gallbladder and biliary tree. The authors present a case of iatrogenic perforation of the gallbladder during liver biopsy demonstrated by hepatobiliary scintigraphy. CT and surgical correlation are provided.     

Percutaneous repair of an iatrogenic laceration of the left bile duct with a covered stent

The presence of biliary leaks after liver resections is not an unusual problem, especially after extended hepatectomies. The usual treatment of choice for biliary duct injuries is to decompress the biliary system with draining catheters. Persistent biliary fistulas are nevertheless a challenging problem when endoscopic or percutaneous approaches fail to achieve occlusion of the bile leakage. The authors report a bile duct injury after a right lobe hepatectomy treated percutaneously with placement of a covered stent. After 6 months, the patient was tube-free and without any episode of cholangitis or bile duct dilation. Longer follow-up will clarify the future role of this kind of device in biliary system lacerations.     

Interventionen bei benignen Gallengangstenosen

Due to their potential for serious consequences, even including biliary liver cirrhosis, benign biliary strictures pose a considerable diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. In addition to inflammatory disease or an acute liver injury, iatrogenically caused biliary strictures following hepatobiliary surgery represent in 95% of cases the main cause for all benign entities. The diagnosis should be determined noninvasively with magnetic resonance cholangiopancreaticography (MRCP). Invasive techniques such as ERCP or percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC) should be reserved for unclear cases and first performed before the scheduled intervention. Depending on the site and cause of the stricture, surgical and interventional procedures are employed in the treatment of biliary strictures. The best results are obtained in short-segment strictures of the main bile duct. Interventional methods such as balloon dilation and/or stent application with concomitant drain insertion achieve patency rates of up to 75% after 5 and 55% after 12 years with a total complication rate of 5-8%. Due to the fact that most of the cases involve cicatricial fibroses, predisposition for recurrence of biliary strictures after interventional therapy can be very high, ranging up to 66% depending on the localization.     

Three-dimensional cholangio-spiral CT demonstration of a post-traumatic bile leak in a child

Bilioma is a rare complication of traumatic liver injury, and the precise site of bile leak is often difficult to demonstrate with a non-invasive technique. We report a case of post-traumatic bile leak in a 15-year-old girl in whom spiral CT after intravenous cholangiography allowed excellent preoperative demonstration of the extent of the liver rupture and an exact location of the bile leak. We think that spiral-CT cholangiography could be an accurate, non-invasive technique to investigate the biliary system in cases of paediatric liver trauma. Received: 2 December 1997; Revision received: 3 April 1998; Accepted: 6 May 1998     

Bile leakage after living donor liver transplantation demonstrated with hepatobiliary scan using<Superscript>99</Superscript>Tc-PMT

Although it is recognized that hepatobiliary scan is of value in assessing postoperative complications of biliary surgery or cadaveric whole liver transplantation, there have been few reports regarding its usefulness following living donor liver transplantation. We performed living donor liver transplantation in a patient with biliary cirrhosis due to hepatolithiasis, using a right lobe graft from her sister. On the 15th postoperative day, bile discharge appeared from the operative wound. The leakage point could not be identified by computed tomography and cholangiography from the biliary drainage catheter. Hepatobiliary scan with Tc-99m Sn-N-pyridoxyl-5-methyltryptophan (99mTc-PMT) demonstrated biliary extravasation from the left side of the anastomosis of the hepatico-jejunostomy, indicating biliary leakage from the anastomosis. Conservative therapy was continued because the radioisotope flowed smoothly into the reconstructed jejunum and the biliary drainage catheter, and the leakage was stopped on the 63th postoperative day. Hepatobiliary scan is useful in determining the therapeutic plan as well as detection of bile leakage and identification of leakage points after living donor liver transplantation.     

Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography. Problems in interpretation.

The patient who presents with jaundice, regardless of the etiology, cannot be adequately examined by a gallbladder series and intravenous cholangiography. Clinical evaluation aided by laboratory analysis will not always differentiate between primary liver parenchymal disease and biliary tract obstruction. Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography, when successfully performed, answers the question of whether the jaundice is due to primary liver parenchymal disease or due to biliary tract obstruction. The point to emphasize is that under no circumstances is it appropriate to presume any information if the biliary system is not entered and visualized successfully. The proper interpretation of the level of block can fall prey to the mistake of incomplete aspiration of the thick, inspissated bile in the obstructed biliary tree before injection of contrast material. The problem will be worsened by a peripheral entrance into the biliary system rather than a more central one. Gastrointestinal series should always be available to aid in identifying pathology at the entrace of the common bile duct into the duodenum. Lastly, identifying the etiology at the site of the block will require additional procedures. Selective visceral angiography has contributed greatly in this area. During the 20 years of clinical usage of percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography, we feel it has become the single examination capable of preventing unnecessary exploration of the jaundiced patient with primary liver parenchymal disease and the most useful potential source of practical information if laparotomy is necessary to correct biliary tract obstruction.     

Evaluation of radiation-induced liver injury with MR imaging: comparison of hepatocellular and reticuloendothelial contrast agents.

Gadolinium (4s)-4-(4-ethoxybenzyl-3,6,9-tris(carboxylato-methyl)-3,6,9- triazaudecandioic acid (EOB) diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), a hepatocellular-directed magnetic resonance (MR) contrast agent, and coated superparamagnetic iron oxide particles (SPIO), a Kupffer cell-directed contrast agent, were compared for uptake and enhancement in a rodent model of radiation-induced liver injury. A single x-irradiation exposure (50-70 Gy) was delivered to one side of the liver in 18 rats. MR imaging was performed 3 days after x irradiation with sequential injections of the two contrast agents in the same rats. Additionally, biliary excretion of Gd-EOB-DTPA was quantified after whole-liver irradiation in five rats. Electron microscopy of the irradiated liver demonstrated mitochondrial injury in both hepatocyte and Kupffer cell populations. With Gd-EOB-DTPA, however, liver enhancement and biliary excretion were not affected by irradiation. Uptake of SPIO was decreased in the irradiated portion of the liver, with a precise demarcation between irradiated and nonirradiated zones at MR imaging.     

Acute effects of nicotinic acid on hepatic transport of 99mTc-PIPIDA

Hepatic injury has been associated with nicotinic acid treatment of schizophrenia and hypercholesterolemia. This association was implicated when the liver and biliary tract were not visualized after ^99mTc-HIDA in a patient taking 3 g daily of nicotinic acid. We studied hepatic transport of ^99mTc-PIPIDA both in vitro in isolated hepatocytes and in vivo in rabbits pretreated with nicotinic acid to further examine this association. Nicotinic acid increased uptake of PIPIDA by isolated hepatocytes and 7 days of nicotinic acid treatment in rabbits produced no abnormalities in hepatic uptake, gallbladder visualization, or biliary excretion of PIPIDA. We conclude that nicotinic acid does not have an inhibitory effect on uptake of biliary imaging agents and actually may be useful in enhancing hepatic imaging in patients with reduced liver function.     

Minimizing central bile duct injury during radiofrequency ablation: use of intraductal chilled saline perfusion--initial observations from a study in pigs

PURPOSE: To determine whether intraductal perfusion with chilled saline reduces thermal injury to bile ducts during radiofrequency (RF) ablation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In swine, anesthesia was induced and the common bile duct was surgically cannulated with a pediatric feeding tube. RF thermal lesions were created adjacent to bile ducts by using an expandable-hook 2-cm RF electrode and 90-W generator. In three pigs, chilled saline was perfused through the ducts at 1.5 L/h (26 mL/min), and in another pig, room-temperature saline was perfused at the same rate. In three pigs (control group), RF lesions were created without perfusion. After 48 hours, animals were sacrificed. Periductal sections from all animals were reviewed by a liver pathologist. The degree of injury to biliary epithelium and subepithelial glands was assessed on a scale of 0%-100%. Significance of differences between degrees of injury was assessed with the Mann-Whitney test. RESULTS: In the control group, there was a mean of 100% injury to biliary ductal epithelium and 99.3% to subepithelial ductal glands. In the room-temperature saline group, there was a mean of 100% biliary epithelial injury and 84.4% glandular injury. In the chilled saline group, there was a mean of 52.9% ductal epithelial injury and 12.1% subepithelial glandular injury. In comparison with the control group, there was significantly less (P <.05) thermal injury to biliary epithelium in the chilled saline group and to subepithelial glands in both the room-temperature and chilled saline perfusion groups. CONCLUSION: RF-induced bile duct injury may be decreased significantly with an intraductal infusion of chilled saline.     

Diagnosis and nonsurgical management of bile leak complicated by biloma after blunt liver injury: report of two cases

We report on two patients with biliary tract injury and associated biloma following blunt abdominal trauma. Both patients underwent emergency surgery because of hemodynamic instability and bloody peritoneal aspiration. Computed tomography in the postoperative days showed severe hepatic parenchymal injury and the presence of hypodense collections with intraparenchymal and subcapsular extension, suggestive for biloma, but otherwise failed to demonstrate the exact location of the bile duct injury. One of them underwent temporary percutaneous drainage. Bile duct injury was well demonstrated on endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERCP) and treated by endobiliary stent placement. This report advocates the use of ERCP and endobiliary stenting in the management of biliary injury resulting from liver trauma. Received 25 June 1997; Revision received 29 September 1997; Accepted 28 January 1998     

MR cholangiography 3D biliary tree automatic reconstruction system.

An algorithm for reconstructing magnetic resonance cholangiography (MRC) biliary structure is proposed. The processing of MRC data can be divided into four phases. In the first phase, the region of interest (ROI) containing the liver and biliary ducts is extracted from the original volume data based on human anatomy and B-spline curve. The second phase involves segmenting the biliary ducts from the region identified in the previous phase. Because the image of biliary portion is brighter than the liver, the segmentation is started by choosing the brightest pixel in the ROI as the seed for 3D region growing. This procedure could be executed many times, depending on the provided stopping condition. In the third phase, the segmented biliary duct regions are traced to construct the biliary tree. An automated 3D tracking algorithm is proposed for this phase. This 3D tracking algorithm estimates the coordinates of the points along the medial axis of each biliary duct branch. The cross sections associated with the points along the medial axis are also calculated approximately during the tracking process. The biliary tree data structure is constructed in this phase. The biliary tree is reconstructed and rendered in the last phase. Although the proposed algorithm takes a longer time compared with the conventional approach, the reconstructed biliary tree 3D structure can provide more clearly image. A concise representation for the biliary tree can be achieved with the proposed method and provide both quantitative and structural information for clinical reference.     

规则肝切除治疗严重肝外伤37例

探讨规则肝切除在肝创伤外科治疗中的应用价值。方法对昆士兰肝胆中心１３年间（１９８３－１９９６年）２８７例肝外伤中行规则肝切除的３７例临床资料进行回顾性分析。结果本组３７例无术中死亡，术后死亡３例（８．１％），主要死于成人呼吸窘迫综合征和多脏器功能衰竭。     

经胆管192Ir内照射对胆管、肝脏放射损伤的实验研究

目的 探讨经胆管192Ir内照射的安全性、可行性以及有效治疗范围,为肝门部胆管癌经胆管192Ir内照射提供理论依据.方法 取雄性健康杂种犬16只,据照射剂量随机分成4组,每组4只.内照射前从犬肝边缘切取1 cm3大小肝组织作对照研究.术中将近距离治疗施源器经胆囊送入胆囊管与肝总管汇合处并用金属夹固定,根据预先设定的剂量进行胆管内照射.10 d后处死动物,取被照射胆管中央部分长约5 mm胆管,及距离胆管壁由近及远按设计距离分别取1 mm3大小肝组织,制备光镜切片,作HE染色;同时用2.5%戊二醛固定后常规制备电镜切片.光镜下观察胆管及周围肝组织的放射损伤并对损伤程度评分.电镜下观察肝组织超微结构损伤变化并计数凋亡肝细胞.结果 经胆管192Ir内照射30 Gy时,胆管损伤达部分肌层;50 Gy时,胆管仅存外膜;60 Gy时,胆管出现全层坏死.胆管周围肝组织放射损伤随剂量增加而加重.在胆管最大安全耐受剂量50 Gy时,距胆管0～15 mm处肝细胞核出现不可逆性改变.结论 正常胆管对192Ir内照射有良好的耐受性.在胆管最大安全耐受剂量50 Gy时,经胆管192Ir内照射有效的治疗范围可达15 mm.     

Pediatric biliary interventions

The most common indication for percutaneous biliary evaluation and intervention in children is for the diagnosis and treatment of liver transplant complications, including strictures and bile leaks. Because liver transplants in children are commonly performed using a Roux-en-Y biliary-enteric anastomosis, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is not technically possible; therefore, the first-line procedure for evaluation and treatment of biliary obstruction in this population is percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC). Percutaneous biliary intervention can be challenging in these patients, because ductal dilation may be minimal or altogether absent in pediatric transplant livers even in the setting of severe obstruction. However, with proper technique, including the use of ultrasound guidance, technical success rates for PTC and biliary drainage can be similar to those in adults. Biliary drainage and biliary stenosis management is a long-term commitment that usually takes several months to more than a year and may require multiple repeat cholangioplasties and biliary drainage catheter exchanges. Due to its minimally invasive nature and relatively low morbidity and mortality compared with open surgical alternatives, percutaneous biliary intervention should be considered the first-line treatment option in children with biliary stenosis who have had previous liver transplant, and for those nontransplant patients who cannot be treated endoscopically.     

Predicting biliary complications in right lobe liver transplant recipients according to distance between donor's bile duct and corresponding hepatic artery

PURPOSE: To retrospectively determine whether biliary complications in recipients of living-donor right lobe liver grafts can be predicted at pretransplantation donor computed tomography (CT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The human research committee approved this study. The requirement for informed consent was waived. Multi-detector row CT cholangiography and CT angiography were performed in 44 consecutive right lobe liver donors (25 men, 19 women; mean age, 37 years). When CT cholangiography in the donor demonstrated the right biliary anatomy (conventional or variant), the shortest distance between the right main (or second-order) hepatic artery and the corresponding right main (or second-order) bile duct was measured and compared with posttransplantation biliary complications in the transplant recipient by using generalized estimating equations. RESULTS: In 22 transplant recipients with one right main duct-to-common duct anastomosis (ie, conventional donor anatomy), the distance between the donor's right main bile duct and hepatic artery generally was small (mean distance, 3.8 mm; range, 1-14 mm) and unrelated (P=.46) to biliary complications (n=6). In 22 recipients who required two second-order right duct anastomoses (ie, with variant donor anatomy), the distance between the donor's second-order duct and corresponding hepatic artery was more variable (mean distance, 6.6 mm; range, 1-32.5 mm), and biliary complications were significantly more common when this distance was 10 mm or greater (in eight of 13 ducts with conventional anatomy and four of 31 ducts with variant anatomy, P<.05). CONCLUSION: Right lobe liver graft recipients who have variant right biliary anatomy and a second-order bile duct 10 mm or farther from the corresponding hepatic artery are at high risk for biliary complications, possibly because of a predisposition to ischemic injury.     

108例严重肝脏损伤诊治分析

目的总结严重肝脏损伤诊治经验,提高救治水平。方法对2005年1月-2013年12月收治的108例严重肝脏损伤的患者资料进行回顾性分析,男性72例,女性36例;年龄15-75岁,平均（37.0±0.7）岁。道路交通伤55例,坠落伤28例,锐器伤15例,塌压伤5例,摔伤3例,击打伤2例。结果早期诊断正确率94.4%（102/108）,救治成功率89.8%（97/108）,肝脏损伤非手术治疗AE止血有效率为88.9%（8/9）;并发术后出血5例、膈下感染4例、胆瘘11例、胆汁瘤6例,腹腔间隙综合征（ACS）5例,存在并发症的患者2例死亡,余经手术治愈或自愈。总死亡率10.2%（11/108）,死因为失血性休克4例,脑伤3例,胸伤2例,腹腔间隙综合征2例。结论及时正确的伤情评估、合理掌握非手术和手术的指征、正确的选择手术方式、合理运用损害控制策略和肝周填塞对提高救治水平有重要意义。     

Long-Term Placement of Subcutaneous Rüsch-Type Stents for Double Biliary Stenosis in a Living-Donor Liver Transplant Recipient

Biliary reconstruction continues to be a major source of morbidity following liver transplantation. The spectrum of biliary complications is evolving due to the increasing number of split-liver and living-donor liver transplantation, which are even associated with a higher incidence of biliary complications. Bile duct strictures are the most common cause of late biliary complications and account for up to 40% of all biliary complications. Optimal therapy for posttransplantation anastomotic biliary strictures remains uncertain and requires a multidisciplinary approach. We report the case of a 54-year-old Caucasian male affected by hepatocarcinoma and hepatitis C-related cirrhosis who underwent right-lobe living-donor liver transplantation from his son complicated by double anastomotic stenosis of the main right hepatic duct and of an accessory biliary duct draining segments 6 and 7 of the graft that was successfully treated by percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography with long-term subcutaneous placement of two internal Rüsch-type biliary stents.     

Percutaneous transhepatic endobiliary drainage of hepatic hydatid cyst with rupture into the biliary system: an unusual route for drainage

The most common and serious complication of hydatid cyst of the liver is rupture into the biliary tract causing obstructive jaundice, cholangitis and abscess. The traditional treatment of biliary-cystic fistula is surgery and recently endoscopic sphincterotomy. We report a case of complex heterogeneous cyst rupture into the biliary tract causing biliary obstruction in which the obstruction and cyst were treated successfully by percutaneous transhepatic endobiliary drainage. Our case is the second report of percutaneous transbiliary internal drainage of hydatid cyst with rupture into the biliary duct in which the puncture and drainage were not performed through the cyst cavity.