An approach to the right hepatic duct in treating high damage and cicatricial stricture of the bile ducts

There was proposed an operative access to the duct via the lateral end of transverse hepatic fissura, basing on the results of studying of the right hepatic duct anatomy. The method performed includes the right hepatic lobe mobilization, its fibrous capsule transsection along the transverse fissura in the direction toward right posterior sectorial duct, longitudinal transsection of the duct lateral wall along 1-2 cm with subsequent formation of laterolateral hepaticojejunoanastomosis. Method was tested in 9 patients with high damage and cicatricial stricture of biliary ducts, the result was positive.     

Characteristics of surgical treatment of benign bifurcation strictures of the hepatic ducts

Experience in the treatment of 195 patients with benign bifurcation stricture of the hepatic ducts is discussed. This group was made up of patients with the cicatricial process involving the region of the bifurcation or continuing to one or both lobar hepatic ducts. Two basic methods of bile--diverting operations were used: with carcass drainage (mono- and bilateral) of the anastomosis and hepatic ducts (n-155) and without a carcass drainage with the formation of a widecholecysto- intestinal anastomosis (through inclusion of the left lobar hepatic duct) by means of interrupted sutures without grasping the mucous membranes of the hepatic ducts and intestine (h-36). A combined method was used in 4 patients with an isolated stenosis of the right hepatic duct and an intact left hepatic duct. Intubation of both lobar hepatic ducts is considered necessary in patients with a bifurcation stricture in the existence of indications for carcass drainage of the bile-diverting anastomosis. Analysis of the immediate and late--term results showed that the postoperative period was more favourable in patients with bilateral carcass drainage of the bile-diverting anastomosis and in those with a precision anastomosis that in patients with monolateral drainage (complications occurred, respectively, in 16.3% and 46.6% of patients, and a good late-term results was encountered, respectively, in 78.5% and 55% of patients). The stricture did not recur in patients with a precision anastomosis and in those with bilateral carcass drainage.     

The Anatomical Basis of Liver Surgery

The surgical anatomy of the liver has been investigated in 80 cadaveric specimens, the subject being studied with the use of corrosion casts of the liver, by careful anatomical dissection of the porta hepatis and hepatic veins and by dye injection of blood vessels and bile ducts supplying the liver. The results of these findings are now described, with particular attention to the lobar and segmental structure of the liver, and to the distribution of the hepatic artery, bile ducts, portal vein, collapsed umbilical vein and hepatic veins within and outside the liver. The clinical application of these findings in massive liver resection and infusion chemotherapy, in the diagnostic and therapeutic value of the collapsed umbilical vein, the interpretation of cholangiograms, the significance of aberrant bile ducts, and liver transplantation is outlined.     

Lesions of the segmental and lobar hepatic ducts.

Despite reports to the contrary, unobstructed drainage of 50% of an otherwise normal liver through either the right or left uninfected hepatic duct is adequate to restore normal liver function, even if the obstructed lobe remains in place. An undrained liver lobe, if present, may require no further treatment. As long as it is completely obstructed and uninfected, it will undergo a progressive asymptomatic atrophy. Cholangitis invariably develops behind a partial lobar ductal obstruction, producing jaundice, pruritis, and fever. Unless unobstructed, uninfected biliary flow can be achieved through a segmental or lobar duct, it is better that the duct be completely obstructed and the affected liver parenchyma allowed to atrophy, provided there is normal biliary flow from the residual 50% of liver. This concept is important in the management of injured anomalous segmental or lobar hepatic duct and in the palliative treatment of bile duct carcinoma. Localized intrahepatic infections communicating with abnormal biliary ducts will require hepatic resection of the infected parenchyma and ducts for cure. The abnormality may be saccular dilatation of the intrahepatic ductal system with abscess formation or intrahepatic abscess associated with stenosis of the ductal system from trauma to the duct, to the duct and liver, or to retained intrahepatic stones. Diffusely situated intrahepatic abscesses secondary to ductal abnormalities can be treated with systemic antibiotics, local drainage of a dmoninant abscess, and efforts to improve biliary drainage.     

纤维胆道镜观察胆管异位开口与残石

８５０例胆管结石术后患者．在因疑有残石或胆总管远端不明原因的梗阻而经Ｔ管窦道行纤胆镜检查与治疗过程中，发现５２例胆管异位开口．其中存有残石者５０例。异位开口和残石以右肝尤其是右后叶肝胆管为多见．右后叶肝胆管开口于左肝胆管，左尾叶肝胆管开口于右前叶肝胆管，这些异位开口给纤胆镜检查取石带来很大的难度和盲目性．     

Right hepatolithiasis and abnormal hepatic duct confluence: more than a casual relation?

Background

Hepatolithiasis (HL) is a rare disease in Western countries. The aim of our study was to investigate a possible relation between the development of right HL and abnormalities of the hepatic duct confluence.

Material and methods

Fourteen patients who presented with localized right-sided HL were included in this study. The anatomy of hepatic duct confluence in this group of patients was analyzed and compared with the anatomy of hepatic duct confluence in the general population.

Results

The Presence of a shift of 1 of the 2 sectorial right ducts was significantly associated with right-sided HL (P = .003).

Conclusions

The shift of a sectorial right duct must be considered as one of the anatomic causes of HL. This finding must be considered when surgical treatment of HL is planned.     

胆道再次手术235例分析

目的总结胆道再次手术的经验，探讨胆道再次手术的原因、临床特点及处理方法。方法对1996年7月至2005年6月收治的235例胆道再次手术的临床资料进行回顾性分析。结果胆道再次手术的主要原因是肝胆管结石残留或复发，占全组病例的82．2％；其次为胆肠吻合术后狭窄，胆管囊肿，胆管狭窄及胆管肿瘤。再次手术治疗方式以肝叶切除（占66％）合并胆肠吻合或T管引流为主。胆道再次手术后并发症发生率为25％。结论胆道再次手术既有胆道疾病本身因素，亦有医源性因素；充分的术前准备，术中仔细探查，选择合理手术方式及合适的术后辅助治疗是减少胆道再次手术的关键。     

Reconstructive and restorative surgery in impaired intactness and patency of the bile ducts in the portal fissure

Results of 172 operations in 145 patients with impaired integrity and passability of bile ducts in portal hepatic fissure are analyzed. Tumorous injuries of the ducts were revealed in 90 patients, 55 patients had "benign" injuries of the ducts. Recommendations for the methods of operative interventions are given.     

Causes, diagnosis and surgical treatment of strictures of lobar and segmental hepatic ducts

Causes of strictures of lobar and segmental ducts after their injuries during open and laparoscopic cholecystectomy in 53 patients were analyzed. For correction of bile outflow precision non-wireframe (n=22) and wireframe (n=20) anastomoses were used. In 10 patients a combined anastomosis was established. In 1 patient the external drainage of hepatic ducts was performed. After surgery 3 patients died. 1-15 year long-term results were studied in 48 (96%) patients. Good results were achieved in 29 (60.5%), satisfactory -- in 13 (27%) patients. Recurrences of the strictures were diagnosed in 6 patients. It is concluded that dynamic control is necessary in patients operated on for bile ducts injuries. Underestimation of remittent cholangitis leading to biliary cirrhosis worsens prognosis of the disease.     

Carcinoma of the main hepatic duct junction: indications, operative morbidity and mortality, and long-term survival

Carcinoma of the main hepatic duct junction tends to spread extensively along the hepatic ducts into the liver parenchyma. Therefore extensive resection of the bile ducts combined with hepatic resection is the procedure of choice. Between January 1973 and April 1989, 25 of 50 patients with this type of carcinoma underwent resection, a resectability rate of 50%. One patient died of staphylococcal sepsis on the postoperative day 42 after right trisegmentectomy and resection of the bile ducts, a hospital death rate of 4%. Twenty-four patients were discharged from the hospital. The 5-year actuarial survival rate calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method was 19%. Four patients lived longer than 5 years after surgery; the longest survival was 9 years after right trisegmentectomy and resection of the bile ducts. These four patients had clear margins at the resected bile ducts. This article was designed to clarify the point at issue by presenting our results in terms of indications, operative morbidity and mortality, and long-term survival.     

Differential diagnosis of proximal biliary obstruction

BACKGROUND: Obstruction at the hepatic duct confluence is generally due to hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HCCA). However, in up to 15% of patients, hilar obstruction could be due to alternative diagnoses other than HCCA. The aim of this study was to determine preoperative criteria that could differentiate HCCA from the alternative diagnoses. METHODS: All patients with hilar obstruction presumed to represent HCCA were included (1997-2001). The extent of disease was assessed preoperatively with computed tomography, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, and Duplex ultrasonography, and these findings were correlated to the final histopathology. RESULTS: A total of 171 patients were included in the study, with HCCA being the most common diagnosis (141 patients [82.4%], group I). Alternative diagnoses other than HCCA were encountered in 30 patients (17.5%, group II) and included benign stricture (9 patients [5.2%]) and other malignancy (21 patients [12%]). There was a higher incidence of involvement of the second-order bile ducts in group I (26% vs 3% in group II, P<.01). Vascular involvement and lobar atrophy were more common in group I (58% and 41%) when compared with group II (16% and 6%, P<.005 and P<.002). The combination of these 2 findings (vascular invasion+lobar atrophy) was reliable for discriminating patients with HCCA from the alternative diagnoses. (38% in group I and 3.3% in group II, P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: Involvement of second-order bile ducts, vascular invasion, and lobar atrophy are more likely in patients with HCCA. The combination of vascular invasion and lobar atrophy significantly increases the diagnostic likelihood of HCCA. The absence of these findings should raise awareness of the possibility of an alternative diagnosis.     

Management of tumors of the liver. Combined use of arteriography and venography in the assessment of resectability, especially in hilar tumors

Twenty-five primary and secondary malignant tumors involving the liver were assessed preoperatively by combined hepatic arteriography and portal venography. The resectability of the lesions as judged by these radiographic techniques was compared with the operative findings. Only 1 of 6 peripheral nonhilar tumors was unresectable, in contrast to 11 of 19 tumors involving the hilus In every case the operative findings confirmed the preoperative radiologic data. Of the patients with hilar lesions, four had isolated unilateral involvement of either the main trunk or a major secondary branch of the lobar artery and vein and were all resectable. None of the 11 hilar lesions with bilateral or stem involvement of the vasculature were resectable. It is suggested that hepatic angiography not only yields information on diagnosis, anatomic abnormalities and concurrent disease, but also is important in assessing tumor resectability. For this purpose, both selective hepatic arteriography and splenic venography are necessary.     

Mesohepatectomy

BACKGROUND: Formal anatomic (lobar) or extended hepatectomies are recommended for liver malignancies located centrally within the liver (Couinaud's segments IVA, IVB, V, and VIII). Mesohepatectomy, resection of central hepatic segments and leaving the right and left segments in situ, removes large central tumors preserving more functioning liver tissue than either extended left or right hepatectomy. Mesohepatectomy is a seldom used, technically demanding procedure, and its application is yet to be defined. METHODS: Medical charts of 244 consecutive liver resection patients were reviewed retrospectively. Eighteen patients were treated with mesohepatectomy. Six patients had metastatic liver tumor (MLT), 11 had hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and 1 had gallbladder adenocarcinoma. The operative results were compared with groups of patients treated by lobar hepatectomy (n = 71) and extended left or right hepatectomy (n = 43). RESULTS: The mean mesohepatectomy operative time was 238 versus 304 minutes in the extended group. Inflow occlusion mean time was longer in the mesohepatectomy group than in extended procedures, 45 versus 39 minutes (P = not significant). Comparing the extended hepatectomy group, the mesohepatectomy group had a mean operative estimated blood loss 914 cc versus 1628 cc (P <0.01), postoperative hospital stay 9 versus 16 days (P = 0.054) and volume of resected liver 560cc versus 1500cc (P <0.01) respectively. The late complication rate was lower in the mesohepatectomy group than in the extended group and was comparable to the lobar hepatectomy group (P = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Despite its technical demands, mesohepatectomy should be considered as an alternative to extended hepatectomy for selected patients with primary and secondary hepatic tumors localized in middle liver segments, as its complication rate, postoperative recovery, and preserved liver tissue compare favorably with extended hepatic resection.     

Laparoscopic cannulation of an accessory hepatic duct: a case report.

Anomalies of the cystic duct are commonly encountered by the operating surgeon. Accessory hepatic ducts directly entering the gallbladder are among the most difficult of these to identify. Because of magnification, laparoscopy provides oftentimes superior visualization of the biliary tree. Herein, we describe a case in which an accessory hepatic duct was identified, cannulated, and evaluated with cholangiography enabling appropriate operative treatment.     

Total hepatic arterial perfusion after occlusion of variant lobar vessels: implications for hepatic arterial chemotherapy

The surgical placement of hepatic arterial cannulas, followed by intra-arterial chemotherapy, is a promising technique for the treatment of unresectable hepatic malignancies. Complete perfusion of the liver with drugs is essential, but may be difficult to achieve in some patients with variant arterial anatomy. In 79 patients, we encountered 15 with variant anatomy that precluded standard single or dual cannulation techniques. In 12 patients variant lobar arteries were ligated at surgery. Postoperative transarterial coil occlusion was used in three patients. In each case, the remaining hepatic lobar artery was perfused with a single catheter. Complete bilobar hepatic perfusion was documented by a technetium 99m macroaggregated albumin scan in 13 of 15 (87%) patients. Of patients scanned more than 5 days after occlusion, six of six (100%) had full perfusion of the region supplied by the variant lobar vessels. Postocclusion hepatic arteriography demonstrated translobar collateral vessels that provided perfusion of the region of the occluded variant artery. There was no added morbidity from lobar arterial occlusion and no disparity in tumor response between perfusion by direct cannulation and perfusion by collateral flow. Occlusion of variant hepatic lobar arteries in conjunction with single catheter cannulation to infuse the remaining lobar vessels is a useful technique to provide total hepatic arterial perfusion in patients with variant hepatic arterial anatomy.     

Long-Term Results of Hepatic Resection for Hepatolithiasis

Long-term results of hepatic resection for hepatolithiasis in 34 patients having intrahepatic biliary strictures were studied. The left lateral and the right posterior segmental ducts were commonly and often simultaneously involved. Fourteen patients had multiple segmental involvement. Hepatic resection included left sided resection (n=27), right sided resection (n=6), and repeated bilateral resection (n=1). Seven patients had biliary tumors: 3 cholangiocarcinomas, 2 gall bladder cancers, cystadenocarcinoma, and dysplasia of intrahepatic ducts. Nineteen patients received bilioenteric anastomosis. Retained stones and recurrent stones developed in 3 and 4 patients, respectively. Twenty-six patients had no remaining symptoms; 2 died of operative complication or cholangiocarcinoma; 6 presented symptoms caused by retained stones (n=2), recurrent stones (n=2), bile stasis (n=1), or neuralgia (n=1). In 4 of the 6 patients, unrelieved posterior duct strictures caused the symptoms. With a mean follow-up period of 4.5 years, 30 patients are symptoms free, and 27 are stone free. In patients with right lobar or bilobar type, intra- and extrahepatic type, and confluence strictures, bilioenteric anastomosis is required. Hepatic resection is a rational treatment for hepatolithiasis, however, meticulous management of biliary tract abnormalities, particularly the posterior duct stricture, is mandatory.     

Surgical significance of extrahepatic biliary tree anomalies

A patient with an anomalous insertion of the right hepatic duct into the cystic duct was noted during cholecystectomy and confirmed by operative cholangiography. This case and related anomalies of the bile ducts are of sufficient importance that, because of the technical difficulties and dangers incidental to their presence, no surgeon who operates on the gallbladder and bile ducts can afford to be unaware of their existence. Adequate exposure, careful dissection, and accurate knowledge of the regional anatomy plus a realization of the frequency and multiplicity of abnormalities of the extrahepatic biliary tree are requisites for safe biliary tract surgery. In addition, carefully performed operative cholangiography can be an indispensable aid in the clarification of anatomic variations. In case of recognized operative injury to the extrahepatic biliary tree, primary repair or biliary-intestinal anastomosis can usually be carried out with good results.     

Surgery of coexisting biliary malformations in choledochal cyst

Five of 13 infants and children with a choledochal cyst had coexisting biliary malformations. The specific lesions were main hepatic duct cyst (2), common hepatic duct stenosis (1), left hepatic duct stenosis (1), and Caroli's disease (1). The malformations were corrected or partially corrected at the time of operative resection of the cyst. The lateral portion of either or both of the major hepatic ducts was incised to the liver hilus thereby dividing areas of stenosis or laying open cystic malformations. Biliary reconstruction was by Roux-en-Y jejunostomy to the fileted common hepatic bile duct. The opportunity to correct coexisting biliary malformations is another advantage of total excision of choledochal cysts.     

Left hepatic lobectomy and resection of a carcinoma involving the confluence of the right, left, and common hepatic ducts.

This is a report of a single case of carcinoma involving the confluence of the right, left, and common hepatic ducts, treated by left hepatic lobectomy and resection of the tumour. The clinical onset of symptoms with pruritus and steadily deepening jaundice was typical of the condition, as was the difficulty in establishing a diagnosis. Radical treatment for this tumour, which is frequently slow to metastasize, is advocated. The importance of complete filling of the billiary tree during operative choledochography is highlighted.     

A New Operative Approach for Type I Choledochal Cysts

To present a novel modification of the surgical technique for open excision of type I choledochal cysts. The treatment of choice for choledochal cyst is surgical excision because such cysts are associated with an increased incidence of cancer. The commonly used operative technique provides poor access to the structures posterior to the cyst, principally the portal vein, and poor visibility of the junction of the cyst with the hepatic ducts and the pancreatic duct. The modification reduces these problems. The key operative step involves early transection of the choledochal cyst near its midpoint. This provides improved access to the back of the cyst. Slitting the sides of the cyst allows clear visibility from within the cyst of the union of the hepatic ducts with the cyst, and the entrance of the pancreatic duct, thus protecting them. Excision of type I choledochal cysts using the described method was completed in 11 adult patients between 2003 and 2012. One patient (9 %) was found to have a concurrent gallbladder cancer and underwent an R0 resection at the time of choledochal cyst excision. No patients experienced any intraoperative complications. One patient (9 %) developed a portal vein thrombosis postoperatively. The described technique is a safe and feasible method for the excision of extrahepatic choledochal cysts, and provides an advantage in allowing the surgeon to visualize the hepatic and pancreatic ducts from within the cyst and thus protect them during cyst excision.