Preoperative evaluation of biliary anatomy of donor in living donor liver transplantation by conventional nonenhanced magnetic resonance cholangiography

Detailed preoperative evaluation of the biliary anatomy of the donor in living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) can minimize postoperative morbidity in the recipient and maximize safety for the donor. We prospectively evaluated the diagnostic accuracy and clinical usefulness of nonenhanced conventional magnetic resonance cholangiography (MRC) for depicting the biliary anatomy of LDLT donors. MRC and intraoperative cholangiography (IOC) examinations of 111 donors were performed between August 2005 and February 2006. We observed the classical branching pattern of the biliary system in 67 subjects (60.4%), with the remaining 44 subjects (39.6%) showing anatomical variations. MRC showed accurate anatomy of the biliary system, using IOC as the reference standard, in 98 (88.3%) subjects. MRC had a sensitivity in differentiating normal from variant anatomy of 95.5%, specificity of 95.2%, a positive predictive value of 96.8% and a negative predictive value of 93.3%. The agreement between MRC and IOC findings, as evaluated by kappa-value (0.865) was statistically significant (P<0.001). In conclusion, the diagnostic accuracy of conventional nonenhanced MRC is sufficient for this method to be used for the preoperative evaluation of biliary anatomy in LDLT donor candidates.     

Biliary complications after living donor adult liver transplantation.

The highest rate of complications characterizing the adult living donor liver transplantation (ALDLT) are due to biliary problems with a reported negative incidence of 22-64%. We performed 23 ALDLT grafting segments V-VIII without the middle hepatic vein from March 2001 to September 2005. Biliary anatomy was investigated using intraoperative cholangiography alone in the first five cases and magnetic resonance cholangiography in the remaining 18 cases. In 13 cases we found a single right biliary duct (56.5%) and in 10 we found multiple biliary ducts (43.7%). We performed single biliary anastomosis in 17 cases (73.91%) and double anastomosis in the remaining six (26%) cases. With a mean follow up of 644 days (8-1598 days), patient and graft survivals are 86.95% and 78.26%, respectively. The following biliary complications were observed: biliary leak from the cutting surface: three, anastomotic leak: two, late anastomotic strictures: five, early kinking of the choledochus: one. These 11 biliary complications (47.82%) occurred in eight patients (34.78%). Three of these patients developed two consecutive and different biliary complications. Biliary complications affected our series of ALDLT with a high percentage, but none of the grafts transplanted was lost because of biliary problems. Multiple biliary reconstructions are strongly related with a high risk of complication.     

EXTRAHEPATIC BILIARY ANATOMY AT LAPAROSCOPIC CHOLECYSTECTOMY: IS ABERRANT ANATOMY IMPORTANT?

BACKGROUND: The prevention of major duct injury at cholecystectomy relies on the accurate dissection of the cystic duct and artery, and avoidance of major adjacent biliary and vascular structures. Innumerable variations in the anatomy of the extrahepatic biliary tree and associated vasculature have been reported from radiographical and anatomical studies, and are cited as a potential cause of bile duct injury at cholecystectomy. METHODS: A photographic study of the dissected anatomy of 186 consecutive cholecystectomies was undertaken and each photo analysed to assess the position of the cystic duct and artery, the common bile duct and any anomalous structures. RESULTS: The anatomy in the region of the gallbladder neck was relatively constant. Anatomical variations were uncommon and anomalous ducts were not seen. Vascular variations were the only significant abnormalities found in the present series. CONCLUSION: Anatomy in the region of the gallbladder neck varies mostly in vascular patterns. Aberrant ducts or duct abnormalities are rarely seen during cholecystectomy hightlighting the principle that careful dissection and identification is the key to safe cholecystectomy.     

术中造影在胆道手术中的应用分析

目的比较术中胆道造影与术前影像检查的差异,分析其对胆道疾病的诊断及术式选择的指导价值。方法 118例胆囊结石和胆道疾病患者,术前24例行B超检查,发现正常胆管22例,胆总管结石1例,胆管扩张1例;69例行CT检查,发现正常胆管49例,泥沙样胆管结石16例,胆管扩张4例;25例行MRCP检查,发现正常胆管17例,胆总管结石6例,胆管扩张2例。术中行胆道造影,根据造影结果确定相应术式。结果术前行B超检查的24例中造影发现正常胆管15例,胆总管结石6例,胆管癌1例,胆囊管变异1例,Caroli氏病1例;术前行CT检查的69例术中造影发现正常胆管51例,胆总管结石10例,胆管癌1例,胆囊扩张2例,胆囊管变异1例,Mirizzi综合征2例,胆管损伤2例;术前行MRCP检查的25例,术中造影发现正常胆管14例,结石5例,胆管扩张4例,胆囊管变异1例,M irizzi综合征1例。术中胆道造影对正常胆管的识别能力优于术前B超(P0.05)。结论术中胆道造影具有操作简单、创伤小、结果可靠等优点,对胆道早期肿瘤、解剖畸形、术中胆道损伤的诊断及术式选择具有指导意义。     

Living donor liver transplantation for primary biliary cirrhosis: retrospective analysis of 50 patients in a single center

Summary Although living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) is accepted as an alternative therapy for primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), the postoperative results are not well known. Fifty patients with PBC underwent LDLT at Tokyo University Hospital. Their clinical records were retrospectively analyzed. Postoperative death occurred in four patients within 2 months (mortality, 8%), while later death occurred in three patients. In the median follow-up period of 35 months (range 4-84 months), the 1, 3, and 5-year overall survival rates were 90%, 88%, and 80%, respectively. The laboratory data indicated that graft function was sufficient. No recurrence of PBC was confirmed. Multivariate analysis indicated that an updated Mayo score of <10 was a significantly favorable factor for short hospitalization (hazard ratio, 9.52; 95% confidence interval, 1.14-79.5; P = 0.03). In conclusion, LDLT provides a satisfactory long-term survival with the PBC patients.     

Biliary cystadenoma of the extrahepatic bile ducts: Report of a case and review of the literature

Benign neoplasms of the extrahepatic bile ducts are rare and there have only been thirteen reported cases of cystadenoma. One case of cystadenoma of the common hepatic duct and solitary hepatic cyst is presented here and a total of fourteen cases are reviewed. The patient was a 45 year old woman, who complained of abdominal pain with rigidity, but without jaundice. Ultrasonography of the liver showed a 6 cm cyst of the right lobe. Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography revealed a multilobular cystic mass. At emergency laparotomy, a polypoid multilobular tumor with a stalk was found hanging from the common hepatic duct and was excised. Almost all the patients reported were middle aged woman with jaundice. Preoperative diagnosis was made possible by percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography, endoscopic retrograde cholangiography or ultrasonography. The treatment of choice was complete excision. In three cases, a solitary hepatic cyst accompanied the cystadenoma of the common hepatic duct.     

Long-term outcome of living donor liver transplantation for primary biliary cirrhosis

In living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) for primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), the majority of donors are genetically related to their recipients, leading to concerns of an earlier recurrence of PBC and a poorer prognosis due to genetic susceptibility. Totally 81 patients who underwent LDLT for PBC were the subjects of the present study. Immunosuppressive agents consisted of tacrolimus and methylprednisolone. In the outpatient clinic, when the aspartate and alanine aminotransferase level exceeded the upper limit of the normal range, the dose of methylprednisolone was increased from 4 to 6 mg/day for several months. Blood was examined every 2 weeks for 3 months and a liver biopsy was performed when aminotransferase levels did not decrease to the upper limit of the normal range after more than 3 months. Five-year survival and recurrence rates were estimated and the prognostic factors were analyzed. The mean observation period was 6.2 years. Five years after LDLT for PBC, the biopsy-proven PBC recurrence rate was 1%. The 5-year patient survival rate was 80%. The nonrelated or blood-related donor factor and number of human leukocyte antigen matches did not correlate with prognosis. PBC recurrence rate after LDLT in our series was lower than that in previous studies.     

术中胆道造影对无黄疸结石病人的诊治价值（附101例临床分析）

目的 探讨术中胆道造影对无黄疸结石病人的价值。方法 回顾性分析１０１例无梗阻性黄疸病史的胆道结石病人行术中胆道造影的情况。结果 １０１例病人，假阳性４例，假阴性３例，准确率９３．６％，结论 对无梗阻性黄疸的胆道结石病人，术中胆道造影可降低胆道残余结石发生率，减少胆道损伤，避免不必要的阴性胆总管探查，对于术中胆道造影的指征，应综合考虑，视具体情况而定。     

The efficiency of Gd‐EOB‐DTPA‐enhanced magnetic resonance cholangiography in living donor liver transplantation: a preliminary study

The aim of this study was to evaluate utility of gadoxetic acid disodium (Gd‐EOB‐DTPA)‐enhanced magnetic resonance cholangiography (MRC) for the detection of biliary complications after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). A total of 18 patients with suspected biliary complications underwent MRC. T2‐weighted MRC and contrast‐enhanced MRC (CE‐MRC) were used to identify the biliary complications. MRC included routine breath‐hold T2‐weighted MRC using half‐Fourier acquisition single‐shot turbo spin‐echo (HASTE) sequences and Gd‐EOB‐DTPA‐enhanced MRC T1‐weighted volumetric interpolated breath‐hold examination (VIBE) sequences. Before confirming the biliary complications, one observer reviewed the MRC images and the CE‐MRC images separately. The verification procedures and MRC findings were compared, and the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of both techniques were calculated for the identification of biliary complications. The observer found six of seven biliary complications using CE‐MRC. The sensitivity was 85.7% and the accuracy was 94.4%. Using MRC alone, sensitivity was 57.1% and accuracy was 55.5%. The accuracy of Gd‐EOB‐DTPA‐enhanced MRC was superior to MRC in locating biliary leaks (p < 0.05). The usage of Gd‐EOB‐DTPA‐enhanced MRC yields information that complements the MRC findings that improve the identification of biliary complications. We recommend the use of MRC in addition to Gd‐EOB‐DTPA‐enhanced MRC to increase the preoperative accuracy when assessing the biliary complications after LDLT.     

Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography for the accurate diagnosis of biliary complications after liver transplantation: comparison with endoscopic retrograde cholangiography and percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography - long-term follow-up

Biliary complications after liver transplantation remain a serious cause of morbidity and mortality. Direct invasive cholangiographic techniques, endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERCP) or percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC), have procedure-related complications. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) is non-invasive, safe, and accurate. The aim of this study was to evaluate MRCP in detecting biliary complications following liver transplantation and comparing findings with ERCP and PTC. Twenty-seven consecutive liver transplant recipients who presented with clinical and biochemical, ultrasonographic, or histological evidence of biliary complications were evaluated with MRCP. Patients were followed up for a median period of 36 months. The presence of a biliary complication was confirmed in 18 patients (66.6%): anastomotic biliary stricture in 12 (66.6%); diffuse intrahepatic biliary stricture in 5 (27.7%): ischemic (n = 3), recurrence of primary sclerosing cholangitis (n = 2), and choledocholithiasis in one. In nine patients (33.3%), MRCP was normal. Six patients underwent ERCP, and eight PTC. There was a statistically significant correlation between the MRCP and both ERCP and PTC (p = 0.01) findings. The sensitivity and specificity of the MRCP were 94.4% and 88.9%, respectively, and the positive and negative predictive values, 94.4% and 89.9%, respectively. MRCP is an accurate imaging tool for the assessment of biliary complications after liver transplantation. We recommend that MRCP be the diagnostic imaging modality of choice in this setting, reserving direct cholangiography for therapeutic procedures.     

An alternate method for intraoperative cholangiography in infants with severe obstructive jaundice

Differentiation between biliary atresia, biliary hypoplasia and severe neonatal hepatitis continues to require direct visualization of the biliary ducts. This is usually accomplished by operative cholangiography using radiographic contrast material. Recently, we have employed an alternate technique of operative cholangiography using methylene blue. This method identifies patent biliary ducts by direct visualization. Methylene blue cholangiography (MBC) has been used in 16 infants with severe obstructive jaundice. In contrast to the radiopaque cholangiogram, MBC more accurately demonstrated biliary hypoplasia in two patients. In addition to the better resolution obtained by MBC, it can be performed in considerably less time than that usually required for x-ray cholangiography.     

Safety of donor right hepatectomy for adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation

The purpose of this study was to ascertain the usefulness of preoperative evaluations of donors by computed tomography (CT) volumetry and CT cholangiography for prevention of unexpected liver failure and biliary complications after donor right hepatectomy for adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation. Fifty-two donors who underwent right hepatectomy without the middle hepatic vein were enrolled in this study. The values of graft weight (GW) were significantly correlated with those of estimated graft volume (GV; P < 0.0001). GW was predicted by the following formula: GW = 155.25 + 0.658 x GV; r(2) = 0.489. CT cholangiography revealed anatomical variants of biliary structure in one-third of the donors and also clearly showed one or two small biliary branches from the caudate lobe to the right hepatic ducts or the confluence in 58% of the donors. Biliary leakage, which was treated by conservative therapy, occurred in only one donor (1.9%). No donors received homologous blood transfusion. Hyperbilirubinemia (serum total bilirubin >5 mg/dl) occurred in 5.8% of the donors during their early postoperative periods. Precise evaluations of liver remnant volume by CT volumetry and biliary variation by CT cholangiography are essential for performing safe donor hepatectomy, preventing hepatic insufficiency and minimizing the risk of biliary tract complications.     

Iatrogenic bile duct injury: the scourge of laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Background : Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) has become the first‐line surgical treatment of calculous gall‐bladder disease and the benefits over open cholecystectomy are well known. In the early years of LC, the higher rate of bile duct injuries compared with open cholecystectomy was believed to be due to the ‘learning curve’ and would dissipate with increased experience. The purpose of the present paper was to review a tertiary referral unit’s experience of bile duct injuries induced by LC. Methods : A retrospective analysis was performed on all patients referred for management of an iatrogenic bile duct injury from 1981 to 2000. For injuries sustained at LC, details of time between LC and recognition of the injury, time from injury to definitive repair, type of injury, use of intraoperative cholangiography (IOC), definitive repair and postoperative outcome were recorded. The type of injury sustained at open cholecystectomy was similarly classified to allow the severity of injury to be compared. Results : There were 131 patients referred for management of an iatrogenic bile duct injury that occurred at open cholecystectomy (n = 62), liver resection (n = 5) and at LC (n = 64). Only 39% of bile duct injuries were recognized at the time of LC. Following conversion to open operation, half the subsequent procedures were considered inappropriate. When the injury was not recognized during LC, 70% of patients developed bile leak/peritonitis, almost half of whom were referred, whereas the rest underwent a variety of operative procedures by the referring surgeon. The remainder developed jaundice or abnormal liver function tests and cholangitis. An IOC was performed in 43% of cases, but failed to identify an injury in two‐thirds of patients. The bile duct injuries that occurred at LC were of greater severity than with open cholecystectomy. Following definitive repair, there was one death (1.6%). Ninety‐two per cent of patients had an uncomplicated recovery and there was one late stricture requiring surgical revision. Conclusions : The early prediction that the rate of injury during LC would decline substantially with increased experience has not been fulfilled. Bile duct injury that occurs at LC is of greater severity than with open cholecystectomy. Bile duct injury is recognized during LC in less than half the cases. Evidence is accruing that the use of cholangiography reduces the risk and severity of injury and, when correctly interpreted, increases the chance of recognition of bile duct injury during the procedure. Prevention is the key but, should an injury occur, referral to a specialist in biliary reconstructive surgery is indicated.     

Duct-to-duct biliary reconstruction in adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation

In living donor liver transplantation (LDLT), Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy has been a standard technique for biliary reconstruction because the majority had been pediatric patients with biliary atresia. Adult-to-adult LDLT using the right lobe graft has recently been developed and we introduced duct-to-duct biliary reconstruction (hepaticohepaticostomy) in such cases. The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of this procedure in adult-to-adult LDLT. From August 2000 to October 2001, five patients underwent adult-to-adult LDLT using the right hepatic lobe and were followed for more than 6 months at our institution. All patients underwent duct-to-duct biliary reconstruction (single hepaticohepaticostomy in one, multiple in four). For the grafts with multiple bile ducts, various techniques were used for reconstruction. In all patients, oral intake could be started early after the operation, and biliary leakage was not encountered. One patient developed two episodes of acute cholangitis who later developed biliary anastomosis stricture which required percutaneous dilatation at 11 months postop. However, otherwise, there were no infectious complications postoperatively. We conclude duct-to-duct biliary reconstruction is feasible and effective in adult-to-adult LDLT.     

Cholangiography of mucin-hypersecreting intrahepatic biliary neoplasms

Bile duct obstruction caused by profuse mucin secretion in a major bile duct is rare. Such cases are often incorrectly identified as choledocholithiasis before being histologically proven. The goal of this study was to analyze the cholangiograms of mucin-hypersecreting intrahepatic biliary neoplasms and to try to identify the characteristic cholangiographic features of this rare disease. A retrospective analysis of 20 cholangiograms (from 6 men and 14 women) of mucin-hypersecreting intrahepatic biliary neoplasms over a 13-year period was carried out. Sixty percent of the patients had associated biliary tract stones. A mucinous substance drained out during biliary catheterization (endoscopic retrograde cholangiography [ERC]; percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography [PTC] in 4 patients. The cholangiographic findings included: (1) The appearance of diffuse “ground-glass” filling defects of extrahepatic duct and non-visualization of the tumor-bearing intrahepatic duct in 9 patients (45%), (2) multiple amorphous filling defects of the extrahepatic duct and tumor-bearing intrahepatic duct in 5 patients (25%), (3) multiple filling defects of the extrahepatic duct and non-visualization of the tumor-bearing intrahepatic duct in 4 patients (20%), and (4) single amorphous filling defect of the extrahepatic duct in 2 patients (10%). Mucin-hypersecreting intrahepatic tumors with mucobilia should be highly suspected when the following cholangiographic characteristic are shown: (1) mucinous substance draining out during catheterization (ERC or PTC); (2) diffuse “ground-glass” appearance filling defects; and (3) multiple amorphous filling defects of the bile duct associated with a cystic mass density within the liver on sonography or computed tomographic scan.     

肝外胆管残余结石110例分析

目的探讨肝外胆管残余结石的诊断和治疗。方法回顾性分析110例肝外胆管残余结石诊治的临床资料：胆囊切除术胆总管残余结石18例,胆总管探查术后残余结石92例。在院T管造影诊断40例,胆绞痛发作9例,出院61例中,3月内,6月内,1年内出现症状分别为31例（50．8％）,22例（36．0％）和8例（13．1％）。结果经T管窦道取石30例．内镜下经Oddi’s括约肌切开取石37例,胆总管切开取石后再置T管20例,作胆肠吻合术13例．Oddi’s括约肌切开成形术10例。结论要预防残石发生应正确掌握胆总管探查指征及技巧并采取术中胆道造影和使用胆道镜等措施。术后常规T管造影、B超、MRCP、ERCP是诊断的有效措施。根据不同情况,施行相应的治疗。     

PTCD长期引流治疗肝移植术后缺血型胆道病变的初步探讨

目的 探讨经皮肝穿刺胆道造影引流术(percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography and drainage,PTCD)长期引流治疗肝移植术后缺血型胆道病变的可行性,评价其疗效和安全性.方法 11例肝移植术后并发缺血型胆道病变的病人,男10例,女1例,平均年龄42.3岁,术前均经PTC或内窥镜逆行胆胰管造影术(endoscopic retrograde cholangopancreatography,ERCP)检查确诊.病人首先经内科治疗及内镜下引流、支架置入治疗无效,然后采用经皮肝穿刺胆道置管并长期带管引流,合并有胆泥者经双导丝抽吸技术予以清除.结果 11例缺血型胆道病变病人.肝内型7例,肝外型1例,肝内+肝外型3例.均成功置入PTCD内外引流管,技术成功率100%.术后1周内总胆红素(TBIL)、直接胆红素(DBIL)分别由(206.70±54.18)μmol/L、(170.65±53.97)μmol/L降至(90.63±13.00)μmol/L、(63.83±13.61)μmol/L.随访3～71个月,平均20个月.黄疸指数较正常值稍高,并呈波动性改变,TBIL在23.70～241.0 μmol/L之间,平均(55.3±15.6)μmol/L,DBIL在8.1～162.0μmol/L之间,平均(32.53±10.21)μmol/L.9例病人移植肝功能良好,其中5例带管引流6～12个月(平均8.2个月)后拔除,4例仍带管已引流3～6个月.另2例病人黄疸症状缓解,但因移植肝合成功能障碍分别于PTCD术后3个月、8个月行再次肝移植.结论 PTCD置管长期引流是一种安全、有效的治疗肝移植术后缺血型胆道并发症的方法.     

Technique of bile duct reconstruction and management of biliary complications in right lobe living donor liver transplantation

From December 1999 to January 2002, 50 right lobe living donor liver transplantations were performed. The donor operations included an intraoperative cholangiography to elicit variations in bile duct anatomy. The biliary reconstruction was done whenever possible as an end-to-end microanastomosis of the donor right hepatic duct with the recipient's bile duct. As a result of the early segmental branching of the donor biliary tree, two segment bile ducts had to be anastomosed in 20 patients and three segment bile ducts in three patients. In 12 patients, a Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy was performed. All anastomoses were drained externally. We observed two leakages at the resection surface which could be treated successfully by an external drainage. Six leaks occurred at the site of end-to-end biliary anastomoses. Twice the problem could be conservatively solved placing a stent percutaneously. In two patients a hepaticojejunostomy was performed after a bile duct necrosis. In two patients with an anastomotic leak, occurring 3 d, respectively, 3 month after the original transplantation, the bile duct could be directly reconstructed over a T-tube. Two anastomotic stenoses were observed, one in combination with a leak treated by percutaneous stent implantation and the second, 3 month after transplantation which was treated surgically. Biliary reconstruction after living donor liver transplantation requires microsurgical techniques and can be performed as a direct end-to-end anastomosis in most cases. Biliary complications were treated by percutaneous drainage or surgical revision in all cases.