Changes in bile and lymph composition following portacaval anastomosis (PCA) in rat

The effect of PCA on bile and lymph composition in rats was studied. It was established that secretion of bile acid decreased significantly and this resulted in reduced bile flow. In studying lymph flow and protein content, the most important observation was a decrease in the protein concentration of hepatic lymph. It can be supported that hepatic blood flow decreased due to PCA is responsible for all these changes.     

Correction of lymph circulation in liver cirrhosis

The approach to surgical correction of lymph circulation in hepatic cirrhosis is described. The main criteria in the choice of operations draining neck lymphatic duct were hyperkinetic central hemodynamics with high functional pressure in thoracic lymphatic duct and lymphovenous pressure gradient, central or mixed type of intrahepatic lymph flow. All the 26 patients underwent transvenous external-internal drainage of thoracic duct as a temporal measure for stabilization of patients state. Reinfusion of lymph after lymphosorption promoted detoxication in hepatic failure in patients with cirrhosis, complicated by resistant ascites. Low pressure indices of central lymphodynamics and mixed intrahepatic lymph flow are indications for anastomosis creation between right lumbar vein and right lymphatic duct. In this case it is possible to save the behind-hepatic portion of cava inferior in potential recipients of liver transplants.     

Experimental study on the development of endotoxemia in biliary tract infection with special reference to lymphatic pathway at controlled biliary duct pressure

A study was made on the pathway of the endotoxin from the biliary tract into the circulation, using adult mongrel dogs divided into 10 groups primarily with or without thoracic duct drainage. The biliary duct pressure level of 25, 35, and 55 cm saline was maintained by infusing physiological saline into the bile duct. Each level was maintained for a 10-minute period following the intrabiliary infusion of endotoxin 10 mcg/kg. The endotoxin level in arterial and portal blood and in thoracic lymph increased with increment of biliary duct pressure. The endotoxin level in the thoracic lymph was more than 10 times higher than that in blood. At 35 and 55 cm saline of biliary duct pressure, the groups with or without thoracic lymph drainage did not show any significant difference in blood endotoxin level, or moreover, endotoxin shock developed in each group. These findings imply that at high biliary pressure such as 35 or 55 cm saline, endotoxin in the bile duct directly appears in the sinusoid. At low biliary pressure such as 25 cm saline, endotoxin was detected only in thoracic lymph and endotoxemia did not develop.     

Hilar cholangiocarcinoma associated with sarcoid reaction in the regional lymph nodes

A 74-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with a 2-week history of jaundice. Percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy revealed a nodular tumor originating in the upper part of the common hepatic duct, which was invading the confluence of the right and left hepatic ducts. Microscopic examination of biopsy specimens revealed adenocarcinoma. Abdominal ultrasonography and computed tomography demonstrated multiple enlarged lymph nodes around the extrahepatic bile duct and the common hepatic artery. Laparotomy revealed lymph node enlargement in the hepatoduodenal ligament, behind the pancreatic head, and along the common hepatic and left gastric arteries. Extended left hepatic lobectomy, caudate lobectomy, and resection of extrahepatic bile duct with extended lymph node dissection were performed. The histology of permanent specimen revealed no tumor metastasis but a sarcoid reaction in the lymph nodes. The patient is in good health 21 months after the operation, without any evidence of recurrence. This is the first successfully resected case of hilar cholangiocarcinoma associated with sarcoid reaction in the regional lymph nodes.     

Lymphatic removal of dialysate from the peritoneal cavity of anesthetized sheep

Several investigators have suggested that the lymphatic circulation reduces ultrafiltration in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). The purpose of this study was to assess lymphatic drainage of the peritoneal cavity directly in anesthetized sheep under dialysis conditions. Lymph was collected from the caudal mediastinal lymph node and the thoracic duct, both of which are involved in the lymphatic drainage of the ovine peritoneal cavity, and from the prescapular lymph node, which is not involved in peritoneal lymphatic drainage. Fifty ml/kg volumes of a mildly hypertonic dialysis solution (Dianeal 1.5%) containing 25 microCi 125I-human serum albumin were instilled into the peritoneal cavity, and lymph flows and the appearance of labeled protein in the lymphatic and vascular compartments were monitored for six hours. Following the instillation of dialysis fluid there was a tendency for lymph flow rates from the thoracic duct to increase but these changes were not significant. However, flow rates from the caudal lymphatic demonstrated significant increases, especially in the final three hours of the monitoring period. Only about 8% of the radiolabeled albumin was removed from the peritoneal cavity over six hours (that is, 92% was left in the peritoneal space). Of the albumin removed, approximately 17% of this was drained by abdominal visceral lymphatics into the thoracic duct. About 25% passed through the diaphragm into the caudal mediastinal lymph node and into efferent lymph. Since the efferent lymphatic duct of the caudal mediastinal node empties directly into the thoracic duct, about 42% of all protein removed from the peritoneal cavity of the sheep was ultimately transported to the thoracic duct.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

One technique,two approaches,and results: thoracic duct cannulation in small laboratory animals

Experimental studies in immunology, pharmacology, or hematology require the sampling of the total thoracic duct lymph in awake and unrestrained rats or mice. Several approaches have been described for cannulation of the thoracic duct, but they are characterized by a modest reproducibility and a low lymph flow rate. An improved technique for obtaining thoracic duct lymph is described here, emphasizing the similarities and differences concerning both rats and mice (average weights of 305 and 15 g, respectively). Rats yielded a mean of 55.6 ml/day thoracic duct lymph, while lymph output in mice reached unexpected volumes of 29.3 ml/day. The use of an operating microscope and silicone cannula, and maintenance of mobility of the animals during lymph collection, offer a reliable method for a high and constant output of thoracic duct lymph. Relevant aspects of the murine thoracic duct anatomy are also identified.     

肝外胆管癌中血管内皮生长因子C(VEGF-C)的表达及意义

目的 研究肝外胆管癌中VEGF-C的表达情况及其临床意义。方法 应用免疫组化Envision二步法测定32例肝外胆管癌和7例正常胆管组织VEGF-C的表达。结果 VEGF-C在肝外胆管癌和7例正常胆管组织中阳性表达率分别为53．13％，0％。胆管癌组织与正常胆管组织VEGF-C表达水平之间有显著性差异，且VEGF-C表达与胆管癌的分化程度、肿瘤大小和淋巴结转移有关。结论 VEGF-C在胆管癌的表达可促进胆管癌淋巴结的转移，对判断胆管癌淋巴结转移、评估预后有一定意义。     

Mass-forming intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombus and bile duct tumor thrombus: A case report

IntroductionWe report the first case of mass-forming intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) with portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) and bile duct tumor thrombus (BDTT), where the extrahepatic bile duct was preserved with thrombectomy.Presentation of caseA 70-year-old male. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed the tumor extending from the hepatic hilum to the left hepatic duct with complete obstruction of the left hepatic duct and a defect at the left portal vein. We planned to perform extended left lobectomy, lymph node dissection, extra hepatic bile duct resection and reconstruction based on the diagnosis of mass-forming ICC with left portal vein and left hepatic duct infiltration (cT3N0M0 Stage III). Intraoperative cholangiography revealed a crab claw-like filling defect at the left hepatic duct, which suggested tumor thrombus. Accordingly, we performed thrombectomy. The margin of the left hepatic duct was tumor negative, so we performed extended left lobectomy, lymph node dissection and thrombectomy. Pathologically, the tumor was diagnosed as ICC (pT4N0M0 Stage IVA, vp3, b3). Tumors in the left hepatic duct and left portal vein proved to be tumor thrombus. The postoperative course was uneventful. He is doing well without recurrence.DiscussionThrombectomy is performed for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with tumor thrombus. Furthermore, extrahepatic bile duct resection and reconstruction are recommended for ICC. In this case, intraoperative cholangiography was effective for precisely diagnosing. Thrombectomy could reduce surgical stress and prevent complications.ConclusionsThrombectomy can be a valid option for ICC with tumor thrombus, as well as for HCC.     

Spindle Cell-Type Undifferentiated Carcinoma of the Common Bile Duct of the Hepatic Hilus: Report of a Case

Spindle cell-type undifferentiated carcinoma arising from the extrahepatic bile duct is extremely rare. We herein report a case of this type of carcinoma in the common bile duct of the hepatic hilus. A 59-year-old man was admitted to our hospital complaining of jaundice. The laboratory data revealed an elevation of the serum carbohydrate antigen 19–9 level. Cholangiography revealed a complete obliteration of the left hepatic bile duct and stenosis of the bile duct from the superior to the right hepatic bile duct. Computed tomography showed the tumor to measure 15 × 12 mm in the hepatic hilus, with the obliteration of the right to main trunk of the portal vein and a swollen lymph node in the hepato-duodenum ligament. Arteriography revealed a kink of the right hepatic artery; therefore an encasement of the right hepatic artery was suspected. We preoperatively diagnosed hilus bile duct carcinoma and scheduled a right trisection hepatectomy. Intraoperative frozen sections taken from the tumor and tissues around the hepatic arteries showed spindle and inflammatory cells; therefore an inflammatory pseudotumor was diagnosed intraoperatively. As the right hepatic bile duct was occluded, a right lobe hepatectomy was performed. However, a permanent section revealed both spindle cells and poorly differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma cells positive for CAM5.2, AE1/AE3, and vimentin. On the basis of these findings, the tumor was finally diagnosed to be spindle cell-type undifferentiated carcinoma. Unfortunately, the patient died of pulmonary infarction 11 days after the operation.     

Curative resection of hepatocellular carcinoma with intrabile duct tumor growth mimicking hilar bile duct carcinoma

A 62-year-old Japanese male was admitted with obstructive jaundice and underwent percutaneous transhepatic cholangiodrainage (PTCD). An initial diagnosis was made of hilar bile duct carcinoma, based on demonstrated irregular stenosis of the hilar hepatic bile ducts without obvious tumor within the liver and negative alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). Enhanced computed tomography (CT) showed an irregular low density area around the hepatic hilum and the umbilical portion of the portal vein, suggesting carcinomatous invasion with blood flow disturbances. In contrast, intraoperative ultrasonography (US) raised the suspicion of an ill-defined lesion in Couinaud's segment 2 (segment 2) and intrabile duct tumor formation. A radical extended left and caudate lobectomy of the liver was successfully performed, with additional resection of extrahepatic bile duct and enbloc resection of regional lymph nodes. Unexpectedly, histological analysis of the resected specimen showed the final diagnosis to be hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) of segment 2 with intrabile duct tumor growth. This case demonstrates that HCC with intrabile duct tumor growth toward the heptic hilum can mimic hilar bile duct carcinoma, when the tumor itself is equivocal on preoperative imaging and AFP is negative. In such cases, intraoperative US and guided biopsy may be of value for definitive diagnosis and selection of the optimal procedure.     

Surgical anatomy of the hepatic hilar area

It is important to understand the main variations of the biliary and vascular elements inside the plate system for hilar bile duct carcinoma because all variations of these elements occur in this plate system. The plate system consists of the hilar plate, cystic plate, and umbilical plate which cover the extrahepatic vascular system and are fused with the hepatoduodenal ligament. The bile duct and vascular system that penetrate the plate system form Glisson's capsule in the liver, but the caudate branch and the medial segmental branch are exceptions. The bile duct and hepatic artery accompanying the plate system can be exfoliated from the portal vein with numerous lymph ducts and nerves. The bile ducts in the right hepatic lobe are classified into 4 types, and the standard type is present in 53-72% of cases. In the left bile duct, the medial segmental bile duct is connected in the vicinity of the hilar area in 35.5% of cases, and these cases should be treated the same as the caudate lobe in hilar bile duct carcinoma. Generally, there is little main variation of the portal vein (16-26%), but more variation in the hepatic artery (31-33%). During surgery for hilar bile duct carcinoma, it is important to observe the plate system and the many variations of the bile duct and vascular system.     

Small cell carcinoma of the cystic duct: A case report

Small cell carcinoma usually involves the lung and rarely affects the biliary tract, especially the cystic duct. In this article we report a case of small cell carcinoma of the cystic duct in a 46-year-old Japanese man. The patient presented with abdominal pain and jaundice. Imaging showed a small nodule in the cystic duct invading the common bile duct with dilatation of the proximal biliary tree. The hepatic artery and portal vein were free from invasion. Extended right hepatic lobectomy, cholecystectomy, and resection of the extrahepatic proximal bile ducts were performed together with lymph node dissection under the tentative diagnosis of carcinoma of the cystic duct. Histopathologic examination of the resected specimen revealed small cell carcinoma arising in the cystic duct and extending into the common bile duct. The postoperative clinical course was uneventful, and the patient is doing well without any signs of recurrence 1 year after the operation. To our knowledge this is the first documented case of a small cell carcinoma arising in the cystic duct.     

Right Duct Lymph During and after Open-Heart Surgery

The right lymphatic duct (RLD) was cannulated in 26 patients operated upon with open-heart surgery. the thoracic duct was cannulated in 4 additional patients and both the thoracic and the right lymphatic ducts were cannulated in 2 further patients. the RLD was also cannulated in a control group consisting of 5 thoracotomy-operated patients. Lymph was collected continuously and its flow and content of albumin, electrolytes and the enzymes, GOT, GPT, CPK and LDH were analysed. a significant amount of cardiac lymph was present in about 60% of the cannulations. After cardiopulmonary bypass, lymph enzyme concentrations often rose rapidly to very high levels. the significance of the enzyme concentration-patterns and some characteristics of the flow pattern are discussed.     

Why does somatostatin cause gallstones?

Long-term administration of the somatostatin analogue, octreotide, is complicated by gallstone formation. Somatostatin is known to inhibit hepatic bile secretion and gallbladder emptying. However, the effect of octreotide on gallbladder bile composition remains unknown. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that octretide would alter hepatic bile composition and cause gallbladder stasis, thereby increasing gallbladder bile solute concentrations. Fourteen control prairie dogs received daily saline injections, whereas 10 animals received 1 micrograms of octreotide subcutaneously three times per day for 5 days. Cholecystectomy and common bile duct cannulation were then performed. Octreotide increased hepatic bile concentrations of bilirubin monoglucuronide (p less than 0.05), total bilirubin (p less than 0.05), and total protein (p less than 0.01). Rsa, an index of gallbladder stasis, was decreased (p less than 0.01) in the octreotide group. Gallbladder bile total calcium (p less than 0.05), bilirubin monoglucuronide (p less than 0.05), total bilirubin (p less than 0.01), total protein (p less than 0.05), and total lipids (p less than 0.05) were increased in the octreotide group. Animals receiving octreotide also had decreased hepatic (p less than 0.05) and gallbladder (p less than 0.001) bile pH. No differences in cholesterol saturation index were observed. These data suggest that in the prairie dog, octreotide (1) alters hepatic bile composition, (2) causes gallbladder stasis, and (3) increases gallbladder bile calcium, bilirubin, protein, lipid, and hydrogen ion concentrations. We conclude that octreotide causes alterations in gallbladder bile composition that increase the likelihood of cholesterol and calcium bilirubinate precipitation.     

Interrelations of changes in liver tissue and chemical composition of the bile and biliary calculi

The correlation between the degree of morphological alterations of the hepatic tissues, changes in the chemical composition of bile and bile stone structure was established after comparing clinico-laboratory findings, results of examinations of liver bioptates, chemical composition of the bile and bile stones in 216 patients with cholelithiasis. The formation of cholesterol and mixed stones in the gallbladder is in correspondence with mild alterations of the liver tissue and colloid stability of the hepatic bile. The formation of pigment stones in the gallbladder and common bile duct is considered to be a symptom of chronic hepatitis followed by deep alterations of the chemical structure of hepatic bile.     

Papillary adenocarcinoma of the subvesical duct

This is, to our knowledge, the first report of papillary adenocarcinoma originating in the subvesical bile duct. A 77-year-old man was referred to our hospital for further evaluation of liver dysfunction. Serum liver function test results on admission included: aspartate aminotransferase, 99 IU/l; alanine aminotransferase, 149 IU/l; lactate dehydrogenase, 438 IU/l; alkaline phosphatase, 992 IU/l; leucine aminopeptidase, 320 IU/l; and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, 593 IU/l. Serum carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 value was high (80 U/ml). Abdominal ultrasonogram, computed tomographic scan, and percutaneous transhepatic cholangiogram demonstrated a mass in the common hepatic duct, and dilatation of the intrahepatic bile ducts. A laparotomy was performed on May 14, 1997. The tumor originated in the dilated subvesical duct that joined the common hepatic duct, and projected into the common hepatic duct. The patient underwent cholecystectomy, resection of the subvesical duct and the common hepatic duct, dissection of regional pericholedochal lymph nodes, and Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy. The resected tumor presented macroscopically as a papillary mass measuring 4.0 × 2.0 cm. The pathological diagnosis was papillary adenocarcinoma. The immunostaining positivity rates for MIB-1 and p53 protein were 49.6% and 33.8%, respectively. Received: March 21, 2001 / Accepted: August 1, 2001     

Septum formation of the common hepatic duct associated with an anomalous junction of the pancreaticobiliary ductal system and gallbladder cancer: Report of a case

We herein describe a 48-year-old woman who developed a septum formation of the bile duct combined with an anomalous arrangement of the pancreaticobiliary ductal system in conjunction with gallbladder cancer. A preoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiogram demonstrated a filling defect in the common hepatic duct which was misdiagnosed to be an elevated lesion. Further exploration revealed a septum formation of the bile duct along with gallbladder cancer. A resection of the dilated bile duct and gallbladder along with a dissection of the regional lymph nodes was performed. A histological evaluation showed the septum to consist of a normal bile duct wall while the tumor in the gallbladder was poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. The patient made an uneventful recovery. The septum formation was presumed to be congenital in origin.     

Ex vivo intranodal administration of sirolimus

BackgroundImmune-mediated adverse effects of current systemic immunosuppression therapy compromise long-term survival of liver transplant recipients. Our recently observed results showed that intranodal delivery of sirolimus induced interleukin (IL)-10–driven CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ regulatory T cells. The present report investigated the feasibility of intra-nodal delivery of sirolimus ex vivo into a human liver common bile duct lymph node.MethodsWe used a discarded donor human liver to directly administer sirolimus into a distal common bile duct lymph node. Sirolimus was injected once using an ultrasound-guided method.ResultsThe porta hepatis and its lymph node along the distal common bile duct were exposed. A handheld ultrasound probe (L15-7io, Koninklijke Philips N.V.) with a layer of standoff Aquasonic 100 Ultrasound Transmission Gel (Parker Laboratories, Inc) was applied to the exposed lymph node. Using a 1.0-mL 25G hypodermic needle, 0.05 mL of sirolimus solution was injected directly into the exposed lymph node.ConclusionsUnder sonographic guidance, direct injection of sirolimus into a hepatic draining lymph node along the common bile duct is accomplished precisely and reliably. Direct administration of therapeutic agents into local lymph nodes is a viable approach for effective targeted immunotherapy.     

腹腔镜下中下段胆管癌根治术中联合肝动脉切除重建的疗效与安全性：附3例报告（附视频）

背景与目的：中下段胆管癌临床上主要以下段胆管癌多见,下段胆管癌一般采用胰十二指肠切除术,中段胆管癌可以采用胰十二指肠切除术或胆管癌根治、胆肠吻合术。中下段胆管癌因胆管紧邻肝动脉和门静脉,因此更容易发生门静脉侵犯,因肝动脉有动脉外鞘,因此肝动脉受侵犯相对较少,但一旦侵犯,因为涉及肝动脉切除吻合重建,具有较高技术难度,常需联合肝动脉切除重建才能实现R0切除。目前肝动脉切除重建在临床逐渐成熟,但腹腔镜下完成肝动脉切除重建经验缺乏,需要进一步积累。因此,本研究对3例完成腹腔镜下联合肝动脉切除重建的胆管癌患者的临床资料进行回顾性分析并评估短期结果,以期为临床实践提供初步经验。方法：回顾性分析2021年11月—2022年11月中国人民解放军陆军军医大学第二附属医院肝胆外科的3例行联合肝动脉切除重建的中下段胆管癌根治术患者的临床资料。结果：3例患者中女性1例,男性2例,年龄分别为61、65、69岁;病例1为胆管中段癌,因肿瘤侵犯右肝动脉和门静脉,且胆管下端切缘阴性,行联合右肝动脉切除重建、门静脉切除重建、胆管癌切除、胆肠吻合术、肝门部胆管整形术、淋巴结清扫术;病例2为胆管下段癌,因肿瘤侵犯替代右肝动...     

Reduction in biliary IgA after burn injury. Role of diminished delivery via the thoracic duct and of enhanced loss from the systemic circulation.

The concentration of biliary IgA is greatly reduced after scald burn injury in the rat, thereby contributing to a deficiency in upper intestinal immune defense. This reduction in biliary IgA might have several explanations, including failure of the transhepatic transport of polymeric IgA (pIgA) from the circulation, decreased delivery of pIgA to the hepatocyte, or decreased local synthesis of IgA in the liver. The authors examined whether burn injury reduces circulating pIgA available for delivery to the hepatocyte. In initial studies, they demonstrated that burn injury induces a decrease in circulating pIgA in bile-duct-ligated rats. They then sought to determine whether this decrease in pIgA was due to increased loss from the circulation or to a decreased supply of pIgA to the circulation through the thoracic duct. After injection of purified 125I-pIgA into bile duct-ligated rats, radioactivity was removed more rapidly from the circulation of burn-injured compared with control rats. The radioactivity localized in the skin and muscle at the site of burn injury. In another group of rats with patent bile ducts, the thoracic duct was cannulated and lymph collected for 12 hours. The total amount of IgA protein in lymph was found to be reduced in burn-injured compared with control animals. Thus, burn injury is accompanied by reduced circulating pIgA, which may be attributed to its enhanced loss from the circulation and to decreased delivery of pIgA from the intestinal mucosa to the systemic circulation via the thoracic duct.