Isolated segmental, sectoral and right hepatic bile duct injuries

The treatment of isolated segmental, sectoral and right hepatic bile duct injuries is controversial. Nineteen patients were treated over a 26-year period. Group one was comprised of 4 patients in whom the injury was primarily repaired during the original surgery; 3 over a T-tube, 1 with a Roux-en-Y. These patients had an uneventful recovery. The second group consisted of 5 patients in whom the duct was ligated; 4 developed infection, 3 of which required drainage and biliary repair. Two patients had good long-term outcomes; the third developed a late anastomotic stricture requiring further surgery. The fourth patient developed a small bile leak and pain which resolved spontaneously. The fifth patient developed complications from which he died. The third group was comprised of 4 patients referred with biliary peritonitis; all underwent drainage and lavage, and developed biliary fistulae, 3 of which resolved spontaneously, 1 required Roux-en-γ repair, with favorable outcomes. The fourth group consisted of 6 patients with biliary fistulae. Two patients, both with an 8-wk history of a fistula, underwent Roux-en-γ repair. Two others also underwent a Roux-en-γ repair, as their fistulae showed no signs of closure. The remaining 2 patients had spontaneous closure of their biliary fistulae. A primary repair is a reasonable alternative to ligature of injured duct. Patients with ligated ducts may develop complications. Infected ducts require further surgery. Patients with biliary peritonitis must be treated with drainage and lavage. There is a 50% chance that a biliary fistula will close spontaneously. In cases where the biliary fistula does not close within 6 to 8 wk, a Roux-en-γ anastomosis should be considered.     

Hepatectomy with primary closure of common bile duct for hepatolithiasis combined with choledocholithiasis

AIM: To evaluate the feasibility of hepatectomy and primary closure of common bile duct for intrahepatic and extrahepatic calculi. METHODS: From January 2008 to May 2013, anatomic hepatectomy followed by biliary tract exploration without biliary drainage(non-drainage group) was performed in 43 patients with intrahepatic and extrahepatic calculi. After hepatectomy, flexible choledochoscopy was used to extract residual stones and observe the intrahepatic bile duct and common bile duct(CBD) for determination of biliary stricture and dilatation. Function of the sphincter of Oddi was determined by manometry of the CBD. Primary closure of the CBD without T-tube drainage or bilioenteric anastomosis was performed when there was no biliary stricture or sphincter of Oddi dysfunction. Dexamethasone and anisodamine were intravenously injected 2-3 d after surgery to prevent postoperative retrograde infection due to intraoperative bile duct irrigation, and to maintain relaxation of the sphincter of Oddi, respectively. During the same period, anatomic hepatectomy followed by biliary tract exploration with biliary drainage(drainage group) was performed in 48 patients as the control group. Postoperative complications and hospital stay were compared between the two groups.RESULTS: There was no operative mortality in either group of patients. Compared to intrahepatic and extrabiliary drainage, hepatectomy with primary closure of the CBD(non-drainage) did not increase the incidenceof complications, including residual stones, bile leakage, pancreatitis and cholangitis(P > 0.05). Postoperative hospital stay and costs were nevertheless significantly less in the non-drainage group than in the drainage group. The median postoperative hospital stay was shorter in the non-drainage group than in the drainage group(11.2 ± 2.8 d vs 15.4 ± 2.1 d, P = 0.000). The average postoperative cost of treatment was lower in the non-drainage group than in the drainage group(29325.6 ± 5668.2 yuan vs 32933.3 ± 6235.1 yuan, P = 0.005). CONCLUSION: Hepatectomy followed by choledochoendoscopic stone extraction without biliary drainage is a safe and effective treatment of hepatolithiasis combined with choledocholithiasis.     

Successful photodynamic therapy for biliary papillomatosis： A case report

Papillomatosis of the bile duct is a rare disease with a high risk of malignant transformation. Therapeutical options include partial hepatectomy and liver trans- plantation. A previously healthy 65-years old male developed jaundice and right upper abdominal quadrant pain in 1996. A villous adenoma of the distal bile duct was diagnosed. A Whipple procedure was performed. In 2002 the patient turned symptomatic again. An- other adenoma was found in the right hepatic duct resulting in a right hepatectomy. Two years later the patient again developed cholestasis. Alter drainage of the left hepatic duct with a percutaneous transhepatic cholangial drainage （PTCD） catheter, a recurrent biliary adenomatosis was diagnosed by cholangioscopy. As there was no surgical option left, the patient received photodynamic therapy （PDT） for the recurrent biliary papillomatosis. Three mo alter he received further photodynamic therapies, the bile duct epithelium appeared normal and the patient had no signs of adenomatosis, both macroscopically and histologically. The follow-up cholangioscopy in late 2005 revealed only a small papil-loma without the need for intervention. In early 2006, the patient died of multi organ failure without signs of extrahepatic cholestasis or cholangitis at the age of 75, 10 years after the diagnosis of biliary papillomatosis was established. The patient exceeded the average life expectancy of patients with biliary papillomatosis by far. Thus, PDT might be a sufficient therapeutic option for recurrent papillomatosis patients with no significant side effects.     

Endoscopic management of postoperative bile leaks

BACKGROUND: Significant bile leak as an uncommon complication after biliary tract surgery may constitute a serious and difficult management problem. Surgical management of biliary fistulae is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Biliary endoscopic procedures have become the treatment of choice for management of biliary Gstulae. METHODS: Ninety patients presented with bile leaks after cholecystectomy ( open cholecystectomy in 45 patients, cholecystectomy with common bile duct exploration in 20 and laparoscopic cholecystectomy in 25). The presence of bile leaks was confirmed by ERCP and the appearance of bile in percutaneous drainage of abdominal collections. Of the 90 patients with postoperative bile leaks, 18 patients had complete transaction of the common bile duct by ERCP and were subjected to bilioenteric anastomosis. In the remaining patients after cholangiography and localization of the site of bile leaks. therapeutic procedures like sphinctero-tomy, biliary stenting and nasobiliary drainage ( NBD ) were performed. If residual stones were seen in the common bile duct, sphincterotomy was followed by stone extraction using dormia basket. Nasobiliary drain or stents of 7F size were placed according to the standard techniques. The NBD was removed when bile leak stopped and closure of the fistula confirmed cholangiographically. The stents were removed after an interval of 6-8 weeks. RESULTS: Bile leaks in 72 patients occurred in the cystic duct (38 patients), the common bile duct (30 ), and the right hepatic duct (4). Of the 72 patients with post-operative bile leak, 24 had associated retained common bile duct stones and 1 had ascaris in common bile duct. All the 72 patients were subjected to therapeutic procedures including sphincterotomy with stone extraction followed by biliary stenting (24 patients), removal of ascaris and biliary stenting (1), sphincterotomy with biliary stenting (18), sphincterotomy with NBD (12), biliary stenting alone (12), and NBD alone (5). Bile leaks stopped in all patients at a median interval of 3 days (range 3-16 days) after endoscopic in- terventions. No difference was observed in efficacy and in time for the treatment of bile leak by sphincterotomy with endoprosthesis or endoprosthesis alone in patients with bile leak after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Post-cholecystectomy bile leaks occur most commonly in the cystic duct and associated common bile duct stones are found in one-third of cases. Endoscopic therapy is safe and effective in the management of bile leaks and fistulae after surgery. Sphincterotomy with endoprosthesis or endoprosthesis alone is equally effective in the management of postoperative bile leak.     

A case of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection following bile duct stenting

AIM: To present a case of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection following bile duct stenting in a patient with malignant biliary obstruction. METHODS: A 78-year-old male patient was admitted to a community hospital with progredient painless jaundice lasting over two weeks, weight loss and sweating at night. Whether a stent should be implanted pre-operatively in jaundiced patients or whether these patients should directly undergo surgical resection, was discussed. RESULTS: ERC and a biopsy from the papilla of Vater revealed an adenocarcinoma. In addition, a 7-Ch plastic stent was placed into the common bile duct. Persistent abdominal pain, increasing jaundice, weakness and indigestion led to the transfer of the patient to our hospital. A pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy was performed. Intraoperatively, bile leaked out of the transected choledochus and the stent was found to be dislocated in the duodenum. A smear of the bile revealed an infection with MRSA, leading to post-operative isolation of the patient. CONCLUSION: As biliary stents can cause severe infection of the bile, the need for pre-operative placement of biliary stents should be carefully evaluated in each individual case.     

Postoperative bile leakage managed successfully by intrahepatic biliary ablation with ethanol

We report a case of postoperative refractory bile leakage managed successfully by intrahepatic biliary ablation with ethanol. A 75-year-old man diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma underwent extended posterior segmentectomy including the caudate lobe and a part of the anterior segment. The hepatic tumor attached to the anterior branch of the bile duct was detached carefully and resected. Fluid drained from the liver surface postoperatively contained high concentrations of total bilirubin, at a constant volume of 150 mL per day. On d 32 after surgery, a fistulogram of the drainage tube demonstrated an enhancement of the anterior bile duct. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography demonstrated complete obstruction of the proximal anterior bile duct and no enhancement of the peripheral anterior bile duct. On d 46 after surgery, a retrograde transhepatic biliary drainage (RTBD) tube was inserted into the anterior bile duct under open surgery. However, a contrast study of RTBD taken 7 mo post-surgery revealed that the fistula remained patent despite prolonged conservative management, so we decided to perform ethanol ablation of the isolated bile duct. Four ml pure ethanol was injected into the isolated anterior bile duct for ten minutes, the procedure being repeated five times a week. Following 23 attempts, the volume of bile juice reached less than 10 ml per day. The RTBD was clamped and removed two days later. After RTBD removal, the patient had no complaints or symptoms. Follow-up magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated atrophy of the ethanol-injected anterior segment without liver abscess formation.     

Duct-to-duct biliary reconstruction after radical resection of Bismuth Ⅲ a hilar cholangiocarcinoma

At present, radical resection remains the only effective treatment for patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma. The surgical approach for R0 resection of hilar cholangiocarcinoma is complex and diverse, but for the biliary reconstruction after resection, almost all surgeons use Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy. A viable alternative to Roux-en-Y reconstruction after radical resection of hilar cholangiocarcinoma has not yet been proposed. We report a case of performing duct-to-duct biliary reconstruction after radical resection of Bismuth Ⅲa hilar cholangiocarcinoma. End-to-end anastomosis between the left hepatic duct and the distal common bile duct was used for the biliary reconstruction, and a singlelayer continuous suture was performed along the bile duct using 5-0 prolene. The patient was discharged favorably without biliary fistula 2 wk later. Evidence for tumor recurrence was not found after an 18 mo follow- up. Performing bile duct end-to-end anastomosis in hilar cholangiocarcinoma can simplify the complex digestive tract reconstruction process.     

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography during pregnancy without radiation

AIM： To present our experience with pregnant patients who underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography （ERCP） without using radiation, and to evaluate the acceptability of this alternative therapeutic pathway for ERCP during pregnancy. METHODS： Between 2000 and 2008, six pregnant women underwent seven ERCP procedures. ERCP was performed under mild sedoanalgesia induced with pethidine HCI and midazolam. The bile duct was cannulated with a guidewire through the papilla. A catheter was slid over the guidewire and bile aspiration and/or visualization of the bile oozing around the guidewire was used to confirm correct cannulation. Following sphincterotomy, the bile duct was cleared by balloon sweeping. When indicated, stents were placed. Confirmation of successful biliary cannulation and stone extraction was made by laboratory, radiological and clinical improvement. Neither fluoroscopy nor spot radiography was used during the procedure. RESULTS： The mean age of the patients was 28 years （range, 21-33 years）. The mean gestational age for the fetus was 23 wk （range, 14-34 wk）. Five patients underwent ERCP because of choledocholithiasis and/or choledocholithiasis-induced acute cholangitis. In one case, a stone was extracted after precut papillotomy with a needle-knife, since the stone was impacted. One patient had ERCP because of persistent biliary fistula after hepatic hydatid disease surgery. Following sphincterotomy, scoleces were removed from the common bile duct. Two weeks later, because of the absence of fistula closure, repeat ERCP was performed and a stent was placed. The fistula was closed after stent placement. Neither post-ERCP complications nor premature birth or abortion was seen. CONCLUSION： Non-radiation ERCP in experienced hands can be performed during pregnancy. Stent placement should be considered in cases for which complete common bile duct clearance is dubious because of a lack of visualization of the biliary tree.     

Endoscopic management of biliary complications after orthotopic liver transplantation

BACKGROUND: Biliary complications are a serious problem in patients after liver transplantation and often require reoperation. This study was conducted to summarize the endoscopic diagnosis and management of biliary complications after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). METHODS: From December 2000 to November 2003, twelve endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatographies(ERCPs) were performed in 7 patients after OLT at Digestive Endoscopic Center of Changhai Hospital in Shanghai, China. The therapeutic maneuvers included endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST), biliary stent placement, balloon and basket extraction, irrigation, and nasobiliary tube placement. A retrospective study was made to determine the types of biliary tract complications after OLT. The success of ERCP and therapeutic maneuvers was also evaluated. RESULTS: Biliary tract complications including biliary stricture, biliary leak, biliary sludge, and stump leak of the cyst duct were treated respectively by endoscopic sphincterotomy with sludge extraction, stricture dilation or endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage. Two of the 3 patients with proximal common bile duct stricture were successfully treated with ERCP and stent placement. Four patients with anastomotic stricture and/without bile leak were treated successfully by dilation and stent placement or endoscopic nosobiliary drainage. No severe ERCP-related complications occurred. CONCLUSIONS: ERCP is an effective and accurate approach for the diagnosis of biliary tract complications after OLT, and placement of a stent is a safe initial treatment for biliary complications after liver transplantation.     

Reoperation of biliary tract by laparoscopy： Experiences with 39 cases

AIM：To evaluate the safety and feasibility of biliary tract reoperation by laparoscopy for the patients with retained or recurrent stones who failed in endoscopic sphincterotomy.
METHODS：A retrospective analysis of data obtained from attempted laparoscopic reoperation for 39 patients in a single institution was performed, examining open conversion rates, operative times, complications, and hospital stay.
RESULTS：Out of the 39 cases, 38 （97%） completed laparoscopy, 1 required conversion to open operation because of difficulty in exposing the common bile duct. The mean operative time was 135 min. The mean post-operative hospital stay was 4 d. Procedures included laparoscopic residual gallbladder resection in 3 cases, laparoscopic common bile duct exploration and primary duct closure at choledochotomy in 13 cases, and laparoscopic common bile duct exploration and choledochotomy with T tube drainage in 22 cases. Duodenal perforation occurred in 1 case during dissection and was repaired laparoscopically. Retained stones were found in 2 cases. Postoperative asymptomatic hyperamlasemia occurred in 3 cases. There were no complications due to port placement, postoperative bleeding, bile or bowel leakage and mortality. No recurrence or formation of duct stricture was observed during a mean follow-up period of 18 mo.
CONCLUSION：Laparoscopic biliary tract reoperation is safe and feasible if it is performed by experiencedlaparoscopic surgeons, and is an alternative choice for patients with choledocholithiasis who fail in endoscopic sphincterectomy.     

Temporary endosonography-guided biliary drainage for transgastrointestinal deployment of a self-expandable metallic stent

Endosonography-guided biliary drainage (ESBD) is now gaining acceptance as a useful alternative for the management of obstructive jaundice.(1) At present, ESBD is used mainly to establish an anastomosis between the biliary tree and the duodenum, stomach, jejunum, or esophagus by placing a stent so as to bridge the bile duct and alimentary tract. We herein report a new application of ESBD, that is, its temporary use for gaining access to the bile duct in order to deploy a self-expandable metallic stent (SEMS) via the transhepatic route. In a patient with pylorus stenosis due to advanced gastric cancer with extrahepatic bile duct obstruction caused by nodal metastasis, a plastic stent was placed temporarily by ESBD to bridge the esophagus and the left hepatic duct. Ten days later, the stent was retrieved, leaving a guidewire in the bile duct, and a delivery unit of a SEMS was introduced into the bile duct over the guidewire via the sinus tract. The SEMS was then successfully deployed through the stenosis. No stent was left in the sinus tract. This procedure yields a mature fistula through which a delivery unit can be safely introduced into the bile duct followed by uneventful deployment of a SEMS.     

TRANSGASTRIC TRANSHEPATIC ENDOSONOGRAPHY‐GUIDED BILIARY DRAINAGE: HISTOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF ITS SINUS TRACT IN AN AUTOPSY CASE

Endosonography‐guided biliary drainage (ESBD) is gaining attention as a promising drainage technique for obstructive jaundice. However, histological changes resulting from ESBD have not been well understood. We had an opportunity to histologically investigate the influence of ESBD, established between the left hepatic duct and the stomach, on the relevant organs in an autopsy case with bile duct cancer extending from the pancreatic head to the hepatic hilum with duodenal invasion. Localized fibrous connective tissues were present around and along the sinus tract, including the connection between the surfaces of the left lobe of the liver and the gastric serosa, without hemorrhage, inflammatory changes, or cancer invasion. The inside of the ESBD stent was slightly stenotic at the intramural portion of the stomach due to proliferation of granulation tissue. No bile stasis or abscess was observed in the left lobe. These results are quite suggestive of the high safety and efficacy of ESBD with adequate performance.     

SNARE‐OVER‐THE‐WIRE TECHNIQUE FOR SAFE EXCHANGE OF A STENT FOLLOWING ENDOSONOGRAPHY‐GUIDED BILIARY DRAINAGE

Endosonography‐guided biliary drainage (ESBD) is a new option that allows establishment of biliary drainage. Due to the diameter of the working channel of an echoendoscope, it is necessary to replace a small caliber stent with a larger one to lessen the risk of stent occlusion. However, insertion of a guidewire into the bile duct via the hole of the sinus tract following direct removal of a previously placed stent is not always possible, resulting in guidewire passage outside the fistula and bile leakage. Cannulation of the previously deployed stent, guidewire insertion into the bile duct via the cannula and the stent, and removal of the stent with the snare over the guidewire leaving the guidewire in place (the snare‐over‐the‐wire technique [SOW]) for stent exchange following ESBD was attempted. Four patients who required stent exchange following ESBD were included in the present study to evaluate the feasibility and usefulness of SOW. SOW was successful in all the cases. A new stent was also successfully deployed over the guidewire in all the cases. No complications were encountered. The snare‐over‐the‐wire technique is feasible and useful in stent exchange following ESBD for the reduction of the risk of guidewire migration.     

ENDOSONOGRAPHY‐GUIDED BILIARY DRAINAGE IN CASES WITH DIFFICULT TRANSPAPILLARY ENDOSCOPIC BILIARY DRAINAGE

Background: Recently, reports on a new endoscopic biliary drainage technique utilizing endosonographic guidance (endosonography‐guided biliary drainage [ESBD]) have been increasing. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of ESBD in cases with difficult transpapillary endoscopic biliary drainage (EBD). Patients and Methods: Sixteen patients with obstructive jaundice who underwent ESBD because of difficult EBD between January 2007 and September 2008 were included. The technical success, complications, and clinical efficacy of ESBD were prospectively evaluated. Results: ESBD was performed via the duodenum, stomach, and esophagus in eight, six and two patients, respectively. Stent placement was successful in all cases and excellent biliary decompression was achieved in all but one patient. One patient developed localized peritonitis following guidewire migration and re‐puncture of the bile duct. In another patient, stent migration was observed one week after ESBD and re‐ESBD was carried out. Three patients underwent surgery for their primary diseases, and stent exchange was carried out in 10 patients during the course. Conclusions: ESBD is an effective treatment for obstructive jaundice that will replace percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage in cases of difficult EBD and is a possible alternative to EBD in selected cases.     

经内镜诊治肝移植术后胆道远期并发症

目的：探讨经内镜逆行胰胆管造影(ERCP)在诊断和治疗肝移植患者胆道远期并发症中的应用。方法：肝移植术后出现胆道远期并发症患者6例，共行ERCP 12次，根据患者的情况进行扩张、内镜下乳头切开取石、内支架置入等治疗。结果：1例胆总管结石行乳头切开后取石成功，1例胆道狭窄在胆道扩张后胆道梗阻症状解除，4例胆道狭窄合并胆总管结石的狭窄近端结石经乳头切开取出，狭窄远端结石行胆道扩张、内支架置入等治疗后取出。所有患者经治疗后胆红素、碱性磷酸酶等酶学指标均有不同程度的下降，无严重并发症发生。结论：ERCP是诊断和治疗肝移植患者胆道远期并发症安全、有效的手段。     

A pilot proof-of-concept study of a modified device for one-step endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage in a new experimental biliary dilatation animal model

AIM:To evaluate the technical feasibility of a modified tapered metal tip and low profile introducer for onestep endoscopic ultrasound(EUS)-guided biliary drainage(EUS-BD)in a new experimental biliary dilatation porcine model.METHODS:A novel dedicated device for one-step EUS-guided biliary drainage system(DEUS)introducer has size 3F tapered catheter with size 4F metal tip for simple puncture of the intestinal wall and liver parenchyma without graded dilation.A self-expandable metal stent,consisting of both uncovered and nitinol-covered portions,was preloaded into DEUS introducer.After establishment of a biliary dilatation model using endoscopic hemoclips or band ligation with argon plasma coagulation in 9 mini-pigs,EUS-BD using a DEUS was performed following 19-G needle puncture without the use of fistula dilation devices.RESULTS:One-step EUS-BD was technically successful in seven pigs[7/9(77.8%)as intention to treat]without the aid of devices for fistula dilation from the high body of stomach or far distal esophagus to the intrahepatic(n=2)or common hepatic(n=5)duct.Primary technical failure occurred in two cases that did not show adequate biliary dilatation.In seven pigs with a successful bile duct dilatation,the technical success rate was 100%(7/7 as per protocol).Median procedure time from confirmation of the dilated bile duct to successful placement of a metallic stent was 10 min(IQR;8.9-18.1).There were no immediate procedure-related complications.CONCLUSION:Modified tapered metal tip and low profile introducer may be technically feasible for onestep EUS-BD in experimental porcine model.     

Endocoil placement after endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage may prevent a bile leak

AIM: To further reduce the risk of bleeding or bile leakage. METHODS: We performed endoscopic ultrasound guided biliary drainage in 6 patients in whom endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) had failed. Biliary access of a dilated segment 2 or 3 duct was achieved from the stomach using a 19G needle. After radiologically confirming access a guide wire was placed, a transhepatic tract created using a 6 Fr cystotome followed by balloon dilation of the stricture and antegrade metallic stent placement across the malignant obstruction. This was followed by placement of an endocoil in the transhepatic tract. RESULTS: Dilated segmental ducts were observed in all patients with the linear endoscopic ultrasound scope from the proximal stomach. Transgastric biliary access was obtained using a 19G needle in all patients. Biliary drainage was achieved in all patients. Placement of an endocoil was possible in 5/6 patients. All patients responded to biliary drainage and no complications occurred. CONCLUSION: We show that placing endocoils at the time of endoscopic ultrasound guided biliary stenting is feasible and may reduce the risk of bleeding or bile leakage.     

ENDOSONOGRAPHY‐GUIDED BILIARY DRAINAGE

Endoscopic biliary drainage (e.g. endoscopic biliary stenting [EBS]) is the treatment of choice in the management of obstructive jaundice due not only because of its lesser invasiveness and greater safety as compared with surgical drainage or percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD), but also due to its ability to maintain the physiological flow of bile. EBS, however, is not always possible, and surgical drainage or PTBD have been performed in such cases with difficult cannulation of the bile duct or difficult intubation of the duodenum with a duodenoscope during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Recently, the role of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS), or endosonography (ES), has expanded from simply obtaining cross‐sectional images of the gut wall or surrounding organs and tissue samples by fine‐needle aspiration cytology/biopsy to therapeutic applications. Endosonography‐guided biliary drainage (ESBD) is one of such therapeutic applications of ES and reports on this procedure are increasing. In the present article, technical aspects and the current status of ESBD are discussed. As in EBS, ESBD makes it possible to recover physiological bile flow without pain following the procedure. Therefore, ESBD is expected to soon be widely accepted as a new option for difficult cases of not only EBS but also PTBD with obstructive jaundice, and may become the treatment of choice in selected cases. Development of relevant devices will expand its indications and accelerate its spread.     

Percutaneous management of bile duct injuries after cholecystectomy

Intraoperative biliary tract injuries are relatively uncommon, but are a cause of significant morbidity and mortality. We have repaired open biliary tract injuries found postoperatively in three patients without reoperation by percutaneous intervention. In two cases, biliary stents were placed percutaneously across the injured portion of the bile duct. For this procedure, a unique coaxial guidewire technique was used. The bile leaks resolved soon after insertion of the biliary stents. In one patient, an expandable metallic biliary endoprosthesis was inserted, and the temporary stent was removed. This patient had no signs or symptoms of cholangitis or biliary obstruction at the 6-year follow-up. The other patient died of heart failure soon after reconstruction. In the last patient, a biliary drain was inserted through the injured duct via the biliocutaneous fistula. In this case, biliary drainage alone resulted in resolution of the bile leak, because the injury was partial without a stricture. This patient was well at the 3-year follow-up. Percutaneous management of bile duct injuries is an alternative in selected patients.     

A novel technique for the internal drainage of extrahepatic biloma complicating transarterial embolization of hepatocellular carcinoma

Biloma is an infrequent complication of nonsurgical treatments of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), including transarterial embolization (TAE), and it is often associated with ischemic injuries of the biliary tract after therapy. We here report on a case featuring successful internal drainage of an extrahepatic biloma into the duodenum by a route via the cholecyst, cholecystic duct, and common bile duct under fluoroscopic control. An extrahepatic biloma developed after urgent TAE for ruptured HCC and became contaminated. Radiography with contrast medium through the percutaneous drainage tube revealed a fistula between the biloma and gallbladder. The drainage catheter was introduced into the gallbladder through the fistula, from where it subsequently reached the duodenum via the cholecystic and common bile ducts. The internal drainage route played a major role in the rapid elimination of the biloma, which did not recur after the tube was withdrawn. To our knowledge, this is the first report of internal drainage of a biloma through the cholecystic and common bile ducts.