Self-expanding metal stents (SEMS) for preoperative biliary decompression in patients with resectable and borderline-resectable pancreatic cancer: outcomes in 241 patients

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Obstructive jaundice caused by distal biliary obstruction can present in up to 70 % of patients with localized cancer of the head of the pancreas. The aim of this study was to report our experience in using self-expanding metal stents (SEMS) for preoperative biliary decompression in patients with resectable and borderline resectable carcinoma of the pancreatic head.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective study evaluating patients from two tertiary referral centers. Two-hundred and forty-one patients with resectable and borderline resectable pancreatic carcinoma underwent ERCP with metal biliary stent placement between September 2006 and August 2011. We assessed the effectiveness of SEMS to adequately decompress the biliary tree, procedural success, patient survival, stent patency, and stent-related complications.

RESULTS

Two-hundred and forty-one patients were evaluated [123 male, mean age (± SD) 67.4 ± 9.8 years; resectable 174, borderline resectable 67]. Patients with borderline-resectable cancer underwent neoadjuvant therapy and restaging before possible curative surgery. Successful placement of a metal biliary stent was achieved in all patients and improved jaundice. Patients were followed for mean duration of 6.3 months. The overall survival was 49 % at 27 months. Fourteen (5.8 %) patients experienced stent occlusion; the mean time to stent occlusion was 6.6 (range 1-20) months. Immediate complications included: post-ERCP pancreatitis (n = 14), stent migration (n = 3), and duodenal perforation (n = 3). Long-term complications included stent migration (n = 9) and hepatic abscess (n = 1). A total of 144/174 patients deemed to have resectable cancer at time of diagnosis underwent curative surgery. Due to disease progression or the discovery of metastasis after neoadjuvant therapy, only 22/67 patients with borderline-resectable cancer underwent curative surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

SEMS should be considered for patients with obstructive jaundice and resectable or borderline resectable pancreatic cancer, especially if surgery is not planned immediately as a result of preoperative chemoradiation. These stents appear to be safe and effective.

Metal stents: a bridge to surgery in hilar cholangiocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Obstructive jaundice in patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma is a known risk factor for hepatic failure after liver resection. Plastic stents are most widely used for preoperative drainage. However, plastic stents are known to have limited patency time and therefore, in palliative settings, the self-expanding metal stent (SEMS) is used. This type of stent has been shown to be superior because it allows for rapid biliary decompression and a reduced complication rate after insertion. This study explores the use of the SEMS for biliary decompression in patients with operable hilar cholangiocarcinoma.

METHODS

A retrospective evaluation of a prospectively maintained database at a tertiary hepatobiliary referral centre was carried out. All patients with resectable cholangiocarcinoma were recorded.

RESULTS

Of 260 patients referred to this unit with cholangiocarcinoma between January 2008 and April 2012, 50 patients presented with operable cholangiocarcinoma and 27 of these had obstructive jaundice requiring stenting. Ten patients were initially treated with SEMSs; no stent failure occurred in these patients. Seventeen patients initially received plastic stents, seven of which failed in the interval between stent placement and laparotomy. These stents were replaced by SEMSs in four patients and by plastic stents in three patients. Median time to laparotomy was 45 days and 68 days in patients with SEMSs and plastic stents, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Self-expanding metal stents provide adequate and rapid biliary drainage in patients with obstruction caused by hilar cholangiocarcinoma. No re-interventions were required. This probably reflects the relatively short interval between stent placement and laparotomy.

Obstructive jaundice and melena caused by hemocholecyst: A case report

A hemocholecyst (HC) is a clot-filled gallbladder caused by bleeding into its lumen. Obstructive jaundice caused by the compression of HC to the hilar biliary tract is likely to be misdiagnosed as cholangiocarcinoma and is extremely rare. We herein report a case of obstructive jaundice and melena caused by HC. A 57-year-old male patient presented with right upper quadrant pain associated with icteric sclera and melena was suspiciously diagnosed as having malignant cholangiocarcinmoa by abdominal ultrasonography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Laparotomy found a hematoma in the gallbladder. The hematoma spread to the left hepatic lobe forming an exogenous mass which compressed the hilar biliary tract. Radical cholecystectomy and bile duct exploration with T-tube drainage were performed. Histopathological examination revealed massive necrosis of the gallbladder mucosa with inflammatory cells infiltration as well as intraluminal hematoma formation. One month after operation, a T-tube cholangiography revealed a normal biliary tree. We suggest that HC should be considered in patients with obstructive jaundice and melena after common causes are ruled out.

Caution in interpretation of the tumor marker CA 19.9 in patients with obstructive jaundice: illustrative case reports

BACKGROUND

Carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19.9 is a Lewis blood group oligosaccharide antigen which exists in fixed and soluble forms. The CA 19.9 antigen is synthesized by epithelial cells of the gastrointestinal tract, pancreatic duct, and biliary tree. The CA 19.9 antigen is commonly used as a tumor marker for malignancies of the pancreas and biliary tract. High levels (> 300 U/ml) of antigen have strongly suggested malignant processes.

METHODS

Four patients are described with markedly elevated levels of CA 19.9 due to benign calculous disease.

RESULTS

Three of four patients underwent endoscopic stone removal followed by cholecystectomy; the fourth patient spontaneously passed stones and had a subsequent cholecystectomy with benign inflammatory pathology. Removal or passage of the obstructing stones produced normalization of the CA 19.9 in each case even with long-term follow-up up to one year. All pathology specimens were interpreted as benign.

CONCLUSIONS

Marked elevations of CA 19.9 may be found in benign obstructive disease and should be interpreted with caution until biliary obstruction is relieved.

[Hepatic dysfunction correction in patients with obturation jaundice]

Comparative analysis of results of examination and treatment of 54 patients, suffering obturation jaundice syndrome, is presented. The presence and severity of hepatic dysfunction was determined in accordance to indices of cytolysis and cholestasis syndromes, and its severity--in accordance to V. P. Zinevich criteria (1986). There was established, that timely elimination of obturation jaundice, using miniinvasive interventions and subsequent conduction of complex hepatotropic therapy, using L-ornitin L-aspartate, permits to correct hepatic dysfunction effectively.

[Preliminary clinical study of percutaneous transhepatic bipolar radiofrequency ablation catheter in the treatment for malignant biliary obstructive jaundice and biliary stent re-stenosis]

OBJECTIVE

To preliminary observe the feasibility and safety of bipolar radiofrequency ablation catheter in the treatment of malignant biliary obstructive jaundice and biliary stent re-stenosis.

METHODS

Four patients with malignant obstructive jaundice caused by terminal cancer received ablation therapy for biliary obstruction by percutaneous transhepatic bipolar radiofrequency ablation catheter. The normal tunnel of biliary was reconstructed rapidly to restore the outflow tract of bile. The procedural practicality, clinical safety and operative complications were analyzed.

RESULTS

The ablation therapy was successful for 4 patients. The mean operating duration was 40 min without any 30-day mortality. No postoperative complications such as massive hemorrhage, biliary fistula, biliary infection, hemothorax, pneumothorax, chylothorax, chole-heart syndrome, liver penetrating wound and biliary peritonitis etc. occurred. Cholangiectasis improved markedly after biliary tract reconstruction with general declines of serum total bilirubin and direct bilirubin. One case with biliary stent re-stenosis was re-blocked postoperatively. The average patency time of biliary tract and stent was 124 (90 - 171) days in 4 cases. Conditions were created for further anti-tumor treatment.

CONCLUSION

Percutaneous transhepatic bipolar radiofrequency ablation catheter can reestablish the canal rapidly for malignant biliary obstructive jaundice and stent re-stenosis so as to enhance the therapeutic efficacy.

[Criteria of diagnosis and principles of treatment of obturation jaundice and its complicated forms--an acute cholangitis and biliary sepsis]

Analysis of the examination and treatment results was conducted in 92 patients, suffering the obturation jaundice syndrome. There was elaborated a diagnostic program, in which the existing diagnostic standard for obturation jaundice and its complicated forms, an acute cholangitis and biliary sepsis, was added by determination of the blood procalcitonin level, microbiological investigation of the blood and bile, the bile microscopy, the analysis of the system inflammatory response syndrome signs and the organs dysfunction (according to SOFA scale). The program introduction have permitted to perform differential diagnosis of uncomplicated--in 30 (32.6%) patients, and complicated--in 42 (45.7%) obturation jaundice in an acute cholangitis and in 20 (21.7%)--in biliary sepsis. The treatment program is characterized by differentiated approach, depending on the disease kind, and includes the conduction of urgent decompression and sanation of biliary ducts. The method and volume of complex conservative therapy have differed essentially in patients, suffering obturation jaundice, an acute cholangitis and biliary sepsis.

Periampullary carcinoma: better prognosis with early pre-stenting referral to surgery

This study was undertaken to find out reasons of delayed referral for surgical treatment and to assess the effect of delayed referral on management and prognosis of patients with periampullary carcinoma. Patients with histopathologically proved periampullary carcinoma (n=41) during the period January 2010 to December 2010 who had been admitted into the department of surgery, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Shahbagh, Dhaka, Bangladesh (BSMMU) were included in this study. Information of the patient was retrieved from medical records. Patients and relatives were interviewed for reasons of delay in seeking surgical help. Patients were divided into two groups: Group I: those who admitted to surgical unit within one month (6 days to 1 month) of noticing jaundice (n=13), and Group II: those who admitted to surgical unit after one month (1.2 months to 18 months) of noticing jaundice (n=28). Parameters were compared between two groups. Patients in group II were poor liver function and nutritional status needed more supplementary therapy in perioperative period. The incidence of distant metastasis and ascites were more frequent in Group II than Group I patients. Definitive procedure (Whipple's operation) was possible in 53.8% patients in Group I whereas only 7.1% in Group II patients (p <0.05). The reasons for delay referral to surgery were due to patient's ignorance, superstition and fear of receiving operative treatment. Delay in diagnosis of periampullary carcinoma as a cause of jaundice and immediate relief of jaundice with ERCP and stenting is another important cause of delay in seeking definitive operative treatment. Awareness of public as well as general physicians is required for early referral of patients with periampullary carcinoma to surgery. Joint assessment of these patients by Gastroenterologist and Hepatobiliary surgeons before internal biliary drainage will improve prognosis.

[Differential diagnostic strategy in obstructive jaundice]

An analysis of effectiveness of diagnostic noninvasive and invasive measures for obstructive jaundice was made using clinical findings of 383 patients. The efficacy of these measures was assessed and limits were determined in relation to etiology of obstructive jaundice and the condition of extrahepatic bile ducts. The criteria of selection of diagnostic methods were detected on preoperative and intraoperative stages. The rational report of diagnostic strategy was formulated.

[The bile-diverting methods in long-term obstructive jaundice]

There were examined 59 patients, admitted to hospital for residual choledocholithiasis, complicated by durable (during more than 2 weeks) obturation jaundice, who were treated in 2009-2012 yrs. In 37 patients (the first group) endoscopic papillosphincterotomy was conducted and choledocholithoextraction, in 22 (the second group)--after endoscopic papillosphincterotomy and choledocholithoextraction nasobiliary drainage was performed during 3-8 days. Besides the conventional clinical and instrumental investigations, there were examined also the spectrum of conjugated and nonconjugated biliary acids in the blood plasm, as the indices of the bile toxicity and early markers of hepatic insufficiency occurrence. There was established in the blood serum of both groups of patients the content increase of the biliary acids toxic fractions. In the patients of the second group the toxic fractions of biliary acids disappearance was observed trustworthy earlier, than in patients of the first group.

[Long-term treatment results and quality of life of the patients, operated on the reason of chronic pancreatitis, complicated by the obstructive jaundice]

Methods of surgical treatment of the patients, operated on the reason of chronic pancreatitis, complicated by the obstructive jaundice, were comparatively analyzed. 25 patients received pancreatoduodenal resection, 19 patients had the Bern variant of Beger operation. The quality of life was assessed with the use of MOS-SF-36. The duodenum preserving resection of the head of the pancreas showed better long-term results then pancreatoduodenal resection. Those patients, who received biliodigestive anastomosis as the basic operation, showed no good results at all.

[Multilevel drainage of bile ducts in obstructive jaundice and cholangitis]

The data of combined application of low invasive intervention on bilious tree were analyzed in 63 patients with the obstructive jaundice and cholangitis. An indication for operation and the option of performing multilevel drainage were validated in patients with the obstruction of bile-excreting system and cholangitis. The technique of percutaneous intraluminal biopsy of hepaticocholedoch with atherectomic camera was supposed. The data obtained allow the application of given approach during the treatment of patients with the severe stage of the disease.

Biliary drainage for obstructive jaundice caused by unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: the endoscopic versus percutaneous approach

BACKGROUND

For palliative treatment of the obstructive jaundice associated with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) or endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage (ERBD) has been performed. PTBD is preferred as an initial procedure. Little is known about the better option for patients with obstructive jaundice caused by unresectable HCC.

METHODS

Sixty patients who had received ERBD or PTBD for the palliative treatment of obstructive jaundice caused by unresectable HCC between January 2006 and May 2010 were included in this retrospective study. Successful drainage, drainage patency, and the overall survival of patients were evaluated.

RESULTS

Univariate analysis revealed that the overall frequency of successful drainage was higher in the ERBD group (22/29, 75.9%) than in the PTBD group (15/31, 48.4%) (P=0.029); but multivariate analysis showed marginal significance (P=0.057). The duration of drainage patency was longer in the ERBD group than in the PTBD group (82 vs 37 days, respectively, P=0.020). Regardless of what procedure was performed, the median survival time of patients who had a successful drainage was much longer than that of the patients who did not have a successful drainage (143 vs 38 days, respectively, P<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Besides PTBD, ERBD may be used as the initial treatment option to improve obstructive jaundice in patients with unresectable HCC if there is a longer duration of drainage patency after a successful drainage.

Biliary plastic stent as a matrix core for lithogenesis in the common bile duct: a rare cause of jaundice

BACKGROUND

The obstruction of the main bile duct by a foreign body, followed by lithogenesis at that level, is rarely encountered in the literature especially when the foreign body is a plastic biliary stent. We have not found referrals concerning the stone formation as a complication at the level of a biliary stent.

CASE REPORT

A 59-year-old female patient was referred with abdominal pain and jaundice. The patient had had a biliary prosthesis inserted 42 months earlier for treatment of biliary stenosis and fistula, complications that occurred after a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Imaging investigations evidenced the presence of obstructive jaundice and the biliary stent with gall stones adherent on its surface. After the failure of an endoscopic extraction attempt, surgical intervention ensured the removal of the stent and the gallstones formed on its surface.

CONCLUSION

The particularity of the case consists of the rarity of such a complication after biliary stenting. At the same time, it emphasizes the need for postoperative follow-up, in order to avoid this kind of complication, potentially fatal.

Which patients with advanced cancer and biliary obstruction benefit from biliary stenting most? An analysis of prognostic factors

BACKGROUND

Patients with advanced cancer may present with obstructive jaundice. Biliary stenting is the treatment of choice. However, which patients benefit most is not well-defined, yet. Our aim was to delineate the clinical factors affecting prognosis.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Charts of 140 patients with advanced cancer who underwent biliary stenting were retrospectively analyzed. Their median age was 63.5 years. Of these patients, 73 (52.1 %) were male, 32 (22.9 %) had ECOG PS 1 and 81 (57.9 %) had PS 2. The most frequent cancer types were cholangiocellular cancer (64, 45.7 %) and pancreatic cancer (36, 25.7 %).

RESULTS

Median overall survival (OS) was 141 (95 % CI, 100.7-185.3) days. Female patients lived longer (161.0 vs. 124.0 days) (p = 0.036). Those patients with colorectal cancer lived the longest (667.0 days), followed by cholangiocellular (211.0 days), and gastric cancers (106.0 days) (p = 0.004). The distribution of primary diagnosis differed significantly between sexes: cholangiocellular cancer was present in 22 (30.1 %) out of 73 men and 42(62.7 %) out of 67 women (chi-square p < 0.001). There was a trend for longer overall survival if ALT (p = 0.08) and AST (p = 0.06) were normalized after stent insertion. Of the 137 patients, 63 (45.5 %) did not experience any complication. In 74 patients with complications, there were 39 (28.5 %) episodes of cholangitic infections and 35 (25.5 %) biliary obstructions. In three patients, we could not find data on infections.

CONCLUSION

Underlying malignancy, hence the natural biology and the therapeutic expectations are probably the most important factors which must be considered during decision-making.

Endoscopic palliation of pancreatic cancer

Endoscopy has an increasingly important role in the palliation of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Endoscopic biliary drainage is still requested in the majority of patients who present with obstructive jaundice, and the increased use of self-expandable metallic stents has reduced the incidence of premature stent occlusion. First-line use of metallic stents is expected to be utilized more frequently as neoadjuvant protocols are improved. The efficacy of endoscopy for palliating gastroduodenal obstruction has advanced with the development of through-the-scope, self-expandable gastroduodenal stents. There have been advances in pain management, with endoscopic ultrasound-guided celiac plexus neurolysis reducing opiate requirements and pain for patients with unresectable malignancy. Future applications of endoscopy in pancreatic cancer may include fine-needle injection of chemotherapeutic and other agents into the lesion itself. This review will summarize the evidence of endoscopy in the management of patients with pancreatic cancer.

[Effect of combined administration of bile duct decompression and lactulose in mechanical jaundice]

AIM

Study the state of intestine microecology in patients with obstructive jaundice after decompression of bile ducts and administration of lactulose.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

58 patients of different gender and age who were under treatment in the 13th surgical department of City Clinical Hospital No. 7 due to obstructive jaundice were examined. Evaluation of lactulose administration was carried out in a blinded randomized study. The patients were divided into 2 groups of 29 individuals each: (1) patients who had undergone surgery without administration oflactulose (control) and (2) patients who had received immediately after decompression of bile ducts 30 ml of lactulose for 1 week (comparison group). Feces samples were obtained with a weekly interval for bacteriological study for dysbacteriosis.

RESULTS

Based on the results of bacteriological analysis of feces in all the 58 patients with mechanical jaundice disorders of intestine microecology of various severity degrees were detected. In the patient group who had received lactulose for 7 days after the decompression ofbile ducts a tendency for an increase ofpopulation level of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli and a decrease of quantity of opportunistic microorganisms of various taxonomical groups was noted.

CONCLUSION

Administration of lactulose to patients at 30 ml dose per day for 7 days positively affected the state of microbiocenosis of colon towards its normalization.

The effectiveness of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in the management of patients with jaundice at Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Jakarta

AIM

to evaluate endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) benefits in treating patients with clinical appearance of yellowish discoloration.

METHODS

a descriptive retrospective cross-sectional study was performed on 122 patients at Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital from January 2008 to December 2010. The main complained was yellowish discoloration of the skin. ERCPs were performed as appropriate, and then the distribution of disease entity, results of procedure and complications were noted.

RESULTS

subjects of this study consist of 63 males (52%) and 59 females (48%), 7 patients have undergone ERCP 2 times. Data showed 63 cases (51%) were indicated by stone and 52 cases (43%) by tumor/mass and 7 cases by infection (6%). Ten out of 122 cases (7%) showed normal results. Difficult canulation was encountered in 23 cases (18%) as access to the CBD could not be obtained. From 53 cases with stone, the extraction was successful in 43 (81%) including while 12 procedures with high grade of difficult ERCP left stone remnants (23%), and the remaining 10 procedures entailed stones retention (19%). Radioopaque stones found in 2 cases (4%) and radioluscent in 51 cases (96%). Stent placement was done in CBD (30 cases, 83%), pancreatic duct (4 cases, 11%), and extraneous CBD (2 cases, 5%). Complications found 3 cases (2%) migration stent outside CBD in 2 cases, 1 case with crand radioluscentin 51 acked basket.

CONCLUSION

ERCP procedure is really helpful in assisting clinicians to diagnose and manage therapeutic measures, especially in pancreaticobilliar tract disorder, while performing stone extraction and stent placement.

Pre-operative biliary drainage for obstructive jaundice

BACKGROUND

Patients with obstructive jaundice have various pathophysiological changes that affect the liver, kidney, heart, and the immune system. There is considerable controversy as to whether temporary relief of biliary obstruction prior to major definitive surgery (pre-operative biliary drainage) is of any benefit to the patient.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the benefits and harms of pre-operative biliary drainage versus no pre-operative biliary drainage (direct surgery) in patients with obstructive jaundice (irrespective of a benign or malignant cause).

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the Cochrane Hepato-Biliary Group Controlled Trials Register, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Clinical Trials (CENTRAL) in The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Science Citation Index Expanded until February 2012.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included all randomised clinical trials comparing biliary drainage followed by surgery versus direct surgery, performed for obstructive jaundice, irrespective of the sample size, language, and publication status.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two authors independently assessed trials for inclusion and extracted data. We calculated the risk ratio (RR), rate ratio (RaR), or mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) based on the available patient analyses. We assessed the risk of bias (systematic overestimation of benefit or systematic underestimation of harm) with components of the Cochrane risk of bias tool. We assessed the risk of play of chance (random errors) with trial sequential analysis.

MAIN RESULTS

We included six trials with 520 patients comparing pre-operative biliary drainage (265 patients) versus no pre-operative biliary drainage (255 patients). Four trials used percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage and two trials used endoscopic sphincterotomy and stenting as the method of pre-operative biliary drainage. The risk of bias was high in all trials. The proportion of patients with malignant obstruction varied between 60% and 100%. There was no significant difference in mortality (40/265, weighted proportion 14.9%) in the pre-operative biliary drainage group versus the direct surgery group (34/255, 13.3%) (RR 1.12; 95% CI 0.73 to 1.71; P = 0.60). The overall serious morbidity was higher in the pre-operative biliary drainage group (60 per 100 patients in the pre-operative biliary drainage group versus 26 per 100 patients in the direct surgery group) (RaR 1.66; 95% CI 1.28 to 2.16; P = 0.0002). The proportion of patients who developed serious morbidity was significantly higher in the pre-operative biliary drainage group (75/102, 73.5%) in the pre-operative biliary drainage group versus the direct surgery group (37/94, 37.4%) (P < 0.001). Quality of life was not reported in any of the trials. There was no significant difference in the length of hospital stay (2 trials, 271 patients; MD 4.87 days; 95% CI -1.28 to 11.02; P = 0.12) between the two groups. Trial sequential analysis showed that for mortality only a small proportion of the required information size had been obtained. There seemed to be no significant differences in the subgroup of trials assessing percutaneous compared to endoscopic drainage.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

There is currently not sufficient evidence to support or refute routine pre-operative biliary drainage for patients with obstructive jaundice. Pre-operative biliary drainage may increase the rate of serious adverse events. So, the safety of routine pre-operative biliary drainage has not been established. Pre-operative biliary drainage should not be used in patients undergoing surgery for obstructive jaundice outside randomised clinical trials.

Ten years single center experience in percutaneous transhepatic decompression of biliary tree in patients with malignant obstructive jaundice

BACKGROUND

Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) is a method of biliary tree decompression, applied as palliative treatment in patients with malignant biliary tree critical stenosis/obstruction, but also as a potentially curative treatment in patients with non-malignant biliary tree stenosis. Novel instrumentation dedicated to PTBD has been designed in recent years, which makes it possible to perform more advanced procedures in patients with severe extensive malignant biliary tree stenosis/obstruction.

OBJECTIVES

The first primary goal of the study was to compare both the rate and types of short- and long-term complications in patients who had undergone PTBD between 2000 and 2006 with patients treated between 2007 and 2011. The second primary goal of the study was to work out an original algorithm of efficient management in patients undergoing PTBD. An additional goal was to assess the efficacy of PTBD and the overall survival of the patients.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

One-hundred twenty-eight consecutive PTBD procedures performed between 2000 and 2006 in patients with malignant biliary jaundice were analyzed retrospectively. Similarly, retrospective analysis of 73 consecutive procedures in patients with malignant biliary jaundice performed between 2007 and 2011 was carried out. Subsequently, the results of both subsets were compared to each other. The PTBD procedure was guided fluoroscopy each time. PTBD involved external biliary drainage and/or stenting of the strictured/occluded segments of extra- and intrahepatic biliary ducts.

RESULTS

The analysis demonstrated a statistically significant decrease in the overall incidence of short- and long-term complications in patients undergoing PTBD in 2007-2011 in comparison to the subset treated in 2000-2006. Among the early complications, a significant decrease in sub- and pericapsular contrasted bile leaks was shown. The evaluation of long-term complications demonstrated lower incidence of the falling out of the draining catheter. The implementation of novel instrumentation made it possible to perform biliary stenting in 63.7% cases of common bile duct (CBD) obstruction (vs. 37.5% in procedures carried out in 2000-2006). However, no statistically significant difference in survival between the two analyzed subsets was demonstrated.

CONCLUSIONS

The analysis of rate and types of complications made it possible to establish authors own algorithm of management in different types of biliary obstructions and strictures. The modification of procedure technique, pos-tinterventional management and usage of the new generation of low-profile instrumentation for percutaneous access dedicated to PTBD has resulted in a significant reduction of the complication rate in the last 5 years. Higher frequency of CBD stenting improves the quality of life in this subset of patients.

Serum bile acid: an alternative liver function marker in the obstructive jaundice patient

AIM

to confirm the role of bile acid value as single marker for liver function test as compared to the conventional liver function tests on obstructive jaundice patients.

METHODS

before and after study on severe obstructive jaundice patients was performed from December 2007 until January 2009. The liver function markers were measured before, 7th day and 14th day after bile duct decompression (BDD). Open Cholecystostomy as BDD was used as a model to observe the markers changes. Samples were collected by trained medical professionals and Automated clinical chemistry analyzer (ACA) TRX 7010 was used to measure the markers value. All continuous data were presented as mean (SD) and the variables were compared and analyzed by t-test and multiple measurements test using SPSS v.16 with a p-value of <0.05 considered to be statistically significant.

RESULTS

twenty one patients were included. All patients suffered bile acid accumulation and impairment of all conventional liver functions tests. After decompression, the average serum bile acid decreased significantly (p<0.05). Significant decrease after decompression happened to serum total bilirubin (p<0.05) and serum ALP (p<0.05). A trend towards improvement in coagulation function was evident by the shortening of PT and APTT. The albumin level increased slightly from 2.8 to 2.9 mg/dL while CHE activity was fixed at low level. A decrease in average activity of transaminase enzyme (AST (p<0.05) and ALT) was also observed.

CONCLUSION

the sBA level follow the pattern of changes of classic liver function markers. Serum bile acid could be considered to be used as alternative marker to evaluate liver function, which is simple and applicable.

[Obstructive jaundice by genodermatosis--case report]

BACKGROUND

Neurofibromatosis type I, or Recklinnghausen disease, is the most frequently occurring neurofibromatosis, in 1/3000-11,5000 of children born. This disease is a genodermatosis with 1/3000-1/5000 autosomal dominant transmission. Incriminated in the pathological appearance of the disease gene is located on chromosome 17, gene product, neurofibromina, is a protein involved in controlling cell differentiation and proliferation. Skin manifestations can be associated with the same papillary tumors and the internal organ. Treatment is surgery for larger tumors. Worse prognosis in malignant developpment, with the lower quality of life in the presence of complications, as in this case: mechanical obstructive jaundice.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

Patients aged 75 years, admitted for obstructive jaundice (progressive, pruritic), cutaneous papillomas (0.5-3 cm) on the trunk and several hyperpigmented brown spots (5-6 cm diameter). Cutaneous lesions (45 years old) have been previously diagnosed by histological examination.

RESULTS

We did surgery under general anesthesia: cholecystectomy, intraoperative choledocoscopy of bile duct. In the last portion of bile duct we found pedicled tumors. We did partial excision of tumors and coledoco-duodenoanastomosis in healthy tissue. Histological examination showed neurofibrodermatoza type I. Discharge 12 days postoperatively.

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative diagnosis suggested the possibility of mechanical jaundice by malignancy. Etiologic diagnosis of this rare form of obstructive jaundice could not be established before surgery, only by histological examination of the excised tumors.

Hemostasis using a fully covered self-expandable metal stent for marked bleeding from the bile duct following stent removal (with videos)

We describe a case of life-threatening hemorrhage from the bile duct following stent removal. Eventually, hemostasis was achieved by tamponade using a fully covered self-expandable metal stent.

To stent or not to stent: an evidence-based approach to palliative procedures at the end of life

Patients near the end of life often undergo invasive procedures, such as biliary stenting for obstructive jaundice, with the intent of relieving symptoms. We describe a case in which the medical team and a patient and family are considering a second palliative biliary stent despite the patient's limited life expectancy. We review available evidence to inform the decision, focusing on the specific question of whether the benefits of palliative biliary stents in patients with advanced cancer outweigh the risks. We then apply the evidence to the issue of how the primary and/or palliative care team and the interventionist communicate with patients and their families about the risks and benefits of palliative procedures. Review of the evidence found several prospective case series without control groups that measured patient-centered outcomes. Studies had high attrition rates, results for improvements in symptoms and quality of life were mixed, and rates of complications and short-term mortality were high. In conclusion, the limited evidence does not support that the benefits of palliative biliary stents in this population outweigh the risks. We propose that primary care teams consider and discuss the larger picture of the goals of care with patients and families when considering offering these procedures, as well as benefits and potential harms, and consider involving palliative care services early, before consultation with an interventionist.