Spasm and operative cholangiography

Effects of remifentanil on the sphincter of Oddi in a 3-year-old child: a case report

Opioids cause spasm of the sphincter of Oddi. Remifentanil is metabolized enzymatically throughout the body. Its context-sensitive half-time is 3 to 4minutes. The effect of remifentanil on the sphincter of Oddi is unknown, especially in children. We recently encountered a patient in whom the administration of remifentanil caused spasm of the sphincter of Oddi, which resolved rapidly after discontinuation of remifentanil. A 3-year-old girl weighing 11.3kg was scheduled to undergo common bile duct excision with ductoplasty. Her diagnosis was congenital biliary dilatation. In the operating room, after achieving the initial induction through sevoflurane (5%) and intravenous rocuronium (10mg), she was intubated and administered a continuous paravertebral block by levobupivacaine (25mg/10mL +2.5mg/h). General anesthesia was maintained with sevoflurane (2%), remifentanil (0.5 μg kg(-1) min(-1)), and oxygen (fractional inspired oxygen tension, 0.33). The first intraoperative cholangiogram obtained via the cystic duct tube showed obstruction at the terminal end of the common bile duct. We injected scopolamine butylbromide (5mg, intravenous) to relax the sphincter of Oddi. However, the next cholangiogram obtained 3minutes later still showed an obstruction. We speculated that the obstruction may have been caused by remifentanil-induced spasm of the sphincter of Oddi. Therefore, we stopped administering remifentanil; 2minutes later, we achieved satisfactory passage of the contrast material to the duodenum. The predicted plasma concentrations of remifentanil at the time of stopping its administration and at the time of disobliteration were 6.38and 2.55ng/mL, respectively. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful. In patients who have spasms of the sphincter of Oddi during the administration of remifentanil, the resultant obstruction can be treated effectively by reducing the infusion rate of remifentanil.

Effects of thienorphine on contraction of the guinea pig sphincter of Oddi, choledochus and gall bladder

Opioid analgesics are widely believed to cause spasm of the bile duct sphincter and so impede bile flow. Thienorphine is a partial opioid agonist that is a good candidate for the treatment of opioid dependence; however, to date, no studies have reported the effects of thienorphine on the function of the biliary tract. This study examined the in vivo effects of thienorphine on the guinea pig isolated sphincter of Oddi, choledochus and gall bladder and on bile flow. The area under the curve (AUC) of isolated sphincter of Oddi was not influenced by thienorphine or buprenorphine, whereas morphine increased the AUC of the isolated sphincter of Oddi in a concentration-dependent manner. Thienorphine and buprenorphine concentration-dependently decreased the AUC of isolated choledochus, while morphine increased the AUC of isolated choledochus. Thienorphine had no effect on the contractile amplitude or basal tension of isolated gall bladder muscle strips. In contrast, buprenorphine and morphine increased the contractile basal tension of isolated gall bladder muscle strips in a concentration-dependent manner. Thienorphine (0.01-1.0mg/kg) had no significant inhibitory effect on bile flow. However, morphine (1.0-10mg/kg) and buprenorphine (1.0mg/kg) significantly inhibited bile flow. The maximum inhibition of bile flow by buprenorphine was 63.9±12.9% and by morphine was 74.1±11.3%. In summary, thienorphine has little influence on the guinea pig isolated sphincter of Oddi, choledochus and gall bladder or on bile flow, which may result in a lack of adverse biliary colic effects.

Anaesthetic considerations for laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Minimally invasive surgical procedures aim to minimize the trauma of the interventional process but still achieve a satisfactory therapeutic result. Tissue trauma is significantly less than that with conventional open procedures, offering the advantages of reduced post-operative pain, shorter hospital stay, more rapid return to normal activities and significant cost savings. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is now a routinely performed procedure and has replaced conventional open cholecystectomy as the procedure of choice for symptomatic cholelithiasis. Public expectation and developments in instrumentation have fuelled this change. The physiological effects of intraperitoneal carbon dioxide insufflation combined with variations in patient positioning can have a major impact on cardiorespiratory function, particularly in elderly patients with co-morbidities. Intra-operative complications may include traumatic injuries associated with blind trocar insertion, gas embolism, pneumothorax and surgical emphysema associated with extraperitoneal insufflation. Appropriate monitoring and a high index of suspicion can result in early diagnosis of, and treatment of, complications. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy has proven to be a major advance in the treatment of patients with symptomatic gallbladder disease.

Cholecystokinin and morphine pharmacological intervention during 99mTc-HIDA cholescintigraphy: a rational approach

Pharmacological intervention with either cholecystokinin-8 (CCK-8) or morphine during 99mTc- hepatoiminodiacetic acid (HIDA) cholescintigraphy is required primarily for the assessment of the diseases affecting the gallbladder, the common bile duct, or the sphincter of Oddi. For imaging, the patient should be prepared by an overnight fast, or with 4 hours of minimum fast. Pre-emptying with CCK-8 is probably undesirable and should either be avoided or one should wait for at least 4 hours after CCK-8 to begin the 99mTc-HIDA study to achieve higher specificity of the test for acute cholecystitis. When he gallbladder is not observed by 60 mins in a clinical setting of acute cholecystitis, a dose of 0.04 mg/kg of morphine is administered intravenously and imaging continued for an additional 30 mins. Nonvisualization of the gallbladder by 90 mins with morphine in an appropriate clinical setting is diagnostic for acute cholecystitis. When the gallbladder is not observed by 60 min but is seen with morphine administered after 60 mins, a positive diagnosis of abnormal gallbladder function can be made. When the gallbladder is observed in a clinical setting of biliary pain or chronic calculous or acalculous cholecystitis, CCK-8 at a dose rate of 3.3 ng/kg/min is infused intravenously for 3 mins (10 ng/kg/3 min) for the measurement of the ejection fraction. An ejection fraction value of less than 35% is indicative of calculous or acalculous chronic cholecystitis. The gallbladder emptying is directly related to the total number of cholecystokinin receptors in the smooth muscle. The ejection fraction can be controlled to any desired level simply by controlling the dose rate or the duration of infusion of CCK-8. Morphine and other opiate metabolites circulate for many hours in blood and act on the sphincter of Oddi and decrease the gallbladder ejection fraction. Careful drug history, especially that of opiates, is very critical in all subjects with a low ejection fraction before assigning an abnormality to the gallbladder motor function.

Effects of morphine on the human sphincter of Oddi

The effects of morphine on intraluminal pressures recorded from the sphincter of Oddi (SO) at endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in 19 patients who were without evidence of biliary or pancreatic disease were studied. Morphine was given in four successive doses of 2.5, 2.5, 5, and 10 micrograms/kg iv at five minute intervals. Morphine in subanalgesic doses increased the frequency of SO phasic pressure waves to a maximum of 10-12/min, caused the phasic waves to occur simultaneously along the sphincter segment, increased phasic wave amplitude from 72 (26) (SE) to 136 (31) mmHg, and increased SO basal pressure from 10 (1) to 29 (9) mmHg (p less than 0.05). The effects of morphine on the SO are mediated by more than one opioid receptor type, as naloxone competitively antagonised the increase in phasic wave frequency induced by morphine, but did not affect the increase in SO basal pressure elicited by morphine. When given after naloxone, morphine decreased phasic wave amplitude, an inhibitory effect that is normally masked by morphine's dominant naloxone sensitive excitatory effect. Mu receptors do not appear to be involved in control of spontaneous SO motor function, as naloxone alone did not affect SO motor activity. The excitatory effects of morphine on the SO are not mediated by cholinergic nerves, as they were not blocked by atropine. Cholinergic nerves, however, may have a role in regulating spontaneous SO motor function because atropine alone depressed phasic wave activity and basal pressure. Although morphine does cause 'spasm' of the human SO, its effects are more complex than is commonly believed.

Effect of analgesic drugs on the electromyographic activity of the gastrointestinal tract and sphincter of Oddi and on biliary pressure

Continuous biliary pressure and electromyographic activity of the sphincter of Oddi and gastrointestinal tract were recorded in conscious opossums following administration of analgesic drugs. Morphine, meperidine, and pentazocin increased significantly the duration of the migrating motor complex (MMC) cycle. Periods of 1-2 minutes of intense burst of spike potentials were seen in the sphincter of Oddi and duodenum following administration of morphine (8 experiments), meperidine (6 experiments), and pentazocin (3 experiments). The biliary pressure in the control studies was similar to that following administration of all analgesics in the animals with gallbladder and following instillation of tramadol, metamizol, and acetylsalicylic acid in animals with no gallbladder. However, the biliary pressure was significantly higher following administration of morphine, meperidine, and pentazocin in the animals with no gallbladder. It is concluded from this study that morphine, meperidine, and pentazocin may cause important disturbances in the motility of the sphincter of Oddi and gastrointestinal tract. These myoelectric disturbances may cause an increase in the biliary pressure in animals that have been subjected to cholecystectomy, but not in animals with intact gallbladder. The gallbladder may accommodate the bile produced by the liver during periods of sphincter of Oddi dysfunction and thus impede an increase in the biliary pressure.

[Iatrogenic biliovenous fistula]

A 44-year-old man had suffered from cholecystolithiasis with recurrent jaundice for many years, and a cholecystectomy was carried out. Because of a radiomanometric obstruction of the common bile duct, the intra- and extrahepatic bile ducts were also scanned. One day after the operation the jaundice increased (serum bilirubin max. 742 mumol/l). The cause of the icterus was found in a small biliovenous fistula, and diverse surgical and angiological attempts to resect or close the fistula failed. In the third postoperative week renal failure developed, followed by a disturbance of coagulation and insufficient respiration and circulation. The man died 33 days after the operation. Autopsy showed massive jaundice, gastrointestinal bleeding, and cholemic nephrosis. Extensive preparation of liver resulted in a 20 X 8 X 15 mm fistula in the right lobe 9 cm proximal to the choledochotomy and anastomosing a thin branch of the right hepatic duct and a small hepatic vein. Long-time bilhemia resulted from this fistula and entailed renal failure and finally death. The fistula obviously resulted from scanning the bile ducts when the catheter was accidentally deviated into a biliary duct that was too small.

Narcotics and spasm of the sphincter of Oddi. A retrospective study of operative cholangiograms

The operative cholangiograms of 112 patients undergoing elective cholecystectomy were reviewed independently and retrospectively by two radiologists who were not aware of the anaesthetic technique used. Fifty four patients who received opioid drugs either pre- and/or intra-operatively comprised one study group whilst 58 patients who received no opioids comprised the other. Spasm of the sphincter of Oddi was observed in two patients in the opioid group and in one patient in the non-opioid group. The use of opioid drugs as part of the anaesthetic management for cholecystectomy did not appear to interfere with the radiological interpretation of operative cholangiography nor to increase the low incidence of spasm of the sphincter of Oddi.

Glucagon as a hypotonic agent in cholangiography

The effects of Glucagon on 35 cholangiographic studies was examined. Relief of spasm at the choledochoduodenal sphincter resulted in consistently improved demonstration of this area. Diminished spasm-induced pain was also recorded. The use of intravenous Glucagon is recommended for cholangiographic studies where there is total biliary obstruction, or where there is unsatisfactory demonstration of the choledocho-duodenal area.

Cholecystectomy and a simple technique of operative cholangiography

A simple, easily reproducible technique of operative cholangiography is described. The technique has three advantages: (a) there is no need to divide or ligate the cystic duct; (b) it demonstrates the cystic duct anatomy clearly and is particularly useful in demonstrating stones in that duct thus eliminating the hazard of the retained stone in the cystic duct stump; (c) it is possible to eliminate the problem of false positives due to air bubbles. A consecutive series of 442 cholecystectomy patients is reviewed. The overall operative mortality was 1.6 per cent; no death could be attributed to operative cholangiography. Thirty-five of 324 patients (10.8 per cent) with gallstones and no history of jaundice were shown to have unexpected abnormalities in the common bile duct.

Sphincteroplasty and choledochoduodenostomy for benign biliary obstructions

Both sphincteroplasty and choledochoduodenostomy are valuable for choledocholithiasis, stenosis of the terminal bile duct, and occasional cases of pancreatitis. Selection of patients, technical details, and advantages and limitations of both operative procedures are presented. In a personal series of 600 benign biliary operations 73 patients had a sphincteroplasty or choledochoduodenostomy. Sixty of these had a sphincteroplasty without operative mortality, serious complication, or recurrence of biliary problems although 5 still have pain. A positive morphine-prostigmine test was a prime indication for surgery in these 5 patients. The evocative tests are now negative. Thirteen patients had a choledochonduodenostomy without mortality or significant complication. Twelve are symptom free but one has a "sump syndrome." Sphincteroplasty has been preferred because it gives dependent drainage, direct inspection of the ampullary area, and facilitates removal of impacted stones and debris. It is not always applicable and choledochoduodenostomy has been chosen in elderly poor risk patients or in those with pancreatic inflammation or periampullary duodenal diverticula. Both operations have specific advantages and limitations such that the surgeon should not use one to the exclusion of the other.