Cholecystohepaticodochal fistula: the value of pre-operative recognition

Mirizzi Syndrome—Two Case Reports and a Short Review of the Literature

The authors have analyzed the problem of Mirizzi syndrome (MS) and found in the literature that it was reported in 0.3% to 3% of patients undergoing cholecystectomy. Anatomic disorder, especially the presence of cholecystocholedochal fistula, increases the risk of bile duct injury during cholecystectomy, albeit more often during laparoscopic than laparotomic cholecystectomy. A comparative study was performed regarding the incidence of MS in two groups of patients: 332 patients in Zrenjanin in the year 2009, and 531 patients in Belgrade in the year 2005, with an incidence of MS found in 2 patients in Zrenjanin (0.63%) and 4 patients in Belgrade (0.75%). The incidence rate was 6% in Zrenjanin and 7.5% in Belgrade, but there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups. All patients with MS were diagnosed during the operative period using operative cholangiography. During preoperative diagnosis, patients underwent laboratory ultrasound examination, and those who were suspected of having an anatomic disorder underwent operative cholangiography, although patients today more often undergo choledochoscopy then cholangiography. MS according to classification by Csendes was found in all 6 patients undergoing operation.

Mirizzi syndrome

Mirizzi syndrome is a complication of long standing cholelithiasis. In this, obstruction of the extrahepatic bile duct by stone/s in the Hartman's pouch or cystic duct (Mirrizi type I) may erode in to the bile duct forming cholecystobiliary fistula (Mirrizi type II). Altered biliary tract anatomy and the associated pathology make cholecystectomy, open or laparoscopic, a formidable undertaking. Awareness of this entity and its preoperative diagnosis is of paramount importance to avoid injury to the bile duct at surgery. Improper surgical procedures may lead to long-term stricture formation. The present article reviews the available literature on various aspect of this syndrome including its pathogenesis, diagnosis and recommended management guidelines.

MR imaging of the gallbladder: a pictorial essay

The gallbladder serves as the repository for bile produced in the liver. However, bile within the gallbladder may become supersaturated with cholesterol, leading to crystal precipitation and subsequent gallstone formation. The most common disorders of the gallbladder are related to gallstones and include symptomatic cholelithiasis, acute and chronic cholecystitis, and carcinoma of the gallbladder. Other conditions that can affect the gallbladder include biliary dyskinesia (functional), adenomyomatosis (hyperplastic), and postoperative changes or complications (iatrogenic). Ultrasonography (US) has been the traditional modality for evaluating gallbladder disease, primarily owing to its high sensitivity and specificity for both stone disease and gallbladder inflammation. US performed before and after ingestion of a fatty meal may also be useful for functional evaluation of the gallbladder. However, US is limited by patient body habitus, with degradation of image quality and anatomic detail in obese individuals. With the advent of faster and more efficient imaging techniques, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging has assumed an increasing role as an adjunct modality for gallbladder imaging, primarily in patients who are incompletely assessed with US. MR imaging allows simultaneous anatomic and physiologic assessment of the gallbladder and biliary tract in both initial evaluation of disease and examination of the postoperative patient. This assessment is accomplished chiefly through the use of MR imaging contrast agents excreted preferentially via the biliary system.

Mirizzi syndrome: history, present and future development

BACKGROUND

Mirizzi syndrome was reported in 0.3-3% of patients undergoing cholecystectomy. The distortion of anatomy and the presence of cholecystocholedochal fistula increase the risk of bile duct injury during cholecystectomy.

METHODS

A Medline search was undertaken to identify articles that were published from 1974 to 2004. Additional papers were identified by a manual search of the references from the key articles.

RESULTS

A preoperative diagnosis was made in 8-62.5% of cases. Open surgical treatment gave good short-term and long-term results. There was a lack of good data in laparoscopic treatment. Conversion to open surgery rates was high, and bile duct injury rate varied from 0 to 22.2%.

CONCLUSION

A high index of clinical suspicion is required to make a preoperative or intraoperative diagnosis, which leads to good surgical planning to treat the condition. Open surgery is the gold standard. Mirizzi syndrome should still be considered as a contraindication for laparoscopic surgery.

Elevated CA 19-9 Levels in a Patient with Mirizzi Syndrome: Case Report

CA 19-9 is a marker of malignancy of the pancreas and biliary tract. We report the case of a patient who had significantly elevated serum CA 19-9 levels and imaging studies suggestive of malignancy. On laparotomy, the patient was found to have Mirizzi syndrome, an uncommon cause of biliary obstruction from an impacted gallstone. This case illustrates that elevated serum CA 19-9 levels must be interpreted cautiously in cases of biliary obstruction.

Mirizzi syndrome: a diagnostic and operative challenge

INTRODUCTION

Mirizzi syndrome (MS) is an unusual complication of gallstone disease. The majority of cases are not identified pre-operatively, despite advances in imaging techniques.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Eighteen cases of MS were treated between January 1997 and April 2002. The clinical presentation, modes of investigation, surgical management and outcome are retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS

There were 13 female and 5 male patients, with a mean age of 60 years. Seven patients presented with the classical Charcot's triad. Ultrasonography (US) was the first imaging investigation in 13 patients and computerised tomography (CT) in the other five cases. Eleven patients had a successful endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography (ERCP) carried out. Diagnosis of MS was arrived at in seven patients following pre-operative imagings. Overall, 11 patients had Type 1 and seven patients had Type 2 MS. In the group with Type 1 MS, nine patients underwent open cholecystectomy, of whom six had concomitant common bile duct (CBD) exploration for stones and one patient with biliary stenosis had a hepaticojejunostomy bypass. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was attempted in two patients, with successful completion in one case. In the group with Type 2 MS, four fistulas were closed surgically, the other three had biliary bypass procedures.

CONCLUSION

Mirizzi syndrome is an unusual condition that poses diagnostic and operative challenges to the surgeon. With a judicious approach during dissection and early recognition of its presence, bile duct injury can be avoided. Good outcome can be achieved with an appropriate surgical procedure.

Management of Mirizzi syndrome: a new surgical approach

BACKGROUND

In a prospective study of a patient population of 1,340 with biliary calculus disease, that ran from January 1993 to December 1997, 34 patients (2.53%) were identified as having Mirizzi syndrome. Eight patients were found to have type I (A and B) and 26 patients were found to have type II Mirizzi syndrome. A history of recurrent biliary colic and jaundice was present in the majority of patients.

METHODS

Ultrasonography was helpful in five patients and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography was helpful in 17 patients in the diagnosis of this condition. Because the amount of gall bladder tissue used in choledochoplasty is not yet standardized, a new policy regarding choledochoplasty was adopted. In type IA, retrograde cholecystectomy with simple closure of cystic duct was carried out. In type IB, retrograde cholecystectomy and choledochoplasty with 5 mm cuff of the gall bladder was carried out. In type II lesions the procedure depended on the size of fistula. Patients with fistula sizes of less than one-third of the common bile duct diameter underwent choledochoplasty with 5 mm cuff of the gall bladder, and patients with fistula sizes between one-third and two-thirds of the diameter of the common bile duct underwent choledochoplasty with 10 mm cuff of the gall bladder. Patients with fistula sizes of more than two-thirds of the common bile duct diameter underwent Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy.

RESULTS

There was no operative mortality and the complication rate was 17.64%.

CONCLUSION

Although, out of 26 choledochoplasties, we encountered only one (3.84%) stump stone in a maximum follow-up period of 59 months, further long-term follow-up studies are required to prove the efficacy of the procedure.

The Mirizzi syndrome

The Mirizzi syndrome is an unusual presentation of gallstones which occurs when a gallstone becomes impacted in either Hartmann's pouch of the gallbladder or the cystic duct, causing obstruction of the common hepatic duct by extrinsic compression. The diagnosis of this syndrome is of importance because surgery in its presence is associated with an increased incidence of bile duct injury. The pathology, clinical presentation and management of this syndrome are discussed, and several illustrative case reports presented.

Mirizzi syndrome associated with liver atrophy. Diagnostic and management considerations

It is not often appreciated that the Mirizzi syndrome represents a spectrum of pathological lesions of the proximal extrahepatic biliary tree consequent on chronic gallbladder disease. A patient with this syndrome and associated liver atrophy is presented, emphasising the view that the syndrome has neither uniform appearance nor typical features and that a high index of suspicion and comprehensive investigations are required for diagnosis and optimal therapy.