Endoscopic stenting for selected cases of biliary fistula after hepatic hydatid surgery

Pleural migration of biliary stent 10 years following treatment of hepatic hydatic echinococcosis: A case report

INTRODUCTION

Echinococcosis, caused by larval stages of taeniid cestodes, primarily affects the liver and is commonly treated surgically. However, a complication post-treatment is biliary fistula, necessitating interventions like biliary stents. While stent complications are recognized, proximal migration leading to pneumonia is exceptionally rare. This case report details an unusual occurrence of biliary stent migration years after hepatic hydatid echinococcosis treatment.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 42-year-old patient underwent 2014 surgery for a large hydatid cyst, resulting in a biliary fistula. Endoscopic sphincterotomy and biliary stent placement led to a successful outcome. Lost to follow-up, the patient reappeared in 2022 with basithoracic pain, fever, and a thoracic CT scan revealing transdiaphragmatic stent migration causing basal pneumonitis. Antibiotic therapy and endoscopic stent removal ensued with an uncomplicated recovery.

CLINICAL DISCUSSION

This report emphasizes a rare complication that is proximal migration of a biliary stent 10 years post-initial placement for biliary fistula management. Despite the absence of typical risk factors. We managed a successful endoscopic retrieval. This highlights the importance of vigilance and follow-up for potential complications associated with biliary stent. Unusual presentations, like pneumonitis, underscore the need for awareness and a cautious approach.

CONCLUSION

The primary complication following surgical intervention for hepatic hydatid cysts is the development of an external biliary fistula, necessitating the use of biliary stents for treatment. Given the rarity of complications observed in our case, the removal of stents post-treatment for biliary fistula becomes crucial, underscoring the significance of vigilant follow-up care.

Reaching the Challenging Diagnosis of Complicated Liver Hydatid Disease: A Single Institution’s Experience from an Endemic Area

Background and Objectives: Hydatid disease (HD) remains a significant public health issue causing morbidity and mortality in many Mediterranean countries. Material and Methods: The present cohort study included 50 consecutive patients with liver hydatid disease who underwent surgery in a tertiary University Hospital. A total of 18 patients (36%) had a case of complicated HD, including simple communication of the cyst with the biliary tree (6 cases), rupture of the cyst into the biliary tree (6 cases), presence of a bronco-biliary fistula (2 cases), rupture of the cyst in the peritoneal cavity (2 cases), and rupture of the cyst and formation of a hepatic abscess (2 cases). Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) was pre-operatively performed on six patients. Results: The main clinical symptom presented was right upper quadrant pain in 16 patients (88%), which was associated with high fever (>39 °C) in 14 patients (78%). C-reactive protein (CRP) was the primary indicator of a complicated HD (p = 0.003); however, it was only elevated in 67% of cases. CRP was a more sensitive indicator of a rupture in the biliary tree cyst (p = 0.02). Computer tomography (CT) detected more cases (44%) of a complicated HD than ultrasonography (US) (25%); however, the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusions: For prevention and control of HD, a high suspicion of the disease leading to early referral to specialized centers, mainly in endemic areas, is required. Prior to surgical or percutaneous intervention, a combination of imaging and laboratory findings are essential in diagnosing a complicated case and avoiding unnecessary interventions.

A retrospective analysis of endoscopic treatment outcomes in patients with postoperative bile leakage

OBJECTIVE:

Bile leakage, while rare, can be a complication seen after cholecystectomy. It may also occur after hepatic or biliary surgical procedures. Etiology may be underlying pathology or surgical complication. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) can play major role in diagnosis and treatment of bile leakage. Present study was a retrospective analysis of outcomes of ERCP procedure in patients with bile leakage.

METHODS:

Patients who underwent ERCP for bile leakage after surgery between 2008 and 2012 were included in the study. Etiology, clinical and radiological characteristics, and endoscopic treatment outcomes were recorded and analyzed.

RESULTS:

Total of 31 patients (10 male, 21 female) were included in the study. ERCP was performed for bile leakage after cholecystectomy in 20 patients, after hydatid cyst operation in 10 patients, and after hepatic resection in 1 patient. Clinical signs and symptoms of bile leakage included abdominal pain, bile drainage from percutaneous drain, peritonitis, jaundice, and bilioma. Twelve (60%) patients were treated with endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) and nasobiliary drainage (NBD) catheter, 7 patients (35%) were treated with ES and biliary stent (BS), and 1 patient (5%) was treated with ES alone. Treatment efficiency was 100% in bile leakage cases after cholecystectomy. Ten (32%) cases of hydatid cyst surgery had subsequent cystobiliary fistula. Of these patients, 7 were treated with ES and NBD, 2 were treated with ES and BS, and 1 patient (8%) with ES alone. Treatment was successful in 90% of these cases.

CONCLUSION:

ERCP is an effective method to diagnose and treat bile leakage. Endoscopic treatment of postoperative bile leakage should be individualized based on etiological and other factors, such as accompanying fistula.

Role of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in the management of hepatic hydatid disease

Most cases of hepatic hydatid disease exhibit uncomplicated clinical course and management. However, the diagnosis and management of complicated hepatic hydatid disease is a special issue. One of the most common and serious complications of hepatic hydatid disease is the rupture of the cyst into intrahepatic bile ducts. The clinical appearance of intrabiliary rupture can range from asymptomatic to jaundice, cholecystitis, cholangitis, liver abscess, pancreatitis and septicemia. Current treatments for major ruptures can result in high morbidity and mortality rates. Furthermore, ruptures that cannot be diagnosed preoperatively can induce complications such as biliary fistulae, biloma, cavitary infection and obstructive jaundice. In the past, these complications were diagnosed and treated by surgical methods. Currently, complications in both the pre- and postoperative periods are diagnosed and treated by non-invasive or minimally invasive methods. In clinical practice, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is indicated for patients with preoperative frank intrabiliary rupture in which hydatid elements are clearly seen in the bile ducts, or for biliary adverse events after surgery, including persistent biliary fistulae and jaundice. However, controversy concerning routine preoperative ERCP and prophylactic endoscopic sphincterotomy in patients suspected of having minor cystobiliary communications still remains. In this article, the role of ERCP in the diagnosis and management of hepatic hydatid disease during the pre- and postoperative periods is reviewed.

Open surgery for hepatic hydatid disease

Hydatid disease is a zoonosis caused by the larvae of Echinococcus granulosus . Humans are an intermediate host and are usually infected by direct contact with dogs or indirectly by contaminated foods. Hydatid disease mainly involves the liver and lungs. The disease can be asymptomatic. Imaging techniques such as ultrasonography and computed tomography are used for diagnosis. The growth of hydatid cysts can lead to complications. Communication between bile duct and cysts is a common complication. The goal of treatment for hydatid disease is to eliminate the parasite with minimum morbidity and mortality. There are 3 treatment options: surgery, chemotherapy, and interventional procedures. Medical treatment has low cure and high recurrence rates. Percutaneous treatment can be performed in select cases. There are many surgical approaches for managing hydatid cysts, although there is no best surgical technique, and conservative and radical procedures are used. Conservative procedures are usually preferred in endemic areas and are easy to perform but are associated with high morbidity and recurrence rates. In these procedures, the parasite is sterilized using a scolicidal agent, and the cyst is evacuated. Radical procedures include hepatic resections and pericystectomy, which have high intraoperative risk and low recurrence rates. Radical procedures should be performed in hepatobiliary centers. The most common postoperative complications are biliary fistulas and cavity-related complications. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography can be used to diagnose and treat biliary system complications. Endoscopic sphincterotomy, biliary stenting, and nasobiliary tube drainage are effective for treating postoperative biliary fistulas.

Treatment of hepatic hydatid disease complications using endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography procedures

BACKGROUND

Liver hydatidosis may lead to serious morbidity due to biliary complications, the management for which endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) and biliary drainage are very efficient. We evaluated the effectiveness of endoscopic treatment for complications of hepatic hydatid disease.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) procedures performed between January 2000 and December 2009 and compared laboratory findings, localization of the lesions and ERCP procedures applied between patients with and without jaundice.

RESULTS

In all, 70 ERCP procedures were performed in 54 patients (24 men, 30 women). Of the 70 procedures, 24 were performed to treat jaundice. All patients with biliary fistulas and jaundice were managed with endoscopic procedures. The 70 ERCP procedures included sphincterotomy only (n = 40); sphincterotomy and stent placement (n = 7); stent placement only (n = 4); sphincterotomy and membrane extraction (n = 9); sphincterotomy, membrane extraction and pus drainage (n = 5); and sphincterotomy and pus drainage (n = 5). Laboratory results improved in 3-7 days, and bile leakage ceased in 2-21 days.

CONCLUSION

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is a safe and effective way to manage biliary complications of hepatic echinococcal disease. In most patients, ES is the most efficient treatment of postoperative external biliary fistulas, jaundice and accompanying cholangitis, as it enables clearing the bile ducts of hydatid remnants; ES should be performed since it accelerates the healing process by decreasing pressure in the choledochus.

Comparison of endoscopic therapeutic modalities for postoperative biliary fistula of liver hydatid cyst: a retrospective multicentric study

BACKGROUND

Hydatid disease most commonly affects the liver, and rupture into the bile ducts is a frequent complication occurring in 5% to 25% of patients. Biliary endoscopic procedures have become the treatment of choice for the management of biliary fistulae. Objective parameters for the endoscopic management of biliary fistulas are still necessary.

METHODS

In this multicentric retrospective study, a total of 109 patients who underwent surgery for a hydatid cyst localized to the liver and presented with persistent drainage of bile from a lodge drain after surgical intervention were included in this study. All patients were treated by an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to the therapeutic endoscopic procedure: group 1 (n: 70) included patients who underwent only endoscopic sphincterotomy; group 2 (n: 22) included patients who had a 10 F biliary stent inserted; and group 3 (n: 17) included patients who had a 7 F biliary stent inserted. Recorded data were reviewed and the groups were compared.

RESULTS

The mean daily fistula output was 247 mL (range: 100 to 600 mL) in group 1, 534 mL (range: 200 to 1000 mL) in group 2, and 372 mL (range: 120 to 780 mL) in group 3, respectively. There were significant differences between the sphincterotomy group and the stenting groups (P<0.001). The closure time of the external biliary fistula was 23.7 days (range: 6 to 60 d) in group 1, 12.6 days (range: 7 to 23 d) in group 2, and 20 days (range: 6 to 33 d) in group 3, respectively. When compared with the sphincterotomy group, the fistula closure time was shorter in group 2 than in group 1 (P<0.001). There were no differences in this respect between the groups 1 and 3 (P=0.214). Group 2 also had a shorter fistula closure time than group 3 (P<0.001). There was no mortality in any of the study groups. Mild bleeding was observed in 3 cases in group 1 and in 1 in group 3. CONCULUSIONS: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and related therapeutic procedures are safe and valuable in the postoperative management of external biliary fistulae in the hepatic hydatid disease. In high-output fistulae (>300 mL/d), indicating a major cystobiliary communication, stent placement may be preferred. The diameter of the stent should preferably be 10 F. This 10 F stent is superior to other endoscopic approaches in the treatment of biliary fistulas.