Risk of biliary surgery in patients with hyperbilirubinemia

Combined percutaneous-endoscopic stenting of malignant biliary obstruction: results from 106 consecutive procedures and identification of factors associated with adverse outcome

BACKGROUND

In patients in whom attempted endoscopic stenting of malignant biliary obstruction fails, combined percutaneous-endoscopic stenting and percutaneous stenting using expandable metallic endoprostheses offer alternative approaches to biliary drainage. Despite the popularity of the percutaneous route, there is no available evidence to support its superiority over combined stenting in this patient group. The objective of this study was to present the short- and long-term results of a large series of combined percutaneous-endoscopic stenting procedures and identify factors associated with adverse outcome.

METHODS

Data were retrospectively collected on patients undergoing combined percutaneous-endoscopic biliary stenting for malignant biliary obstruction between January 2002 and December 2006. Short- and long-term outcomes were recorded, and pre-procedure variables correlated with adverse outcome.

RESULTS

Combined biliary stenting was technically successful in 102 (96.2%) of 106 patients. Procedure-associated mortality rate was 0%. In-hospital morbidity and mortality rates were 24.5% and 16.7%, respectively, with the majority of deaths resulting from biliary sepsis. Median survival was 100 days, with a 13.7% stent occlusion rate. On multivariable analysis, baseline American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) grade, decreasing serum albumin and increasing leucocyte count were independently associated with in-hospital mortality following combined stenting.

CONCLUSION

Combined biliary stenting is associated with short- and long-term outcomes equal to those reported in recent series of percutaneous transhepatic stenting. Randomised control trials, including cost-effectiveness analyses, are required to further compare these techniques. Outcomes following combined stenting may be further improved by early recognition and treatment of sepsis and scrupulous management of co-morbid disease.

Fast-track management of patients undergoing proximal pancreatic resection

INTRODUCTION

To avoid the risk of complications of biliary drainage, a feasibility study was carried out to determine whether it might be possible to fast-track surgical treatment, with resection before biliary drainage, in jaundiced patients with proximal pancreatic/peri-ampullary malignancy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Over an 18-month period, based on their presenting bilirubin levels and other logistical factors, all jaundiced patients who might be suitable for fast-track management were identified. Data on complications and hospital stay were compared with those patients in whom a conventional pathway (with biliary drainage) was used during the same time period. Data were also compared with a group of patients from the preceding 6 months.

RESULTS

Nine patients were fast-tracked and 49 patients treated in the conventional pathway. Fast-track patients mean (SD) serum bilirubin level was 265 micromol/l (81.6) at the time of the operation compared to 43 micromol/l (51.3; P > or = 0.0001) in conventional patients. Mean (SD) of time from referral to operation, 14 days (9) versus 59 days (36.9), was significantly shorter in fast-track patients than conventional patients (P < or = 0.0001). Length of hospital stay mean (SD) at 17 (6) days versus 22 days (19.6; P = 0.2114), surgical complications and mortality in fast-track patients were similar to conventional patients. Prior to surgery, the 49 conventional patients underwent a total of 73 biliary drainage procedures resulting in seven major complications. Comparison with the group of patients from the previous 6 months indicated that the conventional group were not disadvantaged.

CONCLUSIONS

Fast-track management by resection without biliary drainage of selected patients with distal biliary strictures is safe and has the potential to reduce the waiting time to surgery, overall numbers of biliary drainage procedures and the complications thereof.

Phagocytosis and production of H2O2 by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with obstructive jaundice

BACKGROUND

The immune function is altered in jaundiced patients; here, the ability of their peripheral blood mononuclear cells to perform phagocytosis and to release H2O2 was analyzed.

METHODS

Cells from 53 patients before surgery for relief of cholestasis, from 38 patients 1 week and from 15 patients 2 weeks after surgery were separated and cultured for 1 h in the presence of phorbol myristate acetate. H2O2 release was evaluated colorimetrically and phagocytosis by the ingestion of Escherichia coli in vitro.

RESULTS

Before surgery for relief of cholestasis, the cells of the patients were unable to release H2O2, but, after surgery, an increasing percentage of patients had cells that were able to produce H2O2 (13% after 1 week; 33% after 2 weeks). This recovery did not correlate with bilirubinemia. When cultured for 1 week in the presence of normal or jaundiced plasma, regardless of collection time, cells of 12/12 patients released H2O2, but in lower levels if in the presence of jaundiced plasma. In contrast, H2O2 release by normal donor cells was enhanced in the presence of jaundiced plasma. Phagocytosis by cells of the patients was lower, but when present was associated with a significantly higher bactericidal activity.

CONCLUSION

These significant, but reversible alterations of monocyte function in jaundiced patients might contribute to their enhanced susceptibility to surgical complications.

THERAPEUTIC BILIARY ENDOSCOPY: EXPERIENCE AT A SERVICE HOSPITAL

Therapeutic Biliary Endoscopy (TBE) is becoming a popular mode of treatment for patients with obstructive jaundice. This paper highlights our early experience of TBE at Armed Forces Medical College and Command Hospital (SC), Pune with this mode of treatment. TBE was used as a primary therapeutic option in 46 patients with obstructive jaundice. The age of the patients ranged from 11 to 80 (mean and SD:45.5 ± 16) years and majority 29 (63%) were males. The cause of obstructive jaundice in these patients was choledocholithiasis (n=31), benign biliary stricture (n=8), post cholecystectomy recurrent stones (n=3), carcinoma of pancreas (n=3) and papillary stenosis (n-1). Endoscopic Sphincterotomy (ES) was technically successful in all the 46 patients and brought prompt symptomatic relief in 43 patients. Sixteen patients (34.8%) required additional drainage such as stenting or nasobiliary drain. In patients with choledocholithiasis, bile duct could be cleared of stones in 29 (93.5%) patients and in two surgical removal was required. Of the remaining patients, surgery was required in 4 (50%) patients with benign biliary structure, in 1 (33.3%) of those with malignant stricture and none of the patients presenting with papillary stenosis or recurrent bile duct stones after cholecystectomy. Complications were seen in only two patients (4.4%): one had mild acute pancreatitis and another had GI bleed, which did not require blood transfusion. Both the complications were self-limiting. No procedure related deaths were noted. Endoscopic therapy, thus, a simple, effective and safe method of treatment in patients with choledocholithiasis and selected patients with malignant biliary obstruction.

Preoperative endoscopic drainage for malignant obstructive jaundice

The role of preoperative endoscopic drainage for patients with malignant obstructive jaundice was evaluated in a randomized controlled trial. A total of 87 patients were assigned to either early elective surgery (44 patients) or endoscopic biliary drainage followed by exploration (43). Thirty-seven patients underwent successful stent insertion and 25 had effective biliary drainage. Complications related to endoscopy occurred in 12 patients. After endoscopic drainage significant reductions of hyperbilirubinaemia, indocyanine green retention and serum albumin concentration were observed. Patients with hilar lesions had a significantly higher incidence of cholangitis and failed endoscopic drainage after stent placement. The overall morbidity rate (18 patients versus 16) and mortality rate (six patients in each group) were similar in the two treatment arms irrespective of the level of biliary obstruction. Despite the improvement of liver function, routine application of endoscopic drainage had no demonstrable benefit. Endoscopic drainage is indicated only when early surgery is not feasible, especially for patients with distal obstruction.

Impact of transhiatal esophagectomy on cardiac and respiratory function

We studied the impact of transhiatal esophagectomy on the cardiac and respiratory function of 44 consecutive patients. Preoperatively, 31 patients had associated medical problems (22 with cardiac disease, 31 with pulmonary disease). Mean forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) was 2.1 liters, but it was less than 1.2 liters in six patients. Postoperatively, mechanical ventilation was given for a mean of 49 hours. Of the six patients with FEV1 less than 1.2 liters, five were ventilated for an average of 44 hours, and one was ventilated for 221 hours. Intraoperative hypotension, which averaged 8 minutes, was longer in patients with a history of cardiac disease (10 of 14 patients) and in those with a midesophageal tumor (9 of 14 patients). Atrial arrhythmias (14 patients) were more common in patients with a history of cardiac disease and were all successfully treated medically. Nine patients developed congestive heart failure, and they all recovered. Average hospital stay was 15 days. Transhiatal esophagectomy has a greater impact on pulmonary and cardiovascular physiology than previously believed, but the majority of complications can be treated successfully. Transhiatal esophagectomy can be performed safely in patients with poor respiratory function, who constitute about 10% of those who need esophageal resection.

Contribution of portal systemic shunt to Kupffer cell dysfunction in obstructive jaundice

Previous animal models of biliary tract obstruction have shown that hepatic phagocytic activity is impaired secondary to Kupffer cell dysfunction. Biliary tract obstruction leads to portal hypertension and an associated portal systemic shunt. Forty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats were studied to determine the contribution of portal systemic shunt to Kupffer cell dysfunction after 21 days of obstructive jaundice or sham operation. Liver uptake of radiolabeled Escherichia coli decreased from 76.1 +/- 1.4% (sham) to 63.1 +/- 6.1% in the common duct ligation (CDL) rats (P less than 0.05); lung uptake increased from 4.0 +/- 0.6% (sham) to 20.2 +/- 4.5 (CDL) (P less than 0.05). Portal systemic shunt, determined using radioactive microspheres, increased from 2.0 +/- 1.0% (sham) to 46.6 +/- 13.1% (CDL), P less than 0.05. Although a significant portal systemic shunt does exist in this 21-day model of obstructive jaundice, it does not appear to be the only mechanism underlying Kupffer cell dysfunction.

Choledochotomy for calculous disease in the elderly

To determine the risk of operations on the biliary tract in the elderly, we retrospectively examined 56 patients 80 years of age or older undergoing choledochotomy for calculous disease and compared their outcomes with those of a contemporary group of 257 patients undergoing similar surgery. Thirty of 56 elderly patients (54%) required urgent surgery for acute cholangitis, acute cholecystitis, or obstructive jaundice (serum bilirubin greater than 5 mg/dL), compared with 97 of 257 younger patients (38%) (p = 0.029). Mortality in elderly patients was significantly higher (5 of 56) than in younger (6 of 257) patients (p = 0.015). In three of the five patients who died, urgent surgery was performed for obstructive jaundice, reflecting the higher mortality experienced by jaundiced patients in the entire series (9.4%). Biliary cultures grew organisms in 25 of 27 elderly patients (93%). This is in contrast to findings of bactibilia in 62 of 118 patients (53%) under the age of 80 (p = 0.001). Similarly, preoperative blood cultures were positive more often in elderly (63%) than in younger patients (26%) (p = 0.007). Mean postoperative hospital recovery was longer in the elderly group (16.2 +/- 8.5 days) than in the younger group (12.2 +/- 9.3 days) (p = 0.002). In conclusion, elderly patients, particularly those with obstructive jaundice, are at higher risk for complicated biliary tract disease necessitating choledochotomy. They appear to be more susceptible to bactibilia and bacteremia, and require longer hospital recovery than younger patients.