Liver transplantation for a renal transplantation recipient with secondary sclerosing cholangitis by choledochoduodenal fistula

The experience of use of percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainages for early biliary complications after liver transplantation

This study aimed to describe our experience and discuss the results, controversies, and the use of percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) in patients with biliary complications after liver transplantation (LT). Between November 2009 and August 2020, 76 consecutive patients who underwent 77 LTs (44 deceased donor LTs and 33 living donor LTs [LDLT]) were enrolled retrospectively. Endoscopic therapy as initial approach and PTBD as rescue therapy were used for patients with biliary complications. There were 31 patients (31/76, 40.8%) with biliary complications, and two of them died (2/31, 6.5%). Clinical success rate of endoscopic therapy alone was 71.0% (22/31). The remaining nine patients received salvage PTBD and their clinical results were observed according to whether their intrahepatic bile ducts (IHBDs) was dilated (group A, n = 5) or not (group B, n = 4). In group A, the technical and long-term clinical success rates of PTBD were 100% and 20%, respectively. These five patients received PTBD ranging from 75 to 732 days after their LTs, and no procedure-related complications were encountered. In group B, the technical and long-term clinical success rates of PTBD were 50% and 25%, respectively. Three group B patients (75%) underwent PTBD within 30 days after LDLT and had lethal complications. One patient had graft laceration and survived after receiving timely re-transplantation. The other two patients died of sepsis due to PTBD-related bilioportal fistula or multiple liver abscesses. Our experience showed salvage PTBD played a limited role in biliary complications without dilated IHBDs within 1 month after LT.

Secondary sclerosing cholangitis from percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage in a patient with gallbladder cancer after surgery: A case report

Secondary sclerosing cholangitis (SSC) is a chronic cholestatic liver disease characterized by fibrosis and stricture of the bile ducts. SSC in association with multiple factors such as spontaneous choledochoduodenal fistula and metastatic gallbladder cancer has rarely been reported. However, to the best of our knowledge, reports of SSC after percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD), especially in cases with diffuse calcification of the bile duct walls, have not been reported. We report a case of SSC from PTBD in a patient with gallbladder cancer after surgery. The patient underwent external percutaneous biliary drainage for malignant bile duct obstruction after cholecystectomy. Repeated exchanges were performed at the first and the sixth month after PTBD using an internal and external drainage catheter. Two months after the third catheter exchange, findings of laboratory and imaging examinations were suggestive of SSC. The liver function tests of the patient were suggestive of cholestasis. Multidetector computed tomography showed diffuse calcification of the bile duct walls. Cholangiography showed intrahepatic biliary stenosis or dilatation.

Secondary Sclerosing Cholangitis: a Review of Recent Literature

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Secondary sclerosing cholangitis is an emerging entity. Yet, because of the low incidence and varying etiologies of this disease, the literature is not robust. There are mainly case reports and small studies evaluating the disease. Our aim in this review is to bring the reader up to date with recent literature on secondary sclerosing cholangitis including the disease presentation, course, prognosis, and treatment options.

RECENT FINDINGS

Numerous case reports have been published the last 5 years on secondary sclerosing cholangitis. We have divided them into infectious, drug-induced, ischemic, obstructive, and autoimmune etiologies. The bulk of the literature describes secondary sclerosing cholangitis in the critically ill patient. Secondary sclerosing cholangitis due to drugs or autoimmune causes seem to have the best prognosis. However, causes such as critical illness seem to have worse outcomes.

Choledochoduodenal fistula in Mainland China: a review of epidemiology, etiology, diagnosis and management

Purpose

Choledochoduodenal fistula (CDF) is an extremely rare condition even in the most populous nations. However, diagnostic tools are inadequate for the young surgeon to be made aware of such a rare condition before surgery. Hence, basic understanding of the epidemiology, etiology, and management for this unusual but discoverable condition are necessary and essential.

Methods

The exclusive case reports of CDF, which were published from 1983 to 2014 concerning mainland Chinese people, were performed to review the epidemiology, etiology, and management.

Results

A total of 728 cases were incorporated into this review among 48 papers. More than half of the CDF cases were female (416) with an average age of 57.3 years. CDF was usually caused by cholelithiasis (573 of 728). Epigastric pain (589 of 728) and cholangitis (395 of 728) were the most common symptoms of CDF. CDF was usually detected and confirmed by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) (475 of 728) in Mainland China. The fistulas larger than 1 cm (82 of 654) were recommended for surgical biliary reconstruction. Fistulas between 0.5 cm and 1.0 cm (467 of 654) which were followed frequently by cholangitis attacks also required surgery; the rest were recommended to have stone removal and/or the application of an effective biliary drainage. Fistulas less than 0.5 cm (105 of 654) were usually received conservative therapy.

Conclusion

CDF should be considered in differential diagnosis of recurrent epigastric pain and cholangitis. A possible ERCP should be arranged to investigate carefully. Depending on the size of fistula and clinical presentation, different programs for CDF are indicated, ranging from drug therapy to choledochojejunostomy.