Bile duct stone formation around a nylon suture after gastrectomy: a case report

Extraction Basket Entangled in Surgical Sutures in Common Bile Duct Forty-Five Years After Hepatobiliary Surgery: A Bizarre Adverse Event of Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is an important technique for treating biliary obstruction. A case report of a 75-year-old male with diagnosed choledocholithiasis and cholangitis was presented. He had a history of hepatic surgery 45 years ago, and during the ERCP, an unusual clinical scenario was encountered. Retained extraction basket during ERCP is a rare but known complication and there are no standard recommendations to manage it. To our knowledge, this is the first case report described in the literature with retention of an extraction basket in surgical sutures at ERCP and the longest period from surgery to stone formation in the biliary system. This case report aims to emphasize that in patients with a history of hepatobiliary surgery, postoperative material can cause complications during ERCP.

Association between history of cholecystectomy and risk of gastric cancer: a meta-analysis of epidemiological studies

PURPOSE

Evidence from previous studies on the association between cholecystectomy and risk of gastric cancer are still inconsistent. We aimed at conducting a meta-analysis of epidemiological studies to evaluate this association.

METHODS

Researchers searched three databases (PubMed, Embase and Web of Science) through January 2021 for eligible studies. Relative risks (RRs) and 95% CIs in each included studies were pooled by random-effects models. Patients and the public were not involved in our study.

RESULTS

Eight studies were identified. Four studies reported significantly positive association between history of cholecystectomy and risk of gastric cancer, and the remaining studies reported null association. The pooled RR of these eight studies showed that a history of cholecystectomy was associated with a 11% higher risk of gastric cancer (pooled RR=1.11, 95% CI: 1.03 to 1.20). Moderate heterogeneity across the studies was detected (p=0.117, I2=37.8%). The pooled RRs were 1.12 (95% CI: 1.01 to 1.24) for five cohort studies and 0.95 (95% CI: 0.66 to 1.38) for three case-control studies. Compared with the risk in Europe and the USA, the pooled RR was higher for two studies conducted in Asia. Six studies were assessed as high-quality studies with the pooled RR of 1.12 (95% CI: 1.02 to 1.23). The pooled results were robust by sensitivity analyses, and no indication of publication bias was detected.

CONCLUSION

This meta-analysis suggests that a history of cholecystectomy may be associated with an increased risk of gastric cancer.

Clip as Nidus for Choledocholithiasis after Cholecystectomy-Literature Review

Background and Objectives

Foreign material in the biliary tree may serve as a nidus for stone formation and would usually present as choledocholithiasis with jaundice or cholangitis. Overall it is a rare occurrence, but there are many anecdotal reports of ingested matter or surgical material such as suture or clips causing biliary stones. Especially interesting are the cases in which there is migration of a metallic clip used in laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Cholecystectomy is such a common operation that although the phenomenon is rare, it is important because it is preventable, and as such a review of the topic seems worthwhile.

Methods

The available literature was searched using the EMBASE and Ovid databases and reviewed. The various devices and sutures used to occlude the cystic duct in laparoscopic cholecystectomy are discussed with reference to their safety.

Results and Conclusion

We found that the harmonic scalpel is a reasonable alternative with minimal complications but is however limited by cost. Electrosurgical vessel-sealing, ultrasonic shears, absorbable sutures such as endoloops (PDS), and polymer clips as well absorbable magnesium-calcium-zinc alloy clip are discussed.

Effectiveness of a barbed suture in the repair of bile duct injury during laparoscopic cholecystectomy: Report of two cases

INTRODUCTION

Bile duct injury during laparoscopic cholecystectomy occurs in rare cases. We report two cases using barbed suture for repair in bile duct injury during laparoscopic cholecystectomies.

PRESENTATION OF CASES

The first patient was a 73-year-old woman who underwent elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy for cholecystolithiasis. When the gallbladder was dissected from the bed, bile spillage was observed and an injured small bile duct was detected. The bile duct could not be managed using a titanium clip. The second patient was an 83-year-old woman who underwent emergent laparoscopic cholecystectomy for gallbladder torsion. After the gallbladder was dissected from the bed, bile spillage was observed. In both cases, a running suture, of absorbable monofilament 3-0 barbed suture, was used to laparoscopically repair the injuries.

DISCUSSION

Laparoscopic repair of a bile duct injury is technically challenging, especially in the gallbladder bed where suturing is very difficult because of the tangential approach and the risk of additional liver laceration. Barbed sutures have the benefit of being knotless, thus, performing a running suture is not difficult, even in laparoscopic procedures. Further, absorbable and monofilament threads are generally better suited for biliary surgery, compared with non-absorbable and braided sutures, because of the potential association of the other types of materials with bile duct stone and stricture formation.

CONCLUSION

We believe that the V-Loc™ device is an effective and appropriate option for bile duct injuries that occur during laparoscopic cholecystectomies, particularly around the gallbladder bed, and it is especially useful for surgeons unfamiliar with intracorporeal knot tying.

Bile duct stone formation around a Prolene suture after cholangioenterostomy

The iatrogenic cause of bile duct stone formation is mainly due to suture materials, especially silk sutures. In recent years, Prolene and Vicryl sutures have been widely used in biliary surgery, and bile duct stone formation related to sutures are seemingly becoming rare, as there has only been one report of bile duct stone formation caused by Prolene sutures in the literature. In the last few years we have had two cases of Prolene suture-related bile duct stone formation within our unit. We therefore suggest that Vicryl sutures should be used as the first choice in biliary surgery, in order to prevent the formation of iatrogenic bile duct stones.

Acute Cholangitis following Intraductal Migration of Surgical Clips 10 Years after Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Background. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy represents the gold standard approach for treatment of symptomatic gallstones. Surgery-associated complications include bleeding, bile duct injury, and retained stones. Migration of surgical clips after cholecystectomy is a rare complication and may result in gallstone formation “clip cholelithiasis”. Case Report. We report a case of a 55-year-old female patient who presented with right upper quadrant pain and severe sepsis having undergone an uncomplicated laparoscopic cholecystectomy 10 years earlier. Computed tomography (CT) imaging revealed hyperdense material in the common bile duct (CBD) compatible with retained calculus. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) revealed appearances in keeping with a migrated surgical clip within the CBD. Balloon trawl successfully extracted this, alleviating the patient's jaundice and sepsis. Conclusion. Intraductal clip migration is a rarely encountered complication after laparoscopic cholecystectomy which may lead to choledocholithiasis. Appropriate management requires timely identification and ERCP.