When abdominal pain knocks the door: an unusual presentation of chronic lymphocytic leukemia

A 67-year-old man presented non-specific abdominal pain. Polypoid mass at appendiceal orifice in the cecum was found on endoscopic investigation without appendicitis sign. Histopathology elucidated underlying mucosal infiltration that was chronic lymphocytic leukemia. This is an isolated and unusual gastrointestinal involvement of hematologic disorder in an older patient.

Liver Biopsy Results in Potential Donor Evaluation in Living Related Liver Transplant

OBJECTIVES

The number of living-donor liver transplants has been increasing due to the growing discrepancy between the number of patients on wait lists for liver transplant and the availability of deceased donations. Evaluations of potential liver donors should ensure the safety of the surgical procedure for both the donor and recipient. Liver biopsy is the criterion standard for selecting optimal donors. In this study, we evaluated the importance of preoperative liver biopsy in selecting donor candidates.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We evaluated the data of 612 living-related liver donor candidates who received liver biopsies between January 2001 and June 2017 at our center.

RESULTS

In the 612 liver donor candidates (328 male, 284 female; age range, 18-69 years), 416 liver biopsies (68%) were reported as normal and 196 liver biopsies (32%) had pathologic findings. Of 196 donors with pathologic findings, 86 (44%) had fatty changes and 24 (12%) had portal inflammation.

CONCLUSIONS

The high rate of pathologic findings in liver biopsy of healthy-appearing donor candidates indicated the importance of liver biopsy in the preoperative evaluation of donors.

Severe hepatitis with prolonged cholestasis and bile duct injury due the long-term use of ornidazole

Nitroimidazole derivatives are commonly used in the treatment of protozoal and anaerobic infections, and reports of their hepatotoxicity are rare. We report a case of severe hepatitis due to the long-term (8 weeks) use of ornidazole. A 27-year-old woman presented for evaluation of elevated serum transaminase and total bilirubin levels. Liver biopsy revealed portal inflammation, hepatocellular and canalicular cholestasis, porto-portal and portocentral bridging fibrosis, and a tendency to form nodules. No aetiological factors associated with chronic liver disease were identified. The abdominal ultrasonographic findings were compatible with chronic liver disease. We therefore made the diagnosis of severe hepatitis resulting from the long-term use of ornidazole. We conclude that nitroimidazole derivatives may lead to serious liver damage, especially in female patients.

Gastric tissue oxidative changes in portal hypertension and cirrhosis

Gastric mucosal lesions are very common in portal hypertension and cirrhosis. The aim of this study was to assess for oxidative gastric tissue damage in cirrhosis and evaluate relations with portal hypertension and cirrhosis parameters. The study included 30 patients with cirrhosis and 30 controls. Each patient's history, physical examination, and laboratory findings were recorded, and multiple biopsies of the gastric antrum were obtained at endoscopy. A set of antral biopsies was also collected from each control subject. Each tissue specimen was analyzed for levels of glutathione peroxidase (GPX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) activity and level of malondialdehyde (MDA). Patients' gastric GPX, SOD, and CAT levels were significantly lower, and MDA levels were higher, than in the control group. The GPX activity level in the specimens was moderately negatively correlated with portal vein diameter (P<0.05, r=-0.45) and spleen length (P<0.05, r=-0.45). In this study gastric tissue oxidative markers showed that antral oxidative factors worsen in cirrhosis. Oxidative stress may not be a clinical condition but it obviously shows gastric tissue damage and may explain many patients' gastric lesions and hemorrhage.

Protective effects of Gingko biloba on thioacetamide-induced fulminant hepatic failure in rats

Gingko biloba (GB) has antioxidant and platelet-activating factor (PAF) antagonistic effects. We investigated the protective effects of GB on thioacetamide (TAA)-induced fulminant hepatic failure in rats. Fulminant hepatic failure was induced in treatment groups by three intraperitoneal (ip) injections of TAA (350 mg/kg) at 24-hour intervals. Treatments with GB (100 mg/kg per day, orally) and N-acetylcysteine (20 mg/kg twice daily, sc) were initiated 48 hours prior to TAA administration. The liver was removed for histopathological examinations. Serum and liver thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance (TBARS) levels were measured for assessment of oxidative stress. Liver necrosis and inflammation scores and serum and liver TBARS levels were significantly higher in the TAA group compared to the control group (P < 0.001, < 0.001, 0.001, < 0.001, respectively). Liver necrosis and inflammation scores and liver TBARS levels were significantly lower in the GB group compared to the TAA group (P < 0.001, < 0.001 and 0.01, respectively). GB ameliorated hepatic damage in TAA-induced fulminant hepatic failure. This may be due to the free radical-scavenging effects of GB.

Role of matrix metalloproteinase-7 in colorectal adenomas

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) degregade and remodel the extracellular matrix. They are known to be overexpressed as normal mucosa progresses to adenomas and carcinomas. In our prospective study we measured the overexpression of MMP-7 immunohistochemically in various types of colonic adenomas. Although MMP-7 has already been shown to be overexpressed in various types of colonic adenomas, tubular versus villous adenomas had not been further seperated to date. Seventy-six patients had either normal mucosa (n=15) or tubular (n=32), tubulovillous (n=16), or villous (n=13) colonic adenoma. MMP-7 expression was classified into three categories, as negative, weakly stained, or strongly stained, depending on the percentage of cells stained. Each adenoma was graded according to the percentage of strongly stained areas in the adenoma as G0, G1, G2, or G3. Sixty-nine percent of villous adenomas showed grade 3 staining of MMP-7, versus none of the tubular adenomas. G0 and G1 staining was not detected in the villous adenomas. The results of the study show that the degrees of overexpression of the three subtypes of colonic adenomas were statistically significantly different. In conclusion, MMP-7 overexpression is thought to be an early event in the adenoma-carcinoma pathway.

The relationship of heart rate variability with severity and prognosis of cirrhosis

Many studies have demonstrated that cirrhosis is frequently associated with autonomic dysfunction. The aim of this study was to test autonomic dysfunction in cirrhotic patients by analyzing heart rate variability (HRV), to determine whether or not the degree of autonomic dysfunction is correlated with the severity of disease, and, also, to compare the changes of HRV between survivor and nonsurvivor groups after 2-year follow-up periods. HRV was analyzed using 24-hr ECG recording in 30 cirrhotic patients and 28 normal controls. The changes in HRV parameters including mean normal-to-normal (N-N) interbeat intervals (mean NN), standard deviation of all N-N intervals (SDNN), standard deviation of the average of N-N intervals for each 5-min period over 24 hr (SDANN), root mean square succesive differences (r-MSSD; msec), and percentage of adjacent N-N intervals that are >50 msec apart (pNN50), all as time domain parameters, were evaluated. The cirrhotic patients were also evaluated according to Child-Pugh classification scores as markers of the disease severity. The time-domain measures of HRV in cirrhotic patients were significantly reduced compared with those in the control group (for all parameters; P < 0.001). The severity of disease was associated with reduced HRV measures (for all parameters; P < 0.001). After the 2-year follow-up periods, HRV measurements in cirrhotic patients were significantly much lower in nonsurvivors than in survivors (P < 0.001 for all). We conclude that increasing severity of cirrhosis is associated with a reduction in HRV. This finding may be an indicator of poor prognosis and mortality for cirrhosis.

The effects of Gingko biloba, vitamin E and melatonin on bacterial translocation in thioacetamide-induced fulminant hepatic failure in rats

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

Bacterial translocation (BT) has been implicated in the development of infectious complications in many serious clinical conditions such as fulminant hepatic failure (FHF). We aimed to investigate the effects of Gingko biloba (GB), vitamin E (Vit E) and melatonin on intestinal oxidative damage and BT in thioacetamide (TAA)-induced FHF in rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 42 rats were divided into five groups. Group 1 (n = 8) was the control group. Group 2 (n = 10) was the TAA group, in which rats received 350 mg/kg TAA daily by the intraperitoneal (ip) route for 3 days. Oral 100 mg/kg GB per day was administered to group 3 (n = 8), oral 200 mg/kg Vit E per day to group 4 (n = 8) and ip 3 mg/kg melatonin per day to group 5 (n = 8) 48 h prior to the first TAA injection and was continued for 5 consecutive days.

RESULTS

When compared with the control group, serious hepatic and intestinal oxidative damage, increased Escherichia coli counts in ileal aspirates and high BT frequencies were observed in the TAA group (all p < 0.0001). Only GB treatment attenuated hepatic oxidative damage (p < 0.0001). There was no difference in intestinal oxidative damage, E. coli counts in ileal aspirates and BT frequency between TAA and the other antioxidant treatment groups (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that intestinal oxidative damage plays a major role in the development of BT by disrupting the barrier function of intestinal mucosa.

QT interval analysis in patients with acute biliary pancreatitis

BACKGROUND

It has been previously proposed that electrocardiographic abnormalities may be associated with acute pancreatitis. However, there is a lack of data on the QT interval and dispersion value in patients with acute pancreatitis, and no data are also available concerning QT interval and QT dispersion in acute biliary pancreatitis (ABP).

AIMS

: We aimed to investigate the QT parameters in patients with ABP, to compare them with those of healthy controls, and to analyze the relationship between QT parameters and Ranson score.

METHODS

The present study included 32 patients with acute biliary pancreatitis and 35 healthy controls. The severity of the pancreatitis was determined by Atlanta criteria: fewer than 3 Ranson criteria or fewer than 8 APACHE II (the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation) points indicated the mild disease (group 1); 3 or more Ranson criteria or 8 or more APACHE II points or organ failure or systemic complications or local complications indicated the severe disease (group 2). On admission, all patients underwent a standard 12-lead electrocardiogram, and corrected maximum QTc interval (QTcmax), corrected minimum QT interval (QTcmin), and corrected QTc dispersion (QTcd) values of the subjects were measured according to the Bazett formula in this study.

RESULTS

QTcmax and QTcd were significantly longer in patients with ABP than in healthy controls (442 +/- 38 milliseconds versus 413 +/- 34 milliseconds, P < 0.05; and 67 +/- 21 milliseconds versus 42 +/- 18 milliseconds, P < 0.001, respectively). Similarly, QTcmax and QTcd were significantly longer in group 2 than in group 1 (440 +/- 38 milliseconds versus 450 +/- 34 milliseconds, P < 0.01; and 66 +/- 9 milliseconds versus 71 +/- 11 milliseconds, P < 0.01, respectively). Correlation analysis showed that there is a significant positive relationship between Ranson scores of patients and QTcmax and QTcd (P < 0.01 and P < 0.001, respectively).

CONCLUSION

The effect of acute biliary pancreatitis on QT intervals and dispersion appears to be dependent not only on the disease but also on its severity, and these parameters may give additional prognostic information in ABP patients, even in the initial evaluation.

Brain natriuretic peptide and severity of disease in non-alcoholic cirrhotic patients

BACKGROUND

Cirrhotic patients have a hyperdynamic systemic circulation. They have insidious cardiac problems besides well-known complications. Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) relaxes vascular smooth muscle and has a portal hypotensive action. The relations between BNP levels and severity of disease, cardiac dysfunction and esophageal varices were studied in non-alcoholic cirrhotic patients.

METHODS

Fifty-two non-alcoholic cirrhotic patients were evaluated for decompensation component of cirrhosis. The BNP concentration of echocardiographically examined patients was determined.

RESULTS

The BNP levels were significantly higher in ascites, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and hepatic encephalopathy history group (P = 0.033, P < 0.001, P = 0.014, respectively), but no significant difference were observed for presence of esophageal varices and bleeding history (P = 0.267, P = 0.429). A significant correlation was observed between BNP concentration and Child score (r = 0.427, P = 0.012), interventricular septal thickness (r = 0.497, P < 0.001) and left ventricular posterior wall thickness (r = 0.526, P < 0.001). According to Child-Pugh classification there were no significant difference between groups for echocardiographic measurements and blood pressure (P > 0.05), but plasma BNP levels were significantly higher in Child class B and C patients compared with class A patients (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Increased levels of BNP are more likely related to the severity of disease in non-alcoholic cirrhotic patients. The advanced cirrhosis is associated with more advanced cardiac dysfunction and BNP has prognostic value in progression of cirrhosis.

Association of peripapillary fistula with common bile duct stones and cholangitis

BACKGROUND

Peripapillary choledochoduodenal fistula (PCDF) is occasionally detected during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Cholelithiasis and biliary bougienage are two suspected causes of PCDF.

METHODS

The medical records for 841 patients who underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography between 1993 and 2002 were reviewed for evaluation of PCDF.

RESULTS

A total of 327 patients had common bile duct stones, and 16 of these had a PCDF at the papilla of Vater. None of the 16 patients had a history of pancreatitis, duodenal ulcer, or had undergone endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography previously. Seven of the 16 had not undergone biliary surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

This study indicates that PCDF is a relatively common complication of common bile duct stones and cholangitis. According to the present results, PCDF is more frequently associated with common bile duct stones than with biliary surgery and bougienage.

Common bile duct diameters after endoscopic sphincterotomy in patients with common bile duct stones: ultrasonographic evaluation

BACKGROUND

One of the most reliable, frequently used imaging techniques in cholestasis is ultrasonography (US) for the diagnosis of common bile duct (CBD) stones.

METHODS

In this study, changes in diameters of CBD were determined ultrasonographically before and after endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) in 46 patients with stone-induced dilated CBD.

RESULTS

There was a significant decrease in CBD diameter measured 1 week after ES and extraction of stone (p < 0.001). In 87% of cases, the difference was more significantly pronounced during the first 24 h of ES. The mean CBD diameters on US were 13.70 +/- 3.00 mm (10-21 mm) before and 9.13 +/- 2.90 mm (4.2-18 mm) 24 h after endoscopic treatment (p < 0.001). After ES, six patients (13%) with inadequate decreases in CBD diameters were found to have residual stones.

CONCLUSION

US can show residual stones in the CBD with the same efficacy as endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.

Acute pancreatitis: an obscure complication of organophosphate intoxication

Acute pancreatitis secondary to organophosphate intoxication is a rare and generally well-course condition, but it is important to be aware of this complication for appropriate clinical management. There are a few reports about this subject in the literature, but it is believed that there are more cases than are reported for this condition. Because symptoms of toxicity can mask this severe complication, we report two cases of acute pancreatitis due to organophosphate intoxication for alerting this condition.

Complement and immunoglobulin levels in serum and ascitic fluid of patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, malignant ascites, and tuberculous peritonitis

BACKGROUND

We determined complement and immunoglobulin levels in ascitic fluid and serum of 47 patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, malignant ascites, or tuberculous ascites.

METHODS

Paracentesis was done to confirm the underlying cause of ascites. Biochemical, hematologic, and microbiologic investigations were also done.

RESULTS

The highest serum and ascitic fluid C3 and C4 levels and ascitic fluid IgM, IgA, and IgG levels were found in patients with tuberculosis. Ascitic fluid C3 level was found to be higher in the tuberculous group than in the patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis or malignant ascites. Ascitic fluid C4 levels were higher in patients with tuberculosis than in those with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.

CONCLUSION

We believe that further studies of the in vivo kinetics of immunoglobulins and complement in ascitic fluid of various causes are necessary for a better understanding of the host defense mechanisms of these fluids.

Gallbladder contractility in patients with cirrhotic versus malignant ascites

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to evaluate differences in gallbladder contractility by measuring gallbladder wall thickness, fasting and residual gallbladder volume, and gallbladder ejection fraction in patients with cirrhotic and malignant ascites.

METHODS

Twenty-four patients (16 women and 8 men) with malignant ascites (2 cervical, 2 colon, 2 stomach, 6 pancreatic, and 12 ovarian carcinomas), aged 59 +/- 12 years, and 26 patients (14 women and 12 men) with cirrhotic ascites, aged 57 +/- 16 years, were included in the study. After patients fasted overnight for 8 hours, gallbladder wall thickness, fasting gallbladder volume, and gallbladder volume and ejection fraction were measured sonographically at 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, and 90 minutes after ingestion of a standard liquid test meal.

RESULTS

The mean gallbladder wall thickness was higher in patients with cirrhotic ascites than in those with malignant ascites (5.5 +/- 1.5 mm [standard deviation] versus 3.1 +/- 0.6 mm, respectively; p < 0.001). The mean fasting gallbladder volume was also higher in patients with cirrhotic ascites than in those with malignant ascites (27.3 +/- 11.5 cm(3) versus 17.6 +/- 8.9 cm(3); p < 0.05). Patients with cirrhotic ascites had significantly higher mean postprandial gallbladder volumes and ejection fractions than did those with malignant ascites at all times except 10 minutes after the meal (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that gallbladder contractility is greater in patients with cirrhotic ascites than in patients with malignant ascites.

The importance of serum and ascites fluid alpha-fetoprotein, carcinoembryonic antigen, CA 19-9, and CA 15-3 levels in differential diagnosis of ascites etiology

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Clinical usage of tumor markers is being limited due to low specificity. Elevated plasma levels of tumor markers may be seen in diseases other than malignancy, i.e., kidney, liver or circulatory disturbances.

METHODOLOGY

In our study, we studied serum and ascites fluid alpha-fetoprotein, carcinoembryonic antigen, CA 19-9, CA 15-3 levels in patients with chronic liver disease, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, malignancy, tuberculous and congestive heart failure in a total of 76 patients.

RESULTS

The sensitivity and specificity for ascites fluid alpha-fetoprotein levels were 28.5% and 100%, for serum alpha-fetoprotein levels 28.5% and 98.1%, for ascites fluid carcinoembryonic antigen levels 38.0% and 98.1%, for serum carcinoembryonic antigen levels 57.1% and 90.0%, for ascites fluid CA 19-9 levels 19.0% and 94.5%, for serum CA 19-9 levels 33.3% and 21.8%, for ascites fluid CA 15-3 levels 28.5% and 92.7%, and for serum CA 15-3 levels 47.6% and 81.8%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, the sensitivity of serum and ascites fluid tumor markers was found to be low. High specificity may be due to low number of study participants. Serum and ascites fluid tumor markers are not found to be useful in the differential diagnosis of ascites etiology.

Serum and ascites fluid cytokine levels in patients with chronic heart failure

OBJECTIVE

Cytokines that are capable of modulating cardiovascular function were reported to be elevated in patients with advanced heart failure. We evaluated the diagnostic importance of cytokines both in the serum and ascites.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We determined serum and ascites fluid TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-8, and soluble IL-2 receptor levels in 14 patients with congestive heart failure (group 1) and in 15 patients with chronic liver disease (group 2).

RESULTS

Ascites fluid IL-8 and soluble IL-2 receptor levels were found to be significantly elevated in group 1 when compared with group 2 (p = 0.014 and p = 0.005). There were no statistical differences in serum TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-8, and soluble IL-2 receptor levels and ascites fluid TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and IL-6 levels. Ascites fluid/serum IL-1beta and IL-8 ratio was lower in group 1 when compared with group 2 (p = 0.001 and p = 0.005). Ascites fluid/serum IL-2 and IL-6 ratio was higher in group 1 when compared with group 2 (p = 0.035 and p = 0.025).

CONCLUSION

Cytokine levels in ascites fluid, but not in serum, are important in congestive heart failure. Ascites fluid/serum cytokine level ratios were detected to be more conclusive and valid in the diagnosis work-up of ascites aetiology.

Effect of Helicobacter pylori eradication on peptic ulcer disease complicated with outlet obstruction

BACKGROUND

At present, the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) in complicated peptic ulcer and the effect of H. pylori eradication on complicated peptic ulcer have not been fully established. In this study, we report the prevalence of H. pylori in peptic ulcer patients complicated with gastric outlet obstruction, effectiveness of oral eradication therapy on these patients, and their long-term follow up.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Ten consecutive patients presenting with clinically and endoscopically significant obstructed peptic ulcers were included in this study. During each endoscopy, seven gastric biopsy specimens were obtained and analyzed for H. pylori colonization.

RESULTS

The antral mucosal biopsy specimens were positive for H. pylori in nine patients. H. pylori infection was eradicated and complete ulcer healing was observed in all patients. The mean follow-up period was 14 (7-24) months. One patient had duodenal perforation and underwent surgical intervention following medical treatment, despite the eradication of H. pylori. Ulcer recurrence was noted in two (22.2%) of nine patients, and in one of them the recurrent ulcer was complicated with obstruction (11. 1%). The mean time to ulcer recurrence was 17 months (range, 10-24 months). The biopsies and CLOtests were H. pylori negative at the time of ulcer or erosion recurrence in two patients.

CONCLUSION

We suggest that H. pylori eradication may improve the resolution in obstructive ulcer cases with colonization.

The effect of dividing the sphincter of Oddi at endoscopic sphincterotomy on the filling and emptying aspects of function of the gallbladder

The effect of dividing the sphincter of Oddi at endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) on the filling and emptying aspects of gallbladder function has not been definitely established in humans. This prospective study is designed to examine the effects of EST on gallbladder emptying. In 13 patients (8 men and 5 women; mean age, 60.54 years +/- 2.14; range, 45-75 years), postprandial gallbladder emptying was measured ultrasonographically before and after EST (within 1-4 days). The fasting volumes after 8 hours of fasting, at times 0 min and before the test meal was given, residual volume (the smallest postprandial volume), gallbladder ejection fraction (EF), and total ejection volume, at 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, and 90 min after the test meal, were studied. The fasting gallbladder volume and the residual volume tended to decrease after EST, but the differences were not significant (40.21 +/- 10.79 mL and 35.48 +/- 11.21 mL, 17.79 +/- 4.83 mL, and 13.10 +/- 4.83 mL, respectively; p > 0.05). Maximum EF was found to be 19.72% at 40 min and increased to 28.62% at 70 min after EST. Although the difference was not statistically relevant, a trend of improvement was evident after EST. The ejected volumes after EST have depicted a trend toward increase, without reaching to any statistical significance (p > 0.05). Our results demonstrate at least no adverse effects of EST and further support some positive effects on gallbladder kinetics.

The role of axial length in central and branch retinal vein occlusion

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

To assess whether the axial length is a local risk factor in central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) and branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The axial lengths of affected and fellow eyes of 19 patients with CRVO and 27 with BRVO and of their controls were measured with A-scan ultrasonography. The control group consisted of 17 individuals for CRVO and 25 for BRVO matched in age, sex and the prevalence of hypertension and diabetes in patient groups. The results of measurements in affected, unaffected and control eyes were compared.

RESULTS

The mean axial length was different among the affected and unaffected eyes in patients with CRVO and their controls (P < .05). The affected eyes had significantly shorter axial length compared to the fellow and control eyes (P < .01 and P < .01, respectively). In the BRVO group, the mean axial length did not differ among affected, unaffected and control eyes (P > .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrates a significantly shorter axial length in eyes with CRVO and not significantly shorter axial length in those with BRVO. The shorter axial length could be an additional risk factor in the pathogenesis of CRVO.

Mirizzi syndrome: choice of surgical procedure in the laparoscopic era

Impaction of a calculus in gallbladder neck or cystic duct or even in its remnant may produce common hepatic duct stricture by direct mechanical impression or associated inflammation. This clinical entity is referred to as Mirizzi syndrome. Four patients were operated on for Mirizzi syndrome. This represents 0.9% of the 444 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy in our clinic. Two cases with Mirizzi syndrome type I, one of which had a stone in a gallbladder remnant, were successfully treated by laparoscopic cholecystectomy without any complications. One patient developed a bile leakage; fistulography via a sump drain revealed bile leakage from the laceration site of the stone, and the patient was reoperated on to perform a Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy. The patient was lost due to cardiopulmonary arrest originating from septic shock. In another case diagnosed as Mirizzi type II, the operation was converted to an open procedure due to intense inflammation and fibrosis around the area of the Calot's triangle. Subtotal cholecystectomy was done and the defect on the common hepatic duct repaired by means of a gallbladder flap over the T tube.

Endoscopic treatment of bronchobiliary fistula: report on 11 cases

BACKGROUND/AIMS

There are reports of treatment of biliary cutaneous fistulae by endoscopically placed nasobiliary drains. We report our fistulae treatment results from this method.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We treated 11 patients with bronchobiliary fistulas (BBFs) endoscopically during the last 6 years. In most cases, the BBF's were the result of Hydatid cyst operations. Six patients had simultaneous biliocutaneous fistula (BCF).

RESULTS

All BBFs and BCFs closed after the nasobiliary drain placement without any complication. Three patients who developed fistula recurrence healed with endoscopic treatment.

CONCLUSION

Endoscopic treatment is a viable alternative to surgical treatment.

Laparoscopic removal of a gallbladder remnant

We describe a patient who had an incomplete open cholecystectomy 32 years previously and was hospitalized with jaundice due to a stone in the gallbladder remnant encroaching on the common bile duct. Despite extensive adhesions the gallbladder remnant was removed with laparoscopic techniques and the patient had an uneventful recovery. We conclude that previous surgery, even on the gallbladder, does not preclude the successful completion of a laparoscopic cholecystectomy.