Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to S T Fan.
Lymphangiomas of the pancreas are rare. Only six cases have been reported. An additional case of lymphangioma of the pancreas in a 20 year old male which was demonstrated by computerized tomography and treated with complete surgical excision is reported.
Two elderly patients who had endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) for their common duct stones developed acute cholangitis and, one of them also developed acute pancreatitis after the procedure. Despite the presence of an adequate sphincterotomy which allows subsequent spontaneous stone elimination, transient ductal obstruction during stone migration through the sectioned papilla is probably accountable for their complications. From the present reported experience, it is clear that expectant treatment of common duct stone after EST can be associated with definite hazards. Immediate biliary decompression with either active instrumental extraction or, when not feasible, insertion of nasobiliary catheter, should be performed to prevent these complications in selected patients.
The usefulness of computed tomography (CT) in guiding the management of 43 patients who had a complicated clinical course of acute pancreatitis was retrospectively studied. The CT scans were performed when patients had persistent fever, leucocytosis, hyperamylasaemia, palpable abdominal masses or when there was organ failure. The CT scans showed normal findings in six patients, features of pancreatic abscess in three patients, pseudocysts in three patients and inflammatory masses (a mixture of sterile inflammation and necrosis) in 31 patients. Patients with pancreatic abscesses underwent emergency laparotomy, drainage and debridement; patients with pseudocysts had delayed drainage unless complication occurred; patients with normal CT scan or findings of inflammatory masses were managed conservatively. For patients undergoing conservative management, repeated CT scanning and percutaneous aspiration of the inflammatory mass was performed when pancreatic sepsis was strongly suspected. By this approach, basing on careful clinical and CT scan surveillance, five patients with pancreatic sepsis (pancreatic abscess and localized abscess collection in pseudocyst) underwent emergency surgery and four survived, while 25 patients with inflammatory masses were successfully managed conservatively and some who may have been operated on clinical grounds were spared unnecessary early debridement surgery.
Hepatolithiasis or intrahepatic stone is associated with a variety of complications of which biliary sepsis is one. Left untreated, infection results in formation of micro-abscesses, portal thrombophlebitis and fistulation into adjacent structures. With repeated infection, biliary strictures and severe destruction of liver parenchyma occur. Biliary cirrhosis, portal hypertension and bleeding varices are the terminal manifestations. Early recognition and proper treatment are essential for the prevention of severe complications and functional deterioration.
The T lymphocyte function in 59 patients with malignant biliary obstruction undergoing pre-operative endoscopic drainage (group Ia, n = 24) or surgery (group Ib, n = 35) was evaluated by mitogen stimulation test with phytohaemagglutinin. The T lymphocyte function before endoscopic or surgical intervention was found to be impaired as compared with patients with gastric cancer (group II, n = 27) and with normal persons (group III, n = 19). Regression analysis showed a significant negative correlation between T lymphocyte function and the serum bilirubin level (correlation coefficient -0.3, P = 0.01) and a positive correlation with serum albumin level (correlation coefficient 0.34, P = 0.01) and serum transferrin level (correlation coefficient 0.45, P = 0.001). After 18 +/- 3 days of endoscopic biliary drainage, the T lymphocyte function of group Ia patients did not change substantially. At postoperative day 14, there were more patients in both groups Ia and Ib having deterioration of T lymphocyte function than those with improvement. The incidence of postoperative sepsis was found to be significantly higher in patients with deterioration than those with improvement of T lymphocyte function (18/31 vs 7/26, P = 0.036). It is concluded that endoscopic biliary drainage and surgery could not reverse the T lymphocyte dysfunction in patients with malignant biliary obstruction.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
A modified technique of inserting a Hickman catheter into the internal jugular vein is described. Instead of using a purse string suture, this technique involves the complete isolation of a short segment of the internal jugular vein and the application of bulldog vascular clamps above and below the site of venotomy. By such modification, the risk of intraoperative bleeding and air embolism is reduced, unilateral advancement of the catheter into the superior vena cava is ensured and the caliber of the vein is not narrowed.
Medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) may be advantageous in cirrhotic patients, but data on the clearing capacity are lacking. Intravenous fat tolerance test (IVFTT) was performed on 28 cirrhotic patients (Child's A, n = 9; Child's B, n = 13; Child's C, n = 6) to determine the clearance rate of Lipofundin MCT 20%, which contains a physical mixture of MCT and long-chain triglycerides (LCT). The mean fractional elimination rate (k2) of MCT/LCT physical blend in the cirrhotic patients (7.72%/min) was comparable with that of the healthy control subjects (n = 9, k2 = 5.43%/min). Significantly higher serum free fatty acid (FFA) levels were found in the cirrhotic patients during IVFTT. The difference could be accounted for by their higher basal levels. In all patients, serum FFA concentrations returned to basal value at the end of 1 hour. Prompt appearance of glycerol and beta-hydroxybutyrate was seen during IVFTT, indicating that hydrolysis of triglycerides and release of ketone bodies from the liver were rapid. It was concluded that the ability to eliminate MCT/LCT physical blend was not impaired in the cirrhotic patients.
BACKGROUND/AIMS: In the animal model of auxiliary partial liver transplantation in the rat, the major problem is high outflow pressure since the direction of vascular outflow of the graft was perpendicular to that of the recipient inferior vena cava (IVC) and the anastomosis was far away from the right atrium. We aimed at developing an animal model that could prevent graft congestion. METHODOLOGY: The graft contained the right lateral lobe and triangulated lobe of rat's liver. The modification of implantation included anatomizing an oblique cuff of IVC of donor graft into the recipient's IVC so that the size of anastomosis was large with an angle of 45 degrees and the resulting vascular outflow was no longer perpendicular to that of the recipient's IVC, and the creation of double grooves on the cuff body of the donor portal vein. Bile drainage was completed by inserting the bile duct (together with a stent) into the recipient's duodenum. RESULTS: Congestion of grafts was not seen in 25 rats undergoing auxiliary partial liver transplantation using an oblique IVC graft. The 1-week and 2-week survival rates were 88% and 80%, respectively. In the group of rats (n = 10) operated on by using a straight IVC graft, graft congestion was seen and only 1 rat could survive over 1 day. CONCLUSIONS: Modification of vascular outflow anastomosis prevented graft congestion and improved animal survival. The model may be useful for studying liver regeneration, transplantation immunology, and gene transfer.
Tumor metastasis to a cirrhotic liver is rare. It has been suggested that colorectal cancer does not metastasize to the cirrhotic liver. We reported a 65 year-old man, a known carrier of hepatitis B surface antigen, diagnosed to have hepatocellular carcinoma with routine screening. A partial hepatectomy with resection of segments VI and VII was performed. The hepatectomy specimen revealed a 4.5 cm diameter HCC in a cirrhotic liver. Incidentally, 0.8 cm diameter ulcer at the descending colon. Histological examination of the left hemicolectomy specimen showed a moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma.
Torrential bleeding from a large defect in the inferior vena cava is a dangerous complication of hepatectomy. Instead of mobilization, encircling and clamping of the inferior vena cava for control, the author described a simpler technique of controlling the defect using the surgeon's fingers. In two such cases, the bleeding was successfully controlled.
Biliary obstruction due to periportal tuberculous adenitis is a rare condition which is difficult to diagnose and treat. We describe two patients presenting with obstructive jaundice due to periportal tuberculous adenitis managed by two different approaches. In one patient the diagnosis was made after laparotomy and lymph node biopsy, and segment III biliary enteric bypass was performed with good relief of obstruction. In another patient the diagnosis was established by laparoscopy and the patient was successfully managed conservatively with percutaneous biliary drainage and antituberculous treatment. The different approaches of diagnosis and management of this rare condition are discussed.
Spontaneous rupture of hepatocellular carcinoma is a distinct presentation causing acute abdomen. Different treatment approaches have been advocated including emergency hepatectomy, initial hemostasis by hepatic artery ligation or transarterial embolization and second-stage hepatectomy. Unrecognized ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma during laparotomy is often encountered in countries where the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma is low. Radiofrequency ablation is a new localized thermal ablative technique for the treatment of unresectable hepatic tumors including hepatocellular carcinoma. We report a case where radiofrequency ablation was used as a salvage procedure for ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma during emergency laparotomy.
BACKGROUND/AIMS: We report our experience of 27 orthotopic liver transplantations in 26 patients performed at Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong during the period of October 1991 to October 1995. PATIENTS AND METHODS: There were 19 adults and 7 pediatric patients with a mean age of 29 years (range 8 months to 62 years). The underlying liver diseases of the 26 patients were biliary atresia (n = 6), Alagille syndrome (n = 1), primary biliary cirrhosis (n = 2) cryptogenic cirrhosis (n = 2), alcoholic cirrhosis (n = 5), Wilson's disease (n = 1), fulminant hepatic failure (n = 3), polycystic liver (n = 2), secondary biliary cirrhosis (n = 1), HBV cirrhosis (n = 2) and autoimmune hepatitis with hepatocellular carcinoma (n = 1). The pathology leading to re-transplantation in a pediatric patient was post-transplant hepatitis of unknown etiology. The liver grafts were obtained from 19 brainstem dead and 8 living donors. The pediatric patient requiring re-transplantation received a left lateral segment graft from her mother. Two adults received left lobe grafts from their family members. RESULTS: The overall graft survival is 88% and patient survival is 92%. There were only 2 deaths: one patient developed primary graft nonfunction and died from intracerebral bleeding 39 days after transplantation and the other died from graft rejection resistant to salvage by steroid pulse and OKT3. The other patients are well with functioning grafts. CONCLUSIONS: We hope that the current success rate can convince people in our locality in cadaveric organ donation so that living donors do not run the risk of dying from the operation, although the risk is estimated to be very small.
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Malignancy is known to be associated with hepatolithiasis. The present report summarizes the results of our management of patients with cholangiocarcinoma associated with hepatolithiasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty patients with cholangiocarcinoma and associated hepatolithiasis were analyzed retrospectively. There were 12 males and 8 females, with a mean age of 59.3 years. The clinical records of these patients were reviewed to determine demographic characteristics, clinical features, laboratory findings, diagnostic tests, operative management and results of therapy. RESULTS: One patient was moribund on presentation and was treated conservatively. Fourteen patients underwent hepatic resection. Three of them had palliative resection. Hepatic resection was less likely to be performed in patients having right lobe disease (50%) as compared to patients having left lobe disease (90%) (p = NS). The overall operative morbidity and mortality rates after hepatic resection were 36% and 7%, respectively. Non-resective operations were performed in five patients. The overall operative morbidity and mortality rates after non-resective operations were 20% and 0%, respectively. After curative hepatic resection (11 patients), the 1- and 2-year survival rates were 81% and 51%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: A suspicion of malignancy is necessary in managing patients with hepatolithiasis. Hepatic resection is the treatment of choice for cholangiocarcinoma when it is resectable.
Between September 1993 and November 1996, donor hepatectomy was performed in 22 living donor liver transplantation at Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong. In these donor operations, 7 extended right lobe grafts, 6 extended left lobe grafts and 9 left lateral segment grafts were obtained. The technique of donor operations consisted of initial hilar dissection, mobilization of the liver lobe, transection of the liver using ultrasonic dissector (without inflow or outflow vascular occlusion) at a plane on the left side of the middle hepatic vein for an extended right lobe graft, on the right side of the middle hepatic vein for an extended left lobe graft or on the right side of falciform ligament for a left lateral segment graft. The median blood loss was 775 ml. Complications occurred in 2 donors: one had incisional hernia and the other had biliary stricture. Both were treated successfully by re-operation. Currently all donors are well with completely normal liver biochemistry.
We report a case of left hepatic vein kinking which caused severe congestion of the left lateral segment after right trisegmentectomy for a large liver tumor. Intraoperative doppler ultrasonography documented an 80% reduction of the left hepatic vein blood flow when the left lateral segment was rotated into the right subphrenic space.