A prospective study to determine the safety and effectiveness of intraoperative fiberoptic choledochoscopy in the management of malignant obstruction of the biliary tree was conducted in 44 patients. There were 12 patients with cancer of the pancreatic head, 9 with adenocarcinoma of the distal common bile duct, 4 with adenocarcinoma of the ampulla of Vater, 8 with cholangiocarcinoma of the common hepatic duct, 9 with intrahepatic bile duct carcinoma, and 2 with hepatocellular carcinoma. Five patients with intrahepatic bile duct carcinoma and two with hepatocellular carcinoma were found during a search for intrahepatic duct stones in patients with recurrent cholangitis. In nine patients with bile duct carcinoma (seven extrahepatic and two intrahepatic), histopathological diagnosis was made at operative endoscopy. Treatment strategy was altered in seven patients based on findings at operative choledochoscopy. Complications were few with no mortality. Intraoperative fiberoptic choledochoscopy was safe and useful in the management of malignant obstruction of the biliary tree.

Adenocarcinoma↗

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Emphysematous gastritis secondary to acute gastric dilatation.

Emphysematous gastritis is a life-threatening disease. Although rare in incidence, it has a fulminating course with a high mortality rate. A case of a 58 year old male with emphysematous gastritis is reported. Initially, he presented with acute gastric dilatation secondary to anorexia/bulimia-like behaviour. Later, emphysematous gastritis developed. The abdominal sonographic findings, which have not been previously described in the literature, showed intramural gas and gastric wall thickening. After receiving a total gastrectomy, he had a satisfactory outcome. The present report discusses the possible aetiologic relationship between acute gastric dilatation and emphysematous gastritis, and suggests abdominal sonography to be the first choice of diagnostic measure for patients and the intramural gas in the gastric wall. This is the first case of emphysematous gastritis diagnosed by abdominal sonography.

Acute Disease↗

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Obstructive jaundice secondary to hepatocellular carcinoma rupture into the common bile duct: choledochoscopic findings.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Hepatocellular carcinoma presenting as obstructive jaundice caused by floating tumor debris in the common bile duct is rare. We report choledochoscopic findings in this rare condition. METHODOLOGY: From January 1981 to December 1995, 28 patients received surgical treatment for obstructive jaundice secondary to hepatocellular carcinoma rupture into the common bile duct. Among them, intra-operative choledochoscopy was performed in 18 patients. RESULTS: Choledochoscopic findings revealed tumor thrombus and an intraluminal yellowish nodular mass in all patients, blood clots in the bile duct in 8 patients, and the appearance of acute erythematous cholangitis in 4 patients. Choledochoscopy revealed that the site of hepatoma rupture was from the right intrahepatic duct in 9 patients, from the left hepatic duct in 7 patients, and from the hepatic hilum in 2 patients. Choledochoscopically guided hepatic resection was performed in 4 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Intra-operative choledochoscopy reveals the characteristic finding of an intraluminal yellowish nodular mass in patients with malignant obstruction of the bile duct due to hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatic resection with a free margin of the involved hepatic duct can be achieved by a choledochoscopically guided operation.

Adult↗

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The different manifestation and outcome between pancreatitis and pancreatic malignancy with left-sided portal hypertension.

Left-sided portal hypertension can be induced by isolated splenic venous obstruction due to various etiologies, such as chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic malignancy. The patients may present with bleeding isolated gastric varices and hypersplenism in addition to their pancreatic lesions. In the past 3 years, we have encountered 24 patients with left-sided portal hypertension. They were diagnosed with an abdominal echogram, CT or splenoportography. Twelve patients had histories of acute pancreatitis for a few months to years. Eleven of them were found to have isolated gastric varices. Six of them underwent operation due to hypersplenism or pseudocyst. The postoperative courses were smooth and the gastric varices subsided after splenectomy. The other 12 patients with left-sided portal hypertension were diagnosed as having pancreatic malignancy. Only two of them were found to have isolated gastric varices. Seven of them received operations and only two patients with their tumors located at the pancreatic body and tail could be resected. The other 5 patients were diagnosed with abdominal CT and high serum CA 19-9. We concluded that the patients with left-sided portal hypertension can be suspected by isolated gastric varices without liver cirrhosis. The diagnosis can be confirmed by abdominal CT or splenoportography. The incidence of isolated gastric varices are significantly lower in the patients with pancreatic malignancy than those with chronic pancreatitis. The gastric varices subsided after splenectomy. The prognosis of pancreatic malignancy is poor and most of them are inoperable.

Adenocarcinoma↗

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Malignancy in choledochal cysts.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Malignancy in choledochal cysts is a rare condition. This study presents our experience with this condition, with emphasis on the clinical presentation, management and outcome. METHODOLOGY: Subjects included 80 adults with choledochal cysts treated from January 1979 to December 1995. Of these patients, 8 were found to have malignancy in the cyst and formed the basis of this study. RESULTS: Four patients had synchronous and 4 had metachronous carcinoma lesions arising in the choledochal cyst. The clinical presentation was: biliary tract infection in 5 patients, gastric outlet obstruction in 2 and right upper quadrant pain and body weight loss in 1. Operations for bile duct malignancy included total excision in 2 patients, choledochotomy with T-tube drainage in 2 patients, gastrojejunostomy in 2 patients, percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage and gastrojejunostomy in 1 patient and metastatic lymph node biopsy only in 1. One patient died due to septic shock within 30 days of the operation (operative mortality). Postoperative survival time ranged from 4-13 months with a mean of 6.2 months. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of malignancy in the choledochal cysts was 10% in the present series. Malignancy in the choledochal cyst should be highly suspected in patients with cholangitis symptoms, body weight loss and anemia. Prognosis in this disease entity is poor.

Adolescent↗

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Prospective and randomized study of gabexate mesilate for the treatment of severe acute pancreatitis with organ dysfunction.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Exaggerated production of various proteases may account for the late presence of organ dysfunction in acute pancreatitis. This study examined the effects of early administration of gabexate mesilate on the condition of patients with severe acute pancreatitis and organ dysfunctions. METHODOLOGY: Fifty-two patients with acute pancreatitis and organ dysfunction were enrolled. The treatment group included 26 patients receiving intravenous gabexate mesilate infusion at a dose of 100 mg/hr for 7 days. APACHE-II score, clinical and biochemical parameters were monitored intensively. RESULTS: Coagulopathy ileus, and abdominal pain was significantly improved with gabexate mesilate. Gabexate mesilate reduced the necessity for surgical intervention and peritoneal lavage. The 7-day-mortality and 90-day-mortality rates were also significantly reduced with gabexate mesilate therapy. CONCLUSIONS: There are strong indications from this study that early intravenous gabexate mesilate infusion results in improved survival in acute pancreatitis with organ dysfunctions.

Adult↗

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Common bile duct and pancreatic injury after extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for renal stone.

Common bile duct and pancreatic injury are rare complications following extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy. We reported a case of peripancreatic abscess with inflammation change of common bile duct and pancreatic head following extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for right renal stone. Its anatomical location and subsequent clinical course suggest it was related to trauma caused by the shock wave. It should be considered a relative contraindication to apply extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy in cases of right renal stone associated with large gall stones.

Aged↗

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Chronic pancreatitis with pancreas divisum treated with pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy: a case report.

Pancreas divisum, the most common congenital variant of pancreatic ductal anatomy, occurs when the ventral and dorsal pancreatic-buds fail to fuse. Herein, we report on a 42-year-old male suffering from chronic pancreatitis with pancreas divisum. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography confirmed this diagnosis. A pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy was then performed. Pathological examination of the pancreas demonstrated chronic pancreatitis without malignancy. The postoperative clinical course was uneventful, and the patient was discharged 10 days after surgery.

Adult↗

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Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage for acute cholangitis.

Percutaneous Transhepatic Biliary Drainage (PTHBD) was performed in 56 consecutive patients with severe acute cholangitis, during a period of one year. An immediate decompression effect with a "good" response was achieved in 46 (82.2%), who usually became afebrile within 18 to 24 hours, and "poor" response in 10 (17.8%). Five died (8.93%) in a subsequent operation. No mortality was associated with the use of PTHBD. Complications related to the procedure occurred in 12 of the 56 patients (21.4%). Hemobilia was the major complication. The other complications were intraabdominal hemorrhage, bleeding from the puncture site, transient hypotension, catheter occlusion and/or dislodgement, bile leak, pneumothorax and hemothorax. Two with hemobilia, one with intraabdominal hemorrhage and the other with bile leak required an emergency operation. PTHBD procedures can be lifesaving in biliary sepsis. Once infection and hyperbilirubinemia are controlled, rational subsequent therapy can be formulated for the underlying disease.

Acute Disease↗

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Balloon dilatation of intrahepatic duct and biliary-enteric anastomosis strictures. Long term results.

From June 1984 to December 1986, 13 patients with 15 benign bile duct strictures were treated by Gruntzig balloon dilatation via the T-tube fistula or transhepatic route. The patients were 7 men and 6 women; ages ranged from 24 to 63 years old. The site of strictures were hepatojejunostomy in six, right intrahepatic duct in 4, left intrahepatic duct in 4 and one choledochoduodenostomy. Eleven out of 13 patients with bile duct strictures had intrahepatic stones. Ninety-three percent (14/15) of the strictures were successfully dilated by the Gruntzig balloon catheter. After the biliary stent was inserted for 2 to 6 months, follow-up cholangiogram or choledochoscopy revealed good patency of the biliary tree. Ninety-one percent (10/11) of the intrahepatic stones were removed completely by choledochoscopy. No major complication was found during balloon dilatation, except tolerable wound pain. Five patients (45%) developed symptoms during the follow-up period of 5 to 7 1/2 years. Two patients complained of right upper quadrant (RUQ) pain and 3 patients developed acute cholangitis which was treated by percutaneous biliary drainage again or laparotomy. Balloon dilatation for biliary-enteric anastomosis and intrahepatic duct strictures is a non-surgical, simple and effective procedure, but the incidence of restenosis rate is high and up to 45% within a long-term follow-up period of 5 to 7 1/2 years.

Adult↗

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Secural pancreaticojejunal anastomosis for the pancreaticoduodenectomy.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This report presents the results of two methods for minimizing complications following a Whipple operation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the past five years, continuous duct to mucosal suture with end to side anastomosis of the pancreaticojejunostomy was utilized in 30 patients. Another 50 patients received interrupted duct to mucosal suturing with end to side anastomosis of the pancreaticojejunostomy in the past five to ten years. RESULTS: None of the first set of 30 patients suffered leakage after the operation. Ten of the 50 patients (20%) developed leakage postoperatively and 3 (6%) died. The group with continuous duct to mucosal suture had significantly less complications than those with interrupted duct to mucosal suturing (P < 0.05). Late follow up of the patients with continuous duct to mucosal suture using echogram, no one had stricture of the anastomosis. CONCLUSION: The continuous duct to mucosal suture of the pancreaticojejunostomy is a very safe procedure, minimizing the operative morbidity and mortality of the Whipple operation.

Follow-Up Studies↗

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Bacteremia following postoperative choledochofiberscopy--a prospective study.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The following investigation was undertaken in order to determine the frequency and clinical consequences of bacteremia after postoperative choledochofiberscopy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 100 patients were prospectively studied for the frequencies of bacteremia after postoperative choledochoscopy. RESULTS: Positive blood cultures were obtained in 15%; at 5-minutes period in seven patients, at 15-minutes in eight patients and at 30-minutes in two patients. There were two patients with positive cultures at 5 minutes and 10 minutes periods. All the bacteria species cultured were aerobes. Enterococcus, E-coli and Klebsilla were the most commonly cultured bacteria. The frequencies of occurrence of bacteremia seemed not be influenced by the existence of residual stones, session of the endoscopy and duration of the procedure. Six of the 15 bacteremic patients developed cholangitis within 24 hours of the procedure. They all recovered with antibiotic treatment. Patients with negative blood cultures were not found with cholangitic symptoms after the postoperative choledochoscopy. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study indicated that fifteen percent of patients undergoing postoperative choledochofiberscopy are associated with bacteremia. We believe that with adequate aseptic preparation and meticulous, gentle manipulation, routine prophylactic antibiotics may not be necessary for postoperative choledochoscopy in selected conditions.

Bacteremia↗