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Unlabelled: We studied developments in indication, operation time, conversion rate, morbidity, and mortality from the beginning of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Between 1990 and 2002 we prospectively evaluated 4498 patients undergoing cholecystectomy (CE), of whom 79% were treated laparoscopically (lap). In 6.6%, the procedure had to be converted from laparoscopic to open cholecystectomy (con), and 14% were performed open from the beginning (open). During the above time period, the rate of open CE decreased steadily (49% in 1990 to 7.2% in 2002). The average operation time of lap CE remained constant with an average of 74 min (range 20-330). The conversion rate decreased in spite of broader indication for lap CE in even more complicated gallstone diseases, from an initial 9.4% to 2.5%. Among intraoperative complications in lap and con, bile duct lesions remained constant with 5/3856 (0.1%), bleeding which led to conversion decreased from 1.9% to 0.3%, and the rate of gall bladder perforation increased from 12% to 20.5%. Thirty-day morbidity was 2% in lap CE, 5% in con, and 11.5% in open. The mortality was 0% in lap, 0.7% in con, and 1% in open., Conclusion: Since the introduction of laparoscopic cholecystectomy the indication for this minimal-invasive operation steadily increased, the conversion-rate decreased and the complication-rate could be held low. Even with fast laparoscopic experience 7% of all cholecystectomies are technically difficult and remain to be carried out primarily in an open technique. The laparoscopic cholecystectomy has become the gold standard in the therapy of gallstone disease.

A 52-year old woman was admitted to the hospital because of upper abdominal pain and hematemesis. Laboratory parameters showed marked cholestasis. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) lead to the diagnosis of hemobilia. CT-scan and angiography revealed an aneurysm of the cystic artery as the cause of hemobilia. Cholecystectomy was performed because of concomitant cholecystitis. Anatomical examination confirmed clinical diagnosis.

Haemobilia is defined as bleeding into the hepatobiliary system caused by a pathologic connection between blood vessels and biliary ducts. A rare cause of haemobilia is gallstone disease, with only 52 reported cases in the literature. The haemobilia is characterised by the classical triad: jaundice, colicky pain in the right upper quadrant and signs of gastrointestinal bleeding. Diagnosis can be made with endoscopic procedures and with angiography of the coeliac trunk, which has the highest sensitivity in localisation of bleeding source. The therapy of choice is cholecystectomy. We report the case of a patient with massive gastrointestinal haemorrhage caused by a solitary gallstone and present the diagnostic and therapeutic management of this disease, which is accompanied by a high mortality.

A rare case of spurious aneurysm of an aberrant right hepatic artery is reported. Endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreaticography, computed tomography and selective angiography of the coeliac trunc are diagnostic. Resection of the aneurysm and interposition of saphenous vein is the preferred procedure. In selected cases ligation of the common hepatic artery is possible. Intrahepatic aneurysms are preferably treated interventionally.

Aneurysms of the hepatic artery are mostly localized extra hepatic (80%). Today atherosclerosis is the most prevalent etiology (32%), followed by trauma (22%) and inflammatory lesions (10%). Rupture or perforation of the aneurysm is the initial clinical manifestation (60-80%), and occurs with nearly equal frequency into the peritoneal cavity and into the hepatobiliary tract. Rupture into bile ducts is often responsible for characteristic findings of upper gastrointestinal bleedings with hematemesis. The case of a 38 year-old man is presented and the clinical manifestation, the diagnostic and therapeutic procedures are demonstrated.

Aim of the Study: Hemobilia, defined as hemorrhage arising from pathological changes in the biliary tract, represents a rare entity. In a retrospective study the presentation, diagnosis, and management of hemobilia were investigated., Patients and Methods: Since January 1991 six patients suffering from severe hemobilia presented to our department. Jaundice, right upper quadrant abdominal pain, hematemesis and melaena were the most frequent symptoms leading to admission. Hemobilia originated from iatrogenic injury following percutaneous liver biopsy and endoscopic removal of common bile duct stones, and malignant hepatic or biliary tumors. Duodenoscopy revealed bleeding from the papilla in all patients. Diagnosis was confirmed by ERCP in all patients and angiography in 5 of 6 patients., Results: Angiographic occlusion of an arterial lesion with coils was successfully achieved in one patient. One patient was treated conservatively. In 3 patients liver resections were performed to control bleeding and the underlying tumorous pathology. In another patient, operative ligation of the supplying artery had to be performed. Within a minimum follow-up of six months none of the six patients showed recurrence of hemobilia., Conclusion: Considering the impact of etiologic, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects in treatment of hemobilia we suggest an algorithm for a rational approach to hemobilia. Angiographic occlusion may control the bleeding and improve the patient's general condition. Definitive surgical treatment of hemobilia is safe and effective.

Injuries of the biliary tract remain an important concomitant lesion following liver trauma. Intra- and extrahepatic bile duct injuries differ substantially in etiology and choice of surgical procedure. Intrahepatic bile duct injuries gain clinical relevance postoperatively following primary surgical liver treatment. Characteristic consequences of intrahepatic bile duct injuries are: infected necrosis, abscess, bilious fistula, bilhemia, hemobilia and biliary duct stricture. In contrast, concomitant organ or vessel injury are of primary importance in extrahepatic biliary duct injury. Lesions of the distal biliary duct, always associated with duodenal or pancreatic injury, remains a particular thrill in general surgery. The approach to surgical treatment in case of biliary duct injury and its consequences are outlined and discussed in detail.

In a 67-year-old man with upper abdominal and gastrointestinal bleeding gastroscopy revealed a duodenal ulcer which was initially taken to be the source of the bleeding. But subsequent retrograde cholangiography demonstrated nearly complete occlusion of the right hepatic duct and a suspicious tumour-like structure. At laparotomy a tumour was excluded and the supplying artery to the ulcer was ligated to arrest the bleeding. Gastrointestinal bleeding recurred postoperatively so that selective angiography of the hepatic artery had to be performed. This demonstrated an aneurysm of a branch of the hepatic artery near the hilus. No further bleeding occurred after its embolization. Haemobilia is a rare cause of upper abdominal bleeding and may be difficult to diagnose, except by selective imaging techniques.

Traumatic hemobilia is a rare complication of deep and central liver injuries. Repeated and massive bleeding requires an active therapy. For diagnosis of the arterial-biliary fistula, most advantageous is a transcutaneous selective arteriography which can be used also for therapeutic embolization. Of surgical techniques, ligature of the art.hepatica comm. or propria and direct closure of the fistula in the liver parenchyma are recommended. The authors report on such a successful direct intervention in a 9-year-old girl.

We observed three patients with a hemobilia after surgically or conservatively treated liver lacerations. The diagnosis was suspected on clinical grounds and verified by ultrasonography, computed tomography or angiography or a combination thereof. Depending on the findings therapy was planned reaching from conservative treatment to liver resection. Because this complication is rare it should be cared for in a specialized institution.

The authors report on the first case of haematobilia diagnosed in childhood by means of sonography. Massive haematemesis occurred in a six-year-old boy on the 57th postoperative day after an oversewn rupture of the liver. Sonography revealed an atonic gallbladder with stratification phenomena and free floating highly reflecting coagulates, as well as pulsations and flow phenomena in an area of the size of a bean at the floor of a necrotic cavity of the liver (aneurysm). Relaparotomy was done by locating the aneurysm via sonography and performing a purse-string ligature. The high mortality rate of 10 to 20% can be reduced if the gradually evolving condition is identified at an early stage, which means that regular sonographic examinations should be conducted in the postoperative control of liver rupture. Intraoperative sonography with sterilisable sound heads enables accurate location of the source of bleeding.

Haemobilia occurred in a 61-year-old patient 30 days after intraoperative liver biopsy. The bleeding was so severe that left-sided lobectomy of the liver had to be performed.

Hemobilia is caused by a pathological communication between the biliary tract and the intra- and extrahepatic blood vessels; multifarious pathogenetical mechanisms of this syndrome have to be considered. The trias of colicky upper abdominal pain, jaundice and haemorrhage in the upper gastrointestinal tract determinates the clinical picture. To ensure the diagnosis and to localize the source of bleeding sonography, endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC) and coeliacography are indispensable. Besides the transvasal selective embolization ligature of the hepatic artery resection of the affected part of the liver just as reconstructive vascular operations serve as therapeutical tools in this disease. A patient complaining of intrahepatic hemobilia is described who was successfully treated by highly selective ligature of the respective vessel after intraoperative angiography through the stump of the cystic artery. Using this procedure the resection of the affected part of the liver could be avoided.

Diagnosing posttraumatic haemobilia is difficult since the symptoms are neither specific nor early or easy to detect. At present the mortality rate comes up to 20%. Clinical signs and diagnostic procedures are described in detail. Selective ligation of the liver arteries or partial resection of the involved lobes of the liver seem to be the best treatment. 3 cases are presented.

Report of three cases of injury to the bile ducts, of which one was a haemobilia, and two were ruptures of the hepatic ducts with external bile fistulae. The latter could be removed using tissue adhesive (blue Histoacryl). After an observation period of 4 years, no symptoms are noted; there are no calcifications in the area of the erstwhile fistulae. The haemobilia was cured by ligature of the right hepatic artery.