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Background Recurrent pyogenic cholangitis (RPC) has a high risk of disease recurrence. We present our experience with RPC and examine the factors associated with disease recurrence. Methods We performed a retrospective review of all patients with RPC treated at two tertiary institutions between January 1990 and December 2013. Patients with liver atrophy and/or abscess were categorized as being associated with parenchymal disease (PD). Results We studied 157 patients with a median age of 59.0 (interquartile range (IQR): 47.0-70.0) years and a median follow-up duration of 71.0 (IQR: 26.0-109.0) months. There were 64 (40.8%) and 93 (59.2%) patients with and without associated PD, respectively. Disease recurrence rate was 43.9% in our overall cohort through the course of follow-up. Surgical treatment was an independent prognostic factor for decreased disease recurrence risk (hazard ratio (HR) 0.40, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.18-0.87, P = 0.021). Stratified analysis revealed that liver resection was prognostic for lower risk of disease recurrence among patients with PD (HR 0.38, 95% CI 0.15-0.94, P = 0.036), while biliary bypass was prognostic for lower risk of disease recurrence among patients without PD (HR 0.30, 95% CI 0.15-0.61, P = 0.001). The overall post-operative complication rate among surgically treated patients was 31.1%, and the presence of bilobar stones was found to be independently associated with higher odds of post-operative complications (odds ratio 3.51, 95% CI 1.26-9.81, P = 0.017). Conclusion Surgical treatment is associated with decreased recurrence risk in RPC, but with significant post-operative morbidity. Where surgery is deemed appropriate, patients with and without PD are likely to benefit from liver resection and biliary bypass, respectively.

Aim: To summarize the experience of Belghiti's liver hanging manoeuvre in right hepatectomy. Methods: Nine cases of right hepatectomy were performed with Belghiti's liver hanging manoeuvre from June 2002 to May 2005. They included seven cases of large hepatocellular carcinoma located in the right liver lobe with diameters from 8 to 12 cm (two have encroached diaphragm and lateral peritoneum) and two cases of recurrent pyogenic cholangitis with hepatolithiasis fully packed in the right liver lobe. The key step of this manoeuvre was to develop a retrohepatic tunnel between the anterior surface of the inferior vena cava and the liver parenchyma. A tape was then passed though the tunnel and the liver was resected under tape suspension. Results: The retrohepatic tunnel was established and the suspending tape was passed though the tunnel successfully in all cases. The mean time for this procedure was 21 min. Mean intraoperative blood loss was 380 mL. The middle hepatic veins were protected from damage in eight cases. There were no operative deaths or morbidity, except one case that developed postoperative bile leakage, which was cured by drainage. Conclusion: Belghiti's liver hanging manoeuvre is a preferred surgical method for right hepatectomy, with its reliable anatomic background and satisfactory primary clinical results.

Background: Patients with intrahepatic calculi require multiple interventions following successful surgical stone clearance for recurrent stones and cholangitis. The present paper describes the results of a technique of in-continuity side-to-side jejunoduodenal anastomosis (JDA) that provides endoscopic access to the hepaticojejunostomy and intrahepatic ducts. This operation is compared to other techniques in a critical appraisal of various biliary access procedures described for long-term management of intrahepatic ­calculi. Methods: A retrospective analysis of clinical data of 13 patients who underwent biliary drainage procedures with access loops for intrahepatic calculi during the period March 1990 to December 2000 was performed. The postoperative course of patients and the feasibility of postoperative endoscopic access to the hepaticojejunostomy and intrahepatic ductal system in treatment of recurrent cholangitis were assessed. Nine patients underwent JDA, two underwent permanent-access hepaticojejunostomy (PAH) and two others underwent an interposition hepaticojejunoduodenostomy (IHJ). Results: The analysis revealed no major procedure-related complications or mortality. Endoscopic access (using forward-viewing gastroscope) was possible in 100% of cases following JDA, and with difficulty in both cases after PAH. Endoscopic access in the two patients with IHJ failed because of technical reasons. Recurrent cholangitis was seen in seven patients (54%) − two out of two patients in the PAH group, one out of two in the IHJ group and four out of nine in the JDA group. This required 12 endotherapy sessions (mean: 1.5 procedures per patient). Conclusion: In-continuity side-to-side JDA allows easy access of conventional gastroduodenoscopes to the biliary tree for removal of recurrent/residual intrahepatic stones. The technique has advantages over other access loop procedures in the long term management of recurrent intrahepatic stones.

Papillomatosis arising from the biliary tree is a well recognized but rare entity. We encountered two patients with this condition. However, one of them had associated hepatocellular carcinoma and cirrhosis and the other had concomitant recurrent pyogenic cholangitis. To our knowledge, these associations have not been reported before. We, therefore, present these clinical problems and highlight the added difficulty in the management of these patients.

The first description of recurrent pyogenic cholangitis occurring in four occidentals is presented. While recurrent pyogenic cholangitis is a common syndrome of uncertain aetiology among orientals (also known as oriental cholangiohepatitis), it has not previously been described in occidentals. Four such patients are described. They presented with recurrent attacks of ascending cholangitis and associated hepatolithiasis, biliary stricturing and dilation. Focal hepatic involvement was treated by segmental liver resection and recurrent disease by interventional endoscopy or radiology.

Over a 14-year period we treated 2,290 cases of non-malignant biliary tract conditions, and among them were 173 cases of acute suppurative cholecystitis, an incidence of 7.6%. A correct preoperative diagnosis of acute suppurative cholecystitis was made in only about half the cases because features of recurrent pyogenic cholangitis dominated the clinical picture on many occasions. The diagnosis was confirmed in all cases at operation. Cholecystectomy (88%) was performed whenever this was found to be safe, and cholecystostomy (12%) was carried out only in poor-risk patients or when operative difficulties were encountered. The overall mortality of operation was 5.8%. Old age, preoperative shock, delay of operation and the presence of free perforation affected the prognosis adversely.

A review of six children with recurrent pyogenic cholangitis is presented with the main object of introducing this disease entity. The disease is one of the common causes of acute abdominal emergencies among Chinese in Hong Kong, but is also seen in other countries along the west coast of the Pacific. It mainly affects adults, but on rare occasions may affect children. The pathology and the clinical features are described, and the problems of diagnosis and treatment are discussed.