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Purpose: This study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography drainage (PTCD) and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in palliative drainage and preoperative biliary drainage for treating malignant obstructive jaundice (MOJ)., Methods: A total of 520 patients with MOJ who underwent PTCD or ERCP were enrolled and classified into palliative drainage group and preoperative biliary drainage group. Baseline characteristics, liver function, blood routine, complications were compared among the groups., Results: The technical success rates for PTCD and ERCP in palliative group were 97.1% and 85.9%. In palliative drainage group, PTCD had higher levels of total bilirubin (TB) reduction (53.0 (30.0,97.0) vs. 36.8 (17.9,65.0), p < 0.001) and direct bilirubin (DB) reduction (42.0 (22.0,78.5) vs. 28.0 (12.0,50.8), p = 0.001) than ERCP. However, PTCD was associated with higher rates of drainage tube displacement (20 cases, 11.8%), while ERCP had a higher incidence of biliary infection (39 cases, 22.8%) and pancreatitis (7 cases, 4.1%). In preoperative drainage group, PTCD achieved a 50% reduction in total bilirubin faster than ERCP (7.1 days vs. 10.5 days). And the time from palliation of jaundice to surgery was 24.2 days in PTCD group and 35.7 days in ERCP group, a statistically significant difference (Student's t test, p = 0.017)., Conclusion: Both PTCD and ERCP could improve liver function for MOJ patients. PTCD seems to offer better outcomes in jaundice reduction and liver function improvement in palliative drainage, but requires careful postoperative management. In preoperative biliary drainage, PTCD may be a better preoperative bridge to improve liver function and control infection., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objective: To assess the treatment outcomes of endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD) in patients with obstructive jaundice due to unsuccessful endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Methods: The clinical data of patients with obstructive jaundice who underwent EUS-BD due to ERCP failure at the Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Center of Beijing Friendship Hospital from September 2018 to November 2023, was retrospectively collected and analyzed. We explored the technical success, clinical success, and adverse events associated with EUS-BD. Results: In total, 43 EUS-BD procedures were performed in 39 patients with a technical success rate of 86.0% (37/43). The clinical success rate was 81.1% (30/37). Biliary drainage was not effectively achieved in seven cases, including two fatal cases and five cases of recurrent postoperative biliary obstruction. The incidence of adverse events was 21.6% (8/37), including two cases of postoperative bile leakage peritonitis, two cases of stent displacement, one case of stent dislocation, one case of perforation, and two cases of death. Conclusion: EUS-BD is a relatively safe and effective method for bile duct drainage, serving as a dependable alternative therapeutic option for patients with obstructive jaundice due to unsuccessful ERCP.

Background/aims: Bile duct invasion (BDI) is rarely observed in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), leading to hyperbilirubinemia. However, the efficacy of pretreatment biliary drainage for HCC patients with BDI and obstructive jaundice is currently unclear. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the effect of biliary drainage on the prognosis of these patients., Methods: We retrospectively enrolled a total of 200 HCC patients with BDI from multicenter cohorts. Patients without obstructive jaundice (n=99) and those who did not undergo HCC treatment (n=37) were excluded from further analysis. Finally, 64 patients with obstructive jaundice (43 subjected to drainage and 21 not subjected to drainage) were included. Propensity score matching was then conducted., Results: The biliary drainage group showed longer overall survival (median 10.13 months vs 4.43 months, p=0.004) and progression-free survival durations (median 7.00 months vs 1.97 months, p<0.001) than the non-drainage group. Multivariate analysis showed that biliary drainage was a significantly favorable prognostic factor for overall survival (hazard ratio, 0.42; p=0.006) and progression-free survival (hazard ratio, 0.30; p<0.001). Furthermore, in the evaluation of first response after HCC treatment, biliary drainage was beneficial (p=0.005). Remarkably, the durations of overall survival (p=0.032) and progression-free survival (p=0.004) were similar after propensity score matching., Conclusions: Biliary drainage is an independent favorable prognostic factor for HCC patients with BDI and obstructive jaundice. Therefore, biliary drainage should be contemplated in the treatment of advanced HCC with BDI to improve survival outcomes.

Background: The optima preoperative biliary drainage before pancreaticoduodenectomy in patients with biliary tract and pancreatic cancer remains controversial., Methods: A total of 898 patients who underwent preoperative biliary drainage via endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage, endoscopic transnasal biliary drainage, or percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage before pancreaticoduodenectomy for biliary tract and pancreatic cancer were included. Perioperative and long-term outcomes were analyzed., Results: The Clavien-Dindo grade ≥3 morbidity rates after pancreaticoduodenectomy were higher in the endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage (21.9%; P = .001) or endoscopic transnasal biliary drainage (20.2%; P = .007) than in the percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (9.7%) groups. In biliary tract cancer, the frequency of dissemination after pancreaticoduodenectomy was higher in the percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (15.3%) than in the endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage (0.7%; P = .001) and endoscopic transnasal biliary drainage (4.1%; P = .037) groups; percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage was an independent factor associated with worse disease-free survival (P = .04), whereas in pancreatic cancer the frequency of dissemination and survival was comparable among the 3 preoperative biliary drainage methods. Albumin <3.9 g/dL was independently associated with worse overall survival in patients with both pancreatic (P = .038) and biliary tract (P = .002) cancers, respectively. During biliary drainage, external drainage (P = .038) was independently associated with albumin <3.9 g/dL; albumin was higher in endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage group than in endoscopic transnasal biliary drainage or percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage groups after 21 days from tube insertion., Conclusion: In biliary tract cancer, percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage may carry the risk of increasing the incidence of disseminative recurrence. In pancreatic cancer, percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage is preferable owing to fewer complications without influencing recurrence. However, if patients cannot undergo surgery immediately, endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage will be applicable to help the preservation of nutritional status, which can have an impact on survival., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

A 67-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with jaundice. A closer examination revealed that he had obstructive jaundice due to bile duct obstruction caused by a multifocal cystic tumor of the pancreas. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) revealed stenosis of the distal bile duct and leakage of contrast medium into the pancreatic cyst. Pancreaticoduodenectomy was performed, and a pinhole fistula was found connecting the cyst and the bile duct. Histological examination led to the diagnosis of serous cystadenoma (SCA). Herein, we report a rare case of SCA with obstructive jaundice and penetration of the bile duct, which was treated by radical resection.

Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Purpose: Early diagnosis of biliary atresia (BA) is critical for best outcomes, but is challenged by overlapping clinical manifestations with other causes of obstructive jaundice in neonates. We evaluate the performance of the modified Simple BA Scoring System (SBASS) in diagnosing BA., Methods: We performed a prospective, cross-sectional study on infants with cholestatic jaundice (June 2021-December 2022). Modified SBASS scoring was applied and compared to the eventual diagnosis (as per intraoperative cholangiogram (IOC) and liver histopathology). The score (0-6), consists of gall bladder length < 1.6 cm (+ 1), presence of triangular cord sign (+ 1), conjugated bilirubin:total bilirubin ratio > 0.7(+ 2), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) ≥ 200 U/L (+ 2)., Results: 73 were included: Fifty-two (71%) had BA. In the non-BA group, 6 (28%) had percutaneous cholangiography (PTC) while 15 (72%) had intraoperative cholangiogram (IOC). At a cut-off of 3, the modified SBASS showed sensitivity of 96.2%, specificity of 61.9% and overall accuracy of 86.3% in diagnosing BA. Area under receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.901. GGT had the highest sensitivity (94.2%), while triangular cord sign showed the highest specificity at 95.2%., Conclusion: The SBASS provides a bedside, non-invasive scoring system for exclusion of BA in infantile cholestatic jaundice and reduces the likelihood of negative surgical explorations., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

We present a case involving a 67-year-old patient with a medical history of gastric bypass who was recently diagnosed with a 6-centimeter duodenal mass causing biliary duct stenosis. Despite our best efforts, we were unable to access this tumor endoscopically, necessitating surgical intervention. During the surgical exploration, we discovered a duodenal diverticulum filled with stones, leading to the obstruction of the biliary ductâ?"a manifestation of Lemmel syndrome. This rare condition is characterized by obstructive jaundice in the absence of choledocholithiasis or tumors and is secondary to dilatation of peri-ampullary diverticula. While it is typically managed through endoscopy, our diagnostic and therapeutic approach was complicated by the patient's history of bariatric surgery (gastric bypass), making endoscopic access impossible despite our multiple attempts. This case report sheds light on the challenges posed by the concurrence of a rare pathology and surgically modified anatomy, which is increasingly encountered in daily surgical practice. In such situations, exploratory surgery continues to play a significant role., (Celsius.)

Heterotopic pancreas is a rare congenital abnormality. The most common location is the stomach, duodenum and proximal jejunum. Rare locations are represented by the ampulla of Vater, esophagus, ileum, Meckel diverticulum, biliary tract, mesentery and spleen. We present the case of a 49 year old patient investigated for obstructive jaundice and diagnosed with an ampullar heterotopy of pancreas parenchyma, initially considered to be a malignant tumor. A Whipple pancreatoduodenectomy was performed with good postoperative evolution, the serum levels of bilirubin being normal after the first postoperative week., (Celsius.)

The necessity of biliary drainage before pancreaticoduodenectomy remains controversial in cases involving malignant obstructive jaundice; however, the benefits of biliary drainage have been reported in cases with severe hyperbilirubinemia. Herein, we present the case of a 61-year-old man suffering from jaundice due to distal cholangiocarcinoma. In this case, obstructive jaundice was refractory to repeat endoscopic drainage and bilirubin adsorption. Hyperbilirubinemia persisted despite successful implementation of biliary endoscopic sphincterotomy and two rounds of plastic stent placements. Stent occlusion and migration were unlikely and oral cholagogues proved ineffective. Owing to the patient's surgical candidacy and his aversion to nasobiliary drainage due to discomfort, bilirubin adsorption was introduced as an alternative therapeutic intervention. Following repeated adsorption sessions, a gradual decline in serum total bilirubin levels was observed and pancreaticoduodenectomy was scheduled. The patient successfully underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy with portal vein resection and reconstruction and D2 lymph node dissection. After the surgery, the serum bilirubin levels gradually decreased and the patient remained alive, with no recurrence at 26 months postoperatively. Therefore, this case highlights the feasibility and safety of performing pancreaticoduodenectomy in patients with severe, refractory jaundice who have not responded to repeated endoscopic interventions and have partially responded to bilirubin adsorption., (© 2024. Japanese Society of Gastroenterology.)

Mass-forming phenotypes of IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) mimic malignancy and histological confirmation can be challenging. A woman in her 70s with HIV infection presented with painless obstructive jaundice and weight loss. Magnetic resonance imaging was suggestive of unresectable cholangiocarcinoma. Tumour markers and serum IgG4 were normal. Percutaneous liver biopsy was consistent with IgG4-RD inflammatory pseudotumour, with complete response to glucocorticoid therapy. Two years later, a new episode of obstructive jaundice occurred, with CT showing a solid lesion in the head of the pancreas with double duct sign and encasement of the portal vein. Re-induction therapy was tried without response. Fine-needle biopsy was consistent with pancreatic cancer. Supportive care was offered and the patient died 8 months later, with no signs of disease progression on subsequent imaging. We discuss the challenges of IgG4-RD diagnosis and treatment and the differential diagnosis between mass-forming phenotypes and malignancy, highlighting the difficulties in managing such patients., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2024. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background and Objectives: This prospective study was conducted at the University Hospital NAO "MUS" (Semey Medical University, Non-Profit Joint-Stock Company (NCJSC) of Semey, Kazakhstan. The objective of our investigation was to delineate potential risk factors associated with coagulopathy among patients presenting with mechanical jaundice., Materials and Methods: One hundred eighty-six patients who underwent surgical procedures between October 2020 and September 2022 in Semey, located in East Kazakhstan, were included in this study. Logistic regression analysis was employed to explore independent associations between non-coagulopathy and its respective correlates., Results: The gender distribution among participants was as follows: 68 men (36.6%) and 118 women (63.4%), with an average age of 62.2 years (95% confidence interval: 52-72.4). Coagulopathy was observed in 87.9% of patients (N=163). Nine risk factors associated with the development of coagulopathy were included in the binary logistic regression model: nationality (p=0.005), local residence (p=0.01), obesity (p=0.0001), hemoglobin concentration (p=0.003), platelet count (p=0.008), total bilirubin level (p=0.031), alanine aminotransferase (p=0.001), soluble fibrin-monomer complexes (p=0.034), and international normalized ratio (INR) (p=0.005)., Conclusions: The majority of patients developed coagulopathy, and key sources of its occurrence were identified. Surgeons need to pay closer attention to patients of Kazakh ethnicity with obesity, as well as to those with mild anemia, elevated levels of platelet count, soluble fibrin-monomer complexes, alanine aminotransferase, and international normalized ratio, as they are more likely to develop coagulopathy. Additionally, patients with moderate or severe jaundice are also more prone to the development of coagulopathy.

Background: Biliary atresia is the most common cause of obstructive jaundice in infants and conventional cholangiography is the current diagnostic gold standard. Fluorescent cholangiography with indocyanine green can enhance biliary tree visualization during surgery because it is exclusively excreted into the bile ducts and eventually into the intestine. Therefore, we hypothesized that indocyanine green presence in stool could confirm bile duct patency in infants., Methods: A prospective single center cohort study was performed on infants (age ≤ 12 months) with and without jaundice after obtaining IRB approval. Indocyanine green was administered intravenously (0.1 mg/kg). Soiled diapers collected post-injection were imaged for fluorescence., Results: After indocyanine green administration, fluorescence was detected in soiled diapers for control patients (n = 4, x = 14 h22 m post-injection) and jaundiced patients without biliary atresia (n = 11, x = 13 h28 m post-injection). For biliary atresia patients (n = 7), post-injection soiled diapers before and after Kasai portoenterostomy were collected. Fluorescence was not detected in stool from 6 of 7 biliary atresia patients. As a test, indocyanine green detection in stool was 97% accurate for assessing biliary patency., Conclusion: Fluorescent Imaging for Indocyanine Green (FIInd Green) in stool is a fast and accurate approach to assess biliary patency non-invasively in infants., Level of Evidence: Level III., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest The authors have no conflicts of interests to declare and no financial disclosures., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Tuberculosis. a disease of great public concern, is spread through inhalation of micro-droplets from an infected person. Despite lungs being the primary site, there may be multisystemic involvement, very rarely involving bone marrow, a dreaded manifestation of disseminated tuberculosis, associated with high mortality and morbidity. We report a case of tuberculosis of bone marrow with concomitant secondary hemophagocytic lympho-histiocytosis, bringing into light the importance of clinical suspicion and evaluation of bone marrow being a primary site of involvement in patients of disseminated tuberculosis., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Background and Aim: The 10-mm self-expandable metal stent (SEMS) is the standard for endoscopic transpapillary biliary drainage before pancreatic cancer surgery. However, the efficacy of stents thinner than 10 mm has not been adequately validated. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the safety of a 6-mm fully covered SEMS (FCSEMS) for distal malignant biliary obstruction (DMBO) during preoperative chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer., Methods: This was a single-arm, multicenter, prospective phase II study of endoscopic transpapillary initial biliary drainage for DMBO before pancreatic cancer surgery. The primary endpoint was stent-related adverse events, and the key secondary endpoint was the non-recurrent biliary obstruction (non-RBO) rate during the observation period for both resectable (R) and borderline resectable (BR) pancreatic cancers., Results: The study enrolled 33 patients, among whom 32 received the study treatment. There were 23 and 9 cases of R and BR pancreatic cancers, respectively. The technical and clinical success rates were 97.0% and 90.1%, respectively. The stent-related adverse event rate was 3.1% (n = 1, acute pancreatitis) (95% confidential interval, 0.00-16.2), which met the criteria to be considered safe. The overall non-RBO rate during the observation period (median 96 days) was 78.1% (82.6% and 66.7% for R and BR pancreatic cancer cases, respectively)., Conclusions: The 6-mm FCSEMS is an extremely safe metallic stent with a low stent-related adverse event rate of 3.1% for preoperative biliary drainage in pancreatic cancer. It is considered the optimal stent for preoperative biliary drainage in terms of the non-RBO rate. UMIN Clinical Trial Registry (UMIN-CTR 000041704)., (© 2024 Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Foundation and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.)

The risk of cholangitis after ERCP implantation in malignant obstructive jaundice patients remains unknown. To develop models based on artificial intelligence methods to predict cholangitis risk more accurately, according to patients after stent implantation in patients' MOJ clinical data. This retrospective study included 218 patients with MOJ undergoing ERCP surgery. A total of 27 clinical variables were collected as input variables. Seven models (including univariate analysis and six machine learning models) were trained and tested for classified prediction. The model' performance was measured by AUROC. The RFT model demonstrated excellent performances with accuracies up to 0.86 and AUROC up to 0.87. Feature selection in RF and SHAP was similar, and the choice of the best variable subset produced a high performance with an AUROC up to 0.89. We have developed a hybrid machine learning model with better predictive performance than traditional LR prediction models, as well as other machine learning models for cholangitis based on simple clinical data. The model can assist doctors in clinical diagnosis, adopt reasonable treatment plans, and improve the survival rate of patients., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The main cause of distal biliary malignant obstructive jaundice (DBMOJ) is the stricture of the extrahepatic biliary tract by malignant tumors, including pancreatic head and uncinate process cancer, low-grade cholangiocarcinoma, duodenal cancer, papillary duodenal cancer and other malignant tumors. The most effective treatment is radical pancreaticoduodenectomy. However, preoperative obstructive jaundice can affect the patient's liver function and blood coagulation function, increase local inflammation and oedema, and make surgery more difficult. Patients with severe obstructive jaundice require preoperative biliary drainage, which can be achieved by various methods, including ultrasound endoscopic biliary drainage (EUS-EBD) and endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage (ERBD). The latter is mainly divided into endoscopic nasobiliary drainage and endoscopic biliary stent. Some patients underwent percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) when ERBD and EUS-EBD failed. In this study, we aimed to identify PTBD in DBMOJ and to further investigate the role of the puncture pathway in DBMOJ. The relationship between PTBD and bile duct internal diameter was confirmed by analysing and collating clinical data. In this study, DBMOJ was grouped according to bile duct internal diameter and liver function was used as an indicator to examine the improvement in liver function with PTBD in patients undergoing DBMOJ. Analysis of puncture complications showed that PTBD puncture was safe. DBMOJ with different bile duct internal diameters had different rates of liver function improvement after PTBD. The right-side approaches had significantly lower alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alanine transaminase (AST) than the left-side approaches. This study showed that PTBD for DBMOJ is associated with a low complication rate and good reduction of jaundice. Liver function recovery was faster in patients with DBMOJ treated with PTBD in the right-sided approach compared with the left-sided approach. PTBD is an effective tool to be used in patients who have failed ERBD and EUS-EBD., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared.

Background: Jaundice is a marker of advanced disease and poor outcomes in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of this study was to describe and analyse the management and outcomes of jaundiced HCC patients at a large academic referral centre in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)., Methods: Treatment-naïve adult HCC patients who presented with jaundice between 1990 and 2023 were analysed., Results: During the inclusion period, 676 HCC patients were treated at Groote Schuur Hospital. The mean age of the 126 (18.6%) who were jaundiced was 48.8 (± 13.2) years. Eighty-nine (70.6%) were male. Ninety-four (74.6%) patients with jaundice secondary to diffuse tumour infiltration had best supportive care (BSC) only. Thirty-two had obstructive jaundice (OJ); four were excluded because of missing hospital records. In 28 of these patients, 16 underwent biliary drainage (BD) and 12 received BSC only. The mean overall survival (OS) of the 126 patients was 100.5 (± 242.3) days. The patients with diffuse tumour infiltration had an OS of 105.9 (± 273.3) days. The patients with OJ survived 86.5 (± 135.0) days. There was no significant difference in OS between the three patient groups ( p = 0.941). In the OJ group, patients who underwent BD survived longer than the BSC group (117.9 ± 166.4 vs. 29.2 ± 34.7 days, p = 0.015)., (Copyright© Authors.)

Background: Prolonged obstructive jaundice (OJ), associated with resectable pancreatic pathology, has many deleterious effects that are potentially rectifiable by preoperative biliary drainage (POBD) at the cost of increased postoperative infective complications. The aim of this study is to assess the impact of POBD on intraoperative biliary cultures (IBCs) and surgical outcomes in patients undergoing pancreatic resection., Methods: Data from patients at Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, between October 2008 and May 2019 were analysed. Demographic, clinical, and outcome variables were evaluated, including perioperative morbidity, mortality, and 5-year survival., Results: Among 128 patients, 69.5% underwent POBD. The overall perioperative mortality in this study was 8.8%. The POBD group had a significantly lower perioperative mortality rate compared to the non-drainage group (5.6% vs. 25.6%). POBD patients had a higher incidence of surgical site infections (55.1% vs. 23.1%), polymicrobial growth from IBCs and were more likely to culture resistant organisms. Five-year survival was similar in the two groups., Conclusion: POBD was associated with a high incidence of resistant organisms on the IBCs, a high incidence of surgical site infections and a high correlation between cultures from the surgical site infection and the IBCs., (Copyright© Authors.)

Background: Pancreatic head cancer accompanied by obstructive jaundice is a common clinical situation. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of preoperative biliary drainage (PBD) on clinical outcomes in patients with severe obstructive jaundice., Methods: Patients with a bilirubin level of ≥250 μmol/L at diagnosis who underwent PBD were included. The primary endpoints and secondary endpoints were the postoperative severe complications rates. Secondary endpoints were the degree of improvement in general condition, predictors of severe postoperative complications, and the impact of PBD on patients with bilirubin levels >300 μmol/L., Results: In total, 289 patients were included, and 188 patients (65.1%) underwent PBD. The patients who met the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification II-III stages decreased from 119 to 100 ( P = 0.047) after PBD. The overall severe complications were significantly more frequent in the direct surgery (DS) group than in the PBD group (34.7% vs. 22.9%, P = 0.031), especially the postoperative hemorrhage (6/43 [14.0%] vs. 9/35 [25.7%], P = 0.038) and intra-abdominal infection (6/43 [14.0%] vs. 10/35 [28.6%], P = 0.018). The ASA classifications II-III (odds ratio [OR]=2.89, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.38-4.31), P = 0.01) and DS (OR = 3.65, 95% CI: 1.45-7.08; P = 0.003) were independently associated with severe postoperative complications. The occurrence rate of severe postoperative complications in patients with a bilirubin level >300 μmol/L who underwent PBD was significantly lower than in patients who underwent DS (25.6% vs. 40.6%, P = 0.028), but the benefit of PBD was not observed in patients who had a bilirubin level between 250 and 300 μmol/L., Conclusion: PBD is useful in reducing severe postoperative complications, especially in patients with bilirubin levels >300 μmol/L., (Copyright © 2023 Copyright: © 2023 Saudi Journal of Gastroenterology.)

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the clinical benefits of establishing an enteral nutrition (EN) pathway via percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography drainage (PTCD) catheterization in patients with late-stage malignant obstructive jaundice (MOJ). Methods: We selected 30 patients diagnosed as having late-stage MOJ with malnutrition. A dual-lumen biliary-enteral nutrition tube was placed via PTCD along with a biliary stent implantation. Postoperative EN was provided, and we observed the time taken for tube placement, its success rate, complications, and therapeutic efficacy. Results: Tube placement was successful in all 30 patients with an average procedural time of 5.7 ± 1.4 min with no tube placement complications. Compared to preoperative measures, there was a significant improvement in postoperative jaundice reduction and nutritional indicators one month after the procedure ( p  < 0.05). Post-placement complications included tube perileakage in 5 cases, entero-biliary reflux in 4 cases, tube blockage in 6 cases, tube displacement in 4 cases, accidental tube removal in 3 cases, and tube replacement due to degradation in 8 cases, with tube retention time ranging from 42 to 314 days, averaging 124.7 ± 37.5 days. All patients achieved the parameters for effective home-based enteral nutrition with a noticeable improvement in their quality of life. Conclusion: In this study, we found that the technique of establishing an EN pathway via PTCD catheterization was minimally invasive, safe, and effective; the tube was easy to maintain; and patient compliance was high. It is, thus, suitable for long-term tube retention in patients with late-stage MOJ.

Background: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) has found extensive use in pediatric patients; however, challenges persist in the application of therapeutic ERCP in infants., Case Presentation: This case report details the presentation of a 5.9-kilogram infant with obstructive jaundice and suspected hemolytic anemia who underwent ERCP to alleviate biliary obstruction. The infant was admitted due to clay-colored stools, jaundice, and liver injury. Ultrasound and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) revealed dilation of the common bile duct (CBD) accompanied by the presence of stones. ERCP was conducted using a JF-260V duodenoscope under general anesthesia. Successful stone extraction and biliary drainage were achieved., Conclusions: In centers with considerable expertise in ERCP and pediatric anesthesia, the use of a conventional adult duodenoscope for therapeutic ERCP in infants can be considered safe and feasible, provided careful and stringent patient selection criteria are applied. In the future, clear guidelines and standardized protocols for the indications and procedures of pediatric ERCP should be established., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Introduction: Obstructive jaundice is the most common symptom of malignant diseases of the extrahepatic biliary system and necessitates either non-operative or operative biliary bypass. Because of percutaneous and endoscopic approaches, the use of palliative surgical procedures has decreased in recent years. However, in resource-limited situations, open biliary bypasses remain a viable option. This study aimed to identify factors associated with adverse perioperative outcomes following open biliary bypass., Methods: From June 2022 to May 2023, 69 patients underwent open biliary bypass for malignant biliary obstruction. Postoperative morbidity and mortality within 30 days of surgery were assessed. A Kaplan-Meier was used for categorical variables, and a log-rank test was used to determine the statistically significant difference between variables. A Cox regression analysis was conducted to identify factors associated to time to develop complications., Results: The hazard of developing complications among those with preoperative cholangitis was 2.49 times higher than those without preoperative cholangitis (HR 2.49, 95% CI [1.06, 5.84]). For every hour increment in the length of surgery, the hazard of getting complications increased by 2.47 times (HR 2.47, 95% CI [1.28, 4.77]). As serum bilirubin increased by 1 mg/dl, the hazard of developing complications increased by 14% (HR 1.14, 95% CI [1.03, 1.17])., Conclusion: Patients who had long operation times, preoperative cholangitis, and elevated total bilirubin levels are at increased risk for poor perioperative outcomes. Clinicians may use these results to optimize these patients to decrease their elevated risk of serious morbidity and mortality., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

A 54-year-old man was admitted with obstructive jaundice. Computed tomography showed common bile duct stricture and a tumor around the celiac artery. Repeated endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) as well as a laparotomic biopsy around the celiac artery were diagnostically unsuccessful. Since the bile duct stricture progressed, EUS-FNA and ERCP were performed a third time, finally leading to the diagnosis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. The treatment plan and prognosis of obstructive jaundice differ greatly depending on the disease. It is important to conduct careful follow-up and repeated histological examinations with appropriate modifications until a diagnosis is made.

The authors consider ectopic biliary varices as a possible cause of portal biliopathy in extrahepatic portal hypertension. The main diagnostic methods including ultrasound CT, MRI, endoscopic ultrasonography, cholangioscopy, difficulties of differential diagnosis and clinical manifestations of portal biliopathy are presented. Various treatment options including portosystemic shunting and endoscopic biliary decompression are discussed. The authors emphasize the role of differentiated treatment depending on bile duct lesions. The study not only reviews this problem, but also highlights the issues requiring further analysis for selection of optimal diagnostic and treatment methods.

Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Objective: Aim: To improve treatment outcomes of patients with unresectable pancreatic head cancer complicated by obstructive jaundice by improving the tactics and techniques of surgical interventions., Patients and Methods: Materials and Methods: Depending on the treatment tactics, patients were randomised to the main group (53 people) or the comparison group (54 people). The results of correction of obstructive jaundice by Roux-en-Y end to side hepaticojejunostomy (main group) and common bile duct prosthetics with self-expanding metal stents (comparison group) were compared., Results: Results: The use of self-expanding metal stents for internal drainage of the biliary system compared to hepaticojejunostomy operations reduced the incidence of postoperative complications by 29.9% (χ2=13.7, 95% CI 14.38-44.08, p=0.0002) and mortality by 7.5% (χ2=4.16, 95% CI -0.05-17.79, p=0.04). Within 8-10 months after biliary stenting, 11.1% (6/54) of patients developed recurrent jaundice and cholangitis, and another 7.4% (4/54) of patients developed duodenal stenosis with a tumour. These complications led to repeated hospitalisation and biliary restentation in 4 (7.4%) cases, and duodenal stenting by self-expanding metal stents in 4 (7.4%) patients., Conclusion: Conclusions: The choice of biliodigestive shunting method should be selected depending on the expected survival time of patients. If the prognosis of survival is up to 8 months, it is advisable to perform prosthetics of the common bile duct with self-expanding metal stents, if more than 8 months, it is advisable to perform hepaticojejunal anastomosis with prophylactic gastrojejunal anastomosis.

Objective: To improve the outcomes in patients with malignant obstructive jaundice using intraluminal stenting., Material and Methods: The present study included 62 patients with clinical symptoms of malignant obstructive jaundice. In the main group, we performed biliary stenting with self-expanding multi-perforated stents (Hanarostent Multi-hole Biliary). Microscopic perforations of these stents prevent migration and reduce the risk of blocking the cystic and main pancreatic ducts. In the control group, stenting was performed with fully and partially covered self-expanding stents., Results: Lower incidence of obstructive cholecystitis and acute pancreatitis in the main group was associated with multiperforated stents reducing the risk of blocking the main pancreatic and cystic ducts., Conclusion: In our study, multiperforated stents excluded migration and reduced the incidence of complications (acute cholecystitis from 11.5 to 3.8%, acute pancreatitis from 15.3 to 7.7%).

Primary pancreatic lymphomas (PPLs) are a subgroup of gastrointestinal (GI) lymphomas. They are an exceedingly rare entity, both in terms of pancreatic malignancies and also extranodal lymphomas. Epidemiological investigations have been challenging to do because of their rarity. This has resulted in a lack of clarity on the clinicopathological characteristics, differential diagnosis, best course of treatment, and prognosis of PPL. Because the clinical signs are frequently non-specific, it can lead to a diagnostic hazard for the unwary physician. Preoperatively, it is imperative to distinguish between adenocarcinoma and PPL, as they present similarly, but have vastly different treatment modalities and prognosis. We herein present a case of an elderly man who presented with obstructive jaundice and was found to have PPL., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Biliary metal stent implantation is an effective treatment for malignant obstructive jaundice. But it's well known that stents put in for a long time can become occluded and cause jaundice and cholangitis. At this time, endoscopic intervention is usually required to replace the stent or re-insert the stent. Re-cannulation for metal stent occlusion is challenging because the guide wire may pass through the side holes of the uncovered metal stents, resulting in prolonged surgical time and exposure to radiation. Here we present a small tip that may help endoscopists complete the re-cannulation of an uncovered metal stent in a very short time.

Introduction: Endoscopic transpapillary approach by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is the established technique for preoperative biliary drainage (PBD). Recently, endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD) has been reported to be a useful alternative technique after ERCP fail. However, the optimal strategy remain controversial., Area Covered: This review summarizes the literature on EUS-BD techniques for PBD with a literature search using PubMed, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials database between 2000 and 2023 using keywords for 'preoperative biliary drainage' and all types of EUS-BD techniques., Expert Opinion: As there is no consensus on the optimal EUS-BD technique for PBD, selection of the EUS-BD approach depends on the patient's condition, the biliary obstruction site, the anastomosis after surgical intervention, and the preference of the endoscopist. However, we consider that EUS-HGS using a dedicated plastic stent may have some advantages in the adverse impact of surgical procedure because the location where the fistula is created by EUS-HGS is away from the site of the surgical procedure. Although there remain many issues that require further investigation, EUS-BD can be a feasible and safe alternative method of PBD for malignant biliary obstruction after ERCP fail.

Hepatocelluar carcinoma presenting as a biliary duct tumor thrombus is a relatively rare entity, with poor prognosis. The primary clinical manifestation of this disease is obstructive jaundice, which can often be misdiagnosed. A 59-year-old female patient was admitted with sudden onset of abdominal pain. Laboratory tests suggested obstructive jaundice, and enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of the upper abdomen did not show obvious biliary dilatation. Endoscopic ultrasound and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography suggested an occupying lesion in the upper bile duct. SpyGlass and biopsy finally confirmed hepatocellular carcinoma with right hepatic duct tumor thrombus hemorrhage. The SpyGlass Direct Visualization System, as an advanced biliary cholangioscopy device, showed the advantages of single-person operation as well as easy access to and visualization of the lesion.

Rationale: We present a case of a 43-year-old female patient diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. This study aims to demonstrate the rare association between hyperthyroidism and severe cholestatic jaundice, and the effectiveness of methimazole treatment., Patient Concerns: The patient developed severe jaundice, a typically mild symptom in most hyperthyroidism cases., Diagnosis: The severe jaundice was suspected to be a result of cholestasis induced by hyperthyroidism, with other potential causes such as drug-induced or autoimmune liver dysfunction being ruled out., Outcomes: The patient was effectively treated with methimazole. Outcomes: Treatment with methimazole alleviated the severe cholestatic jaundice and restored normal thyroid function., Lessons: The specific mechanism of cholestasis as a secondary complication of hyperthyroidism remains unclear, and there are no specific biochemical markers for cholestasis caused by this hormonal disease. This case underscores the possibility of severe jaundice as a clinical manifestation of hyperthyroidism, and highlights antithyroid drug treatment as an effective strategy for managing severe cholestatic jaundice., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2023 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Purpose: To compare the safety and efficacy of intraluminal brachytherapy with iodine-125 ( 125 I) seed strand implantation combined with and without stent placement to treat patients with obstructive jaundice induced by tumor thrombus., Methods: Between January 2018 and June 2022, 42 patients with malignant obstructive jaundice (MOJ) induced by tumor thrombus were included. 20 patients received 125 I seed strand implantation and stent placement (group A). The remaining 22 patients, implanted 125 I seed strands only, served as control (group B). The two groups' overall survival and jaundice-free survival were compared using the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test., Results: During the follow-up period, the mean survival time of group A was 38.0 ± 4.1 months (95%CI, 30.0-46.1 months), while that of group B was 25.1 ± 2.8 (95% CI, 19.5-30.6 months) (p = 0.406). The mean survival rates of 12 months for all patients, group A, and group B was 66.7%, 65%, and 68%, respectively. The mean jaundice-free survival of group A and group B were 34.0 ± 3.6 months (95% CI, 27.9-41.2months) and 22.9 ± 2.7 months (95%CI, 17.5-28.2months) (p = 0.254), respectively. Two PTBD drainage tube infection cases occurred in group A and group B separately., Conclusions: 125I intraluminal brachytherapy is an effective and safe therapy for treating patients with obstructive jaundice induced by tumor thrombus., (Copyright © 2023 American Brachytherapy Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Obstructive jaundice has various causes, and one of the rarest is pancreaticoduodenal artery aneurysm (PDAA), which is often associated with celiac axis stenosis caused by median arcuate ligament syndrome (MALS)., Case Presentation: The patient was a 77-year-old Azeri woman who presented with progressive jaundice, vague abdominal pain, and abdominal distension from 6 months ago. The intra- and extrahepatic bile ducts were dilated, the liver's margin was slightly irregular, and the echogenicity of the liver was mildly heterogeneous in the initial ultrasound exam. A huge cystic mass with peripheral calcification and compressive effect on the common bile duct (CBD) was also seen near the pancreatic head, which was connected to the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) and had internal turbulent blood flow on color Doppler ultrasound. According to the computed tomography angiography (CTA) findings, the huge mass of the pancreatic head was diagnosed as a true aneurysm of the pancreaticoduodenal artery caused by MALS. Two similar smaller aneurysms were also present at the huge aneurysm's superior margin. Due to impending rupture signs in the huge aneurysm, the severe compression effect of this aneurysm on CBD, and the patient's family will surgery was chosen for the patient to resect the aneurysms, but unfortunately, the patient died on the first day after the operation due to hemorrhagic shock., Conclusion: In unexpected obstructive jaundice due to a mass with vascular origin in the head of the pancreas, PDAA should be considered, and celiac trunk should be evaluated because the main reason for PDAA is celiac trunk stenosis or occlusion by atherosclerosis or MALS. The treatment method chosen (including transarterial embolization, open surgery, or combined method) depends on the patient's clinical status and radiological findings, but transarterial embolization would be safer and should be used as a first-line method., (© 2023. BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature.)

Objectives: Currently, one of the most pressing issues for surgeons in the treatment of obstructive jaundice is the ability to assess the functional state of the liver and to detect and determine the degree of liver failure in a timely manner with simple and objective techniques. In this regard, the use of fluorescence spectroscopy method can be considered as one of the ways to improve the informativity of existing diagnostic algorithms in clinical practice and to introduce new diagnostic tools. Thus, the aim of the work was to study in vivo the functional state of liver parenchyma by the method of fluorescence spectroscopy implemented through a needle probe and assess the contribution of the main tissue fluorophores to reveal new diagnostic criteria., Materials and Methods: We compared data from 20 patients diagnosed with obstructive jaundice and 11 patients without this syndrome. Measurements were performed using a fluorescence spectroscopy method at excitation wavelengths of 365 and 450 nm. Data were collected using a 1 mm fiber optic needle probe. The analysis was based on the comparison of the results of deconvolution with the combinations of Gaussian curves reflecting the contribution of the pure fluorophores in the liver tissues., Results: The results showed a statistically significant increase in the contribution of curves reflecting NAD(P)H fluorescence, bilirubin, and flavins in the group of patients with obstructive jaundice. This and the calculated redox ratio values indicated that the energy metabolism of the hepatocytes may have shifted to glycolysis due to hypoxia. An increase in vitamin A fluorescence was also observed. It may also serve as a marker of liver damage, indicating impaired vitamin A mobilization from the liver due to cholestasis., Conclusions: The results obtained reflect changes associated with shifts in the content of the main fluorophores characterizing hepatocyte dysfunction caused by accumulation of bilirubin and bile acids and after disturbance of oxygen utilization. The contributions of NAD(P)H, flavins, and bilirubin as well as vitamin A can be used for further studies as promising diagnostic and prognostic markers for the course of liver failure. Further work will include collecting fluorescence spectroscopy data in patients with different clinical effects of obstructive jaundice on postoperative clinical outcome after biliary decompression., (© 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Objectives: Patients with obstruction jaundice are at a high risk of hypotension and need high volume of fluids and a high dose of catecholamine to maintain organ perfusion during operation procedure. All these likely contribute to high perioperative morbidity and mortality. The aim of the study is to evaluate the effects of methylene blue on the hemodynamics in patients undergoing surgeries associated with obstructive jaundice., Design: A prospective, randomized, and controlled clinical study., Setting: The enrolled patients randomly received 2 mg/kg of methylene blue in saline or saline (50 ml) before anesthesia induction. The primary outcome was the frequency and dose of noradrenaline administration to maintain mean arterial blood pressure over 65 mmHg or > 80% of baseline, and systemic vascular resistance (SVR) over 800 dyne/s/cm 5 during operation. The secondary outcomes were liver and kidney functions, and ICU stay., Patients: Seventy patients were enrolled in the study and randomly assigned to receive either methylene blue or control (n = 35/group)., Results: Fewer patients received noradrenaline in the methylene blue group when compared with the control group (13/35 vs 23/35, P = 0.017), and the noradrenaline dose administrated during operation was reduced in the methylene blue group when compared with the control group (0.32 ± 0.57 mg vs 1.787 ± 3.51 mg, P = 0.018). The blood level of creatinine, glutamic oxalacetic transaminase, and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase after the operation was reduced in the methylene blue group when compared with the control group., Conclusions: Prophylactic administration of methylene blue before operation associated with obstructive jaundice improves hemodynamic stability and short-term prognosis., Question: Methylene blue use prevented refractory hypotension during cardiac surgery, sepsis, or anaphylactic shock. It is still unknown that methylene blue on the vascular hypo-tone associated with obstructive jaundice., Findings: Prophylactic administration with methylene blue improved peri-operative hemodynamic stability, and hepatic and kidney function on the patients with obstructive jaundice., Meanings: Methylene blue is a promising and recommended drug for the patients undergoing the surgeries of relief obstructive jaundice during peri-operation management., (© 2023. The Author(s).)