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A girl who was born at 40 weeks of gestation weighing 3800 g presented with bilious vomiting and abdominal distension shortly after birth. A lower gastrointestinal contrast study showed a microcolon with small bowel atresia. Subsequently, laparotomy, small bowel resection and anastomosis were done. Intra-operative findings noted jejunal atresia type 3a. Post-operatively, the patient developed persistent conjugated hyperbilirubinaemia and hence, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) was performed. MRCP revealed possible biliary atresia (BA) of which the patient underwent Kasai hepato-porto-enterostomy. We reported a rare case of double pathology involving jejunal atresia and BA, describing its aetiology, characteristics and treatment availability based on literature., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Choong Yew Hoe et al.)

Objectives: Cholecystectomy with or without intraoperative cholangiogram (IOC) is an accepted treatment for cholelithiasis. Up to 11.6 % of cholecystectomies have incidental common bile duct (CBD) stones on IOC and 25.3 % of undiagnosed CBD stones will develop life-threatening complications. These will require additional intervention after primary cholecystectomy, further straining the healthcare system. We seek to examine the role of IOC in patients with normal LFTs by evaluating its predictive values, intending to treat undiagnosed CBD stones and therefore ameliorate these issues., Methods: All patients who underwent cholecystectomies with normal LFTs from October 2019 to December 2020 were prospectively enrolled. IOC was done, ERCPs were performed for filling defects and documented as "true positive" if ERCP was congruent with the IOC. "False positives" were recorded if ERCP was negative. "True negative" was assigned to normal IOC and LFT after 2 weeks of follow-up. Those with abnormal LFTs were subjected to ERCP and documented as "false negative". Sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values were calculated., Results: A total of 180 patients were analysed. IOC showed a specificity of 85.5 % and a NPV of 88.1 % with an AUC of 73.7 %. The positive predictive value and sensitivity were 56.5 and 61.9 % respectively., Conclusions: Routine IOC is a specific diagnostic tool with good negative predictive value. It is useful to exclude the presence of CBD stones when LFT is normal. It does not significantly prolong the length of hospitalization or duration of the cholecystectomy hence reducing the incidence of undetected retained stones and preventing its complications effectively., Competing Interests: Competing interests: The authors state no conflict of interests., (© 2024 the author(s), published by De Gruyter, Berlin/Boston.)

Introduction: Endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) plus endoscopic papillary large balloon dilatation (EPLBD) has been reported as a valid alternative to EST alone in removing common bile duct (CBD) stone. The aim of this study is to compare efficacy, and safety of these two groups of patients in removing CBD stone in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM)., Materials and Methods: This is a prospective single centre randomised single blinded comparative study conducted in HUSM. The primary endpoints for this study are the overall complete stone clearance rate and complication rate, while the secondary outcome for this study are duration of procedure and rate of usage of adjunct methods. Objective data analysis is conducted using independent sample t-test and chi-squared test., Results: A total of 66 patients underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for choledocholithiasis which is CBD stone. 34 patients were allocated to EST plus EPLBD arm (n=34), and 32 patients were in EST alone arm (n=32) using randomisation method. For intention to treat, patients from EST alone arm that unable to achieve complete stone clearance will be switched to EST plus EPLBD arm. The overall complete stone removal rate for both groups were comparable (EST plus EPLDB: 100% versus EST alone: 93.8%; p= 0.139). The two patients from EST alone group (6.2%) that unable to achieve complete stone clearance were converted to EST plus EPLBD group for intention to treat and able to achieve complete stone clearance by EST plus EPLBD. For procedural time, both arms are comparable as well (EST plus EPLDB: 15.8 minutes vs EST alone: 15.5 minutes; p= 0.860). Complications such as pancreatitis occurred in one patient in EST plus EPLBD arm (EST plus EPLDB: 2.9 % vs EST alone: 0 %; p= 0.328), and bleeding occurred in one patient in EST alone arm (EST plus EPLDB: 0 % vs EST alone: 3.1 %; p= 0.299) , but it is not statistically significant. No perforation or cholangitis complication occurred in both groups. No adjunct usage was observed in both groups., Conclusion: In this study with limited sample size, both EST plus EPLBD and EST alone are effective and has comparable procedural time in removing CBD stone. Even though both methods are equally effective, EPLBD plus EST is an alternative solution if complete stone clearance is unable to achieve via EST alone.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) among type-2 diabetes (T2D) patients is an increasing burden to diabetes management. This study aims to develop and select the best machine learning (ML) classification model for predicting HCC in T2D for HCC early detection., Methods: A case-control study was conducted utilising computerised medical records in two hepatobiliary centres. The predictors were chosen using multiple logistic regression. IBM SPSS Modeler® was used to assess the discriminative performance of support vector machine (SVM), logistic regression (LR), artificial neural network (ANN), chi-square automatic interaction detection (CHAID), and their ensembles., Results: Subjects (N = 424) were split into 60% training (n = 248) and 40% testing (n = 176) groups. The independent predictors identified were race, viral hepatitis, abdominal pain/discomfort, unintentional weight loss, statins, alcohol consumption, non-alcoholic fatty liver, platelet <150 ×10 3 /μL, alkaline phosphatase >129 IU/L, and alanine transaminase ≥25 IU/L. The performances of all models differed significantly (Cochran's Q-test,p = 0.001) but not between the ensembled and SVM model (McNemar test, p = 0.687). SVM model was selected as the best model due to its simplicity, high accuracy (85.28%), and high AUC (0.914). A web-based application was developed using the best model's algorithm for HCC prediction., Conclusions: If further validation studies confirm these results, the SVM model's application potentially augments early HCC detection in T2D patients., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2022 The Author(s).)

Maintaining hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) services during the initial phase of a pandemic in a state referral hospital for COVID-19 presents a few challenges, especially when a nationwide, government-issued partial lockdown is in enforcement. We describe the adaptations to our practice to maintain the services whilst ensuring safety of patients and staff, by postponing non-urgent clinic cases, grouping our staff to two mutually exclusive teams that work on alternate shifts and selecting HPB operative cases according to the modified Risk Urgency Decision Matrix.

WHO declared worldwide outbreak of COVID-19 a pandemic on 11 March 2020. Healthcare authorities have temporarily stopped all elective surgical and endoscopy procedures. Nevertheless, there is a subset of patients who require emergency treatment such as aerosol-generating procedures. Herein, we would like to discuss the management of a patient diagnosed with impending biliary sepsis during COVID-19 outbreak. The highlight of the discussion is mainly concerning the advantages of concurrent use of aerosol protective barrier in addition to personal protective equipment practice, necessary precautions to be taken during endoscopy retrograde cholangiopancreatography and handling of the patient preprocedure and postprocedure., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2020. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

A biliary fistula which may occur spontaneously or after surgery, is an abnormal communication from the biliary system to an organ, cavity or free surface. Spontaneous biliary-enteric fistula is a rare complication of gallbladder pathology, with over 90% of them secondary to cholelithiasis. Approximately 6% are due to perforating peptic ulcers. Symptoms of biliary-enteric fistula varies widely and usually non-specific, mimicking any chronic biliary disease. Cholecystoduodenal fistula causing severe upper gastrointestinal (UGI) bleed is very rare. Bleeding cholecystoduodenal fistula commonly requires surgical resection of the fistula and repair of the duodenal perforation. We describe the case of a previously healthy older patient who initially presented with symptoms suggestive of UGI bleeding. Bleeding could not be controlled endoscopically. When a laparotomy was performed, a cholecystoduodenal fistula was discovered and bleeding was noted to originate from the superficial branch of cystic artery., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2019. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Objective: Various techniques and instruments have been developed to provide safe and secure closure of laparoscopic wounds. Herein we describe a simple method to close laparoscopic supraumbilical wounds with the aid of a laparoscopic port., Method: This was a retrospective review of prospective data, which were from 151 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy for symptomatic gallstone disease from December 2009 to December 2010 in Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital. A senior consultant hepato-pancreato-biliary (HPB) surgeon and two HPB trainee surgeons performed the operations. Postoperatively, all patients were followed up at 4 weeks., Results: All patients successfully underwent closure of the supraumbilical wound with the assistance of a 5mm laparoscopic port. None of the patients had incisional hernia on follow up., Conclusion: Port assisted closure of supraumbilical laparoscopic wounds is a feasible and safe technique.

Objective: Conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) involves the use of four ports, but the number of ports has gradually been reduced to one for cosmetic reasons. however, single-incision LC is technically demanding, and there is a substantial learning curve associated with its successful application. The aim of this clinical study was to evaluate the safety and feasibility of a less demanding alternative LC technique with a faster learning curve., Methods: This prospective descriptive study was performed from September 2009 to February 2011 at Sultanah Bahiyah hospital in Kedah, Malaysia. A total of 58 patients underwent two-incision threeport laparoscopic cholecystectomy (TILC), which was performed by the senior consultant hepato-pancreato-biliary surgeon and two hepato-pancreato-biliary trainees. Study end points included operative time, postoperative pain, length of hospital stay and early postoperative complications. The follow-up period was 4 weeks., Results: The overall operative time taken was 44 ± 18 minutes. none of the patients had major complication or incisional hernia postoperatively. All but one of the patients were discharged within 24 h. nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were the main postoperative analgesic used., Conclusion: TILC is feasible and safe cholecystectomy technique.

Entamoeba histolytica is a causative agent of amoebic liver abscess (ALA) and is endemic in many underdeveloped countries. We investigated antigenic E. histolytica proteins in liver abscess aspirates using proteomics approach. Pus samples were first tested by real-time PCR to confirm the presence of E. histolytica DNA and the corresponding serum samples tested for E. histolytica-specific IgG by a commercial ELISA. Proteins were extracted from three and one pool(s) of pus samples from ALA and PLA (pyogenic liver abscess) patients respectively, followed by analysis using isoelectric focussing, SDS-PAGE and Western blot. Unpurified pooled serum samples from infected hamsters and pooled human amoebic-specific IgG were used as primary antibodies. The antigenic protein band was excised from the gel, digested and analysed by MALDI-TOF/TOF and LC-MS/MS. The results using both primary antibodies showed an antigenic protein band of ∼14kDa. Based on the mass spectrum analysis, putative tyrosine kinase is the most probable identification of the antigenic band., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

A bleeding pseudoaneurysm of the peripancreatic artery can present with massive upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage. History of pancreatitis and urgent imaging are crucial in the making of the diagnosis. Here, we report a patient with alcoholic chronic pancreatitis presented with ruptured pseudoaneurysm of gastroduodenal artery (GDA). He was treated with percutaneous angiographic embolisation.

The protein profile of serum samples from patients with amoebic liver abscess (ALA) was compared to those of normal individuals to determine their expression levels and to identify potential surrogate disease markers. Serum samples were resolved by two dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) followed by image analysis. The up and down-regulated protein spots were excised from the gels and analysed by MS/MS. The concentration of three clusters of proteins i.e. haptoglobin (HP), α1-antitrypsin (AAT) and transferrin in serum samples of ALA patients and healthy controls were compared using competitive ELISA. In addition, serum concentrations of HP and transferrin in samples of patients with ALA and pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) were also compared. The results of the protein 2-DE expression analysis showed that HP cluster, AAT cluster, one spot each from unknown spots no. 1 and 2 were significantly up-regulated and transferrin cluster was significantly down-regulated in ALA patients' sera (p<0.05). The MS/MS analysis identified the unknown protein spot no.1 as human transcript and haptoglobin and spot no. 2 as albumin. Competitive ELISA which compared concentrations of selected proteins in sera of ALA and healthy controls verified the up-regulated expression (p<0.05) of HP and the down-regulated expression (p<0.01) of transferrin in the former, while there was no significant difference in AAT expression (p> 0.05). However, when ALA and PLA samples were compared, competitive ELISA showed significant increased concentration of HP (p<0.05) while transferrin levels were not different. In conclusion, this study showed that HP is a potential surrogate disease marker for ALA.

Background: Our aim was to analyze our single-center experience with orthotopic liver transplantation for metabolic lethal genetic syndromes in children and adults., Study Design: From 1984 to 2012, all pediatric (younger than 18 years) and adult (18 years and older) patients who underwent orthotopic liver transplantation for lethal genetic disorders were identified. Data on diagnostic pathways and specific outcomes were analyzed for both groups. Outcomes measures included recurrence rate as well as graft and patient survival., Results: Metabolic lethal genetic syndrome was the primary indication for orthotopic liver transplantation in 152 of 4,564 patients (3.3%) at University of California, Los Angeles during the study period (74 pediatric patients and 78 adults). Genetic testing was performed in only 12% of the 152 patients and in 39% of patients after 2006. Two patients (1.3%) experienced a recurrence of the genetic disease. Overall 5- and 20-year survival rates were 89% and 77% for children and 73% and 50% for adults. Survival of pediatric patients was superior to adults (log-rank p < 0.009). Multivariate analysis identified age (hazard ratio = 2.18), preoperative life support (hazard ratio = 2.68), and earlier transplantation (hazard ratio = 3.41) as independent predictors of reduced survival., Conclusions: Orthotopic liver transplantation achieved excellent long-term survival in pediatric and adult patients with lethal genetic syndromes and represents a model of personalized genomic medicine by providing gene therapy through solid organ transplantation., (Copyright © 2013 American College of Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Hepatic angiosarcoma is a rare primary mesenchymal malignancy. Prognosis is poor and mortality occurs early. The diagnosis is challenging. Our case was an asymptomatic 70 year-old man referred, with incidental ultrasonography finding of multiple liver nodules. Diagnostic laparoscopic liver biopsy and the histopathological examination reported a haemangioma. Six months later, he became symptomatic and his health condition deteriorated rapidly.

Vibrio cholerae infection is mainly caused acute diarrhoea disease. Bacteraemia due to non-O1 V. cholerae is rare and mainly reported in liver cirrhotic patients. We report one case of non-O1 V. cholerae bacteraemia in splenectomised thalassaemic patient who presented with septic shock secondary to abdominal sepsis. She had undergone emergency laporatomy and was managed in the intensive care unit for nine days. She was treated with meropenem and doxycyline and discharged well after fourteen days of admission. The V. cholerae was identified by API 20NE, serotype and polymerase chain reaction showed as non-O1, non-O139 strain. Besides known cholera-like toxin and El Tor hemolysin, with increasing reported cases of V. cholerae bacteraemia, there is possibility of other virulence factors that allow this organism to invade the bloodstream.

A 15-year-old girl, who was previously well, complained of a mass in the abdomen after a minor motor vehicle accident. Physical and radiological investigations revealed a mass in the body of pancreas containing proteinaceous material and multiple nodules in both lobes of liver. Serological investigations for malignancy were normal. Histopathological examination of the resected specimen showed pancreatoblastoma. Pancreatoblastoma is an unusual malignant tumour seen in infants and children although rare cases have also been reported in adults. They are clinicopathologically distinct from adult pancreatic ductal carcinoma. The histogenesis, clinical features and treatment options are discussed along with presentation of the case.