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Background: Bile duct injury (BDI) is one of the most severe complications during cholecystectomy. Early identification of risk factors for BDI may permit risk reduction strategies and inform patient consent. Objective: This study aimed to define patient, provider, and systemic factors associated with BDI; BDI incidence; and short-term outcomes of BDI after urgent cholecystectomy. Methods: Patients who underwent urgent cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis were retrospectively screened (2020-2022). All patients who sustained BDI were included without exclusions. Demographics, clinical data, and outcomes were collected and compared with descriptive statistics. Results: During the study period, BDI occurred in 4 (0.5%) of 728 patients who underwent urgent cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis. Most BDI cases (75%) took place overnight or during the weekend. The attending surgeon was almost exclusively (75%) in their first year of practice. BDI was recognized during index operation in 2 cases (50%). Hepatobiliary surgery performed the bile duct repair in all 4 cases. Two complications occurred (50%). All patients were followed by hepatobiliary surgery in the outpatient setting and returned to their baseline level of function within 2 months of hospital discharge. Conclusion: Most BDI occurred in procedures attended by first-year faculty during after hours cholecystectomies, suggesting a role for increased proctorship in early career attendings in addition to in-hours cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis. The timely return to baseline function experienced by these patients emphasizes the favorable outcomes associated with early recognition of BDI and involvement of hepatobiliary surgery. Further examination with multicenter evaluation would be beneficial to validate these study findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to explore the application value of three-dimensional (3D) visualization technology in the early surgical repair of bile duct injury during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 15 patients who underwent early surgical repair of bile duct injury during LC with the assistance of 3D visualization technology at the Hepatobiliary Surgery Department of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region People's Hospital from January 2019 to December 2022. Postoperative efficacy and long-term follow-up outcomes were summarized. Results: Before the repair surgery, 15 cases of bile duct injury during LC were evaluated using 3D visualization technology according to the Strasberg-Bismuth classification: 2 cases of type C, 4 of type E1, 3 of type E2, 3 of type E3, and 3 of type E4. Intraoperative findings were consistent with the 3D visualization reconstruction results, and all patients successfully underwent hepaticojejunostomy using Roux-en-Y anastomosis guided by the 3D visualization navigation. The time interval between LC and bile duct repair surgery ranged from 5 to 28 (14.2 ± 9.7) days. The surgical time was between 120 and 190 (156.40 ± 23.92) min, and estimated blood loss ranged from 80 to 250 (119.66 ± 47.60) mL. The length of hospital stay ranged from 12 to 25 days (median: 16 days). One patient experienced mild bile leakage after the operation, which healed with conservative treatment. All patients were followed up for 12–56 months (median: 34 months) without any loss to follow-up. During the follow-up period, no complications, such as anastomotic stricture or stone formation, were observed. Conclusion: The application of 3D visualization technology for preoperative evaluation and intraoperative navigation can accurately and effectively facilitate early surgical repair of bile duct injury during LC and has clinical value for promotion and application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Bile duct injury is a serious complication after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE). If it is not detected early and treated actively, it will not only affect the subsequent tumor-related treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients, but also may lead to serious consequences such as infection, liver failure and even death. To analyze the risk factors of bile duct injury after TACE in patients with HCC and explore the predictive indicators of bile duct injury after TACE, which is helpful for doctors to detect and intervene early and avoid the occurrence of serious complications. Method: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 847 patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent TACE for the first time in our interventional department. Patients were divided into two groups according to whether bile duct injury occurred after TACE: (1) bile duct injury group, N = 55; (2) no bile duct injury group, N = 792. The basic data, intraoperative conditions and the outcome of bile duct injury were analyzed. The chi-square test was used for comparison of enumeration data. The Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of measurement data. Risk factor analysis was performed using binary logistic regression analysis. Results: Basic data and intraoperative conditions were compared between the bile duct injury group and the group without bile duct injury: preoperative alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (103.24 ± 32.77U/L vs. 89.17 ± 37.35U/L, P = 0.003); history of hepatobiliary surgery (36.4% vs. 20.8%, P = 0.011); intraoperative lipiodol volume (P = 0.007); combined use of gelatin sponge particles (65.5% vs. 35.0%, P < 0.001); hypovascularity (58.2% vs. 24.5%, P < 0.001); and embolization site (P < 0.001). Comparison of postoperative liver function between bile duct injury group and non-bile duct injury group: postoperative total bilirubin (43.34 ± 25.18umol/L vs. 21.94 ± 9.82umol/L, P < 0.001); postoperative γ-glutamyltransferase(GGT) (188.09 ± 55.62U/L vs. 84.04 ± 36.47U/L, P < 0.001); postoperative ALP(251.51 ± 61.51U/L vs. 99.92 ± 45.98U/L, P < 0.001). Conclusion: The dosage of lipiodol in TACE, supplementation of gelatin sponge particles, embolization site, and hypovascularity of the tumor are risk factors for biliary duct injury after TACE. After TACE, GGT and ALP increased ≥ 2 times compared with preoperative indicators as predictors of bile duct injury. Bile duct injury occurring after TACE can achieve good outcomes with aggressive management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To evaluate the safety profile of robotic cholecystectomy performed within the United Kingdom (UK) Robotic Hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) training programme. Methods: A retrospective evaluation of prospectively collected data from eleven centres participating in the UK Robotic HPB training programme was conducted. All adult patients undergoing robotic cholecystectomy for symptomatic gallstone disease or gallbladder polyp were considered. Bile duct injury, conversion to open procedure, conversion to subtotal cholecystectomy, length of hospital stay, 30-day re-admission, and post-operative complications were the evaluated outcome parameters. Results: A total of 600 patients were included. The median age was 53 (IQR 65–41) years and the majority (72.7%; 436/600) were female. The main indications for robotic cholecystectomy were biliary colic (55.5%, 333/600), cholecystitis (18.8%, 113/600), gallbladder polyps (7.7%, 46/600), and pancreatitis (6.2%, 37/600). The median length of stay was 0 (IQR 0–1) days. Of the included patients, 88.5% (531/600) were discharged on the day of procedure with 30-day re-admission rate of 5.5% (33/600). There were no bile duct injuries and the rate of conversion to open was 0.8% (5/600) with subtotal cholecystectomy rate of 0.8% (5/600). Conclusion: The current study confirms that robotic cholecystectomy can be safely implemented to routine practice with a low risk of bile duct injury, low bile leak rate, low conversion to open surgery, and low need for subtotal cholecystectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To examine the use of surgical intelligence for automatically monitoring critical view of safety (CVS) in laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) in a real-world quality initiative. Background: Surgical intelligence encompasses routine, artificial intelligence-based capture and analysis of surgical video, and connection of derived data with patient and outcomes data. These capabilities are applied to continuously assess and improve surgical quality and efficiency in real-world settings. Methods: Laparoscopic cholecystectomies conducted at 2 general surgery departments between December 2022 and August 2023 were routinely captured by a surgical intelligence platform, which identified and continuously presented CVS adoption, surgery duration, complexity, and negative events. In March 2023, the departments launched a quality initiative aiming for 75% CVS adoption. Results: Two hundred seventy-nine procedures were performed during the study. Adoption increased from39.2%in the 3 preintervention months to 69.2% in the final 3 months (P < 0.001). Monthly adoption rose from 33.3% to 75.7%. Visualization of the cystic duct and artery accounted for most of the improvement; the other 2 components had high adoption throughout. Procedures with full CVS were shorter (P = 0.007) and had fewer events (P = 0.011) than those without. OR time decreased following intervention (P = 0.033). Conclusions: Surgical intelligence facilitated a steady increase in CVS adoption, reaching the goal within 6 months. Low initial adoption stemmed from a single CVS component, and increased adoption was associated with improved OR efficiency. Real-world use of surgical intelligence can uncover new insights, modify surgeon behavior, and support best practices to improve surgical quality and efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A biloma refers to an abnormal, well-defined accumulation of bile outside the biliary tree within the abdomen, which can be either intra- or extra-hepatic in nature. It can result from traumatic or iatrogenic causes, leading to a disruption in the biliary system. Without prompt diagnosis and appropriate management, it can result in significant morbidity and mortality. While magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) is the typical diagnostic method, there are instances where it may not provide conclusive results. Case presentation: We present the case of a 72-year-old woman who underwent an hepatic resection of the seventh segment after recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). During the ultrasound (US) follow-up, she developed a peri-hepatic collection which proved to be a biloma continuously refurnished by the biliary tree. Neither the MRCP nor the percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC) were able to clearly detect the exact site of the bile leak. While awaiting the Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio-Pancreatography (ERCP), a Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS) was conducted administering the contrast agent directly through the percutaneous drainage catheter placed in the biloma. This revealed the presence of contrast flow from the collection to a peripheral right bile duct, confirming the intra-hepatic leak communication. Conclusions: This case demonstrates that Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS) presents a straightforward, secure, and precise approach to detect biliary leakage responsible for the formation of a biloma. Additionally, the adoption of CEUS offers the dual benefit of minimizing radiation exposure for the patient and obviating the requirement for anesthesia. In summary, CEUS emerges as a compelling alternative to conventional diagnostic methods for effectively managing a biloma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Objective This study aimed to explore the application value of three-dimensional (3D) visualization technology in the early surgical repair of bile duct injury during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 15 patients who underwent early surgical repair of bile duct injury during LC with the assistance of 3D visualization technology at the Hepatobiliary Surgery Department of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region People’s Hospital from January 2019 to December 2022. Postoperative efficacy and long-term follow-up outcomes were summarized. Results Before the repair surgery, 15 cases of bile duct injury during LC were evaluated using 3D visualization technology according to the Strasberg-Bismuth classification: 2 cases of type C, 4 of type E1, 3 of type E2, 3 of type E3, and 3 of type E4. Intraoperative findings were consistent with the 3D visualization reconstruction results, and all patients successfully underwent hepaticojejunostomy using Roux-en-Y anastomosis guided by the 3D visualization navigation. The time interval between LC and bile duct repair surgery ranged from 5 to 28 (14.2 ± 9.7) days. The surgical time was between 120 and 190 (156.40 ± 23.92) min, and estimated blood loss ranged from 80 to 250 (119.66 ± 47.60) mL. The length of hospital stay ranged from 12 to 25 days (median: 16 days). One patient experienced mild bile leakage after the operation, which healed with conservative treatment. All patients were followed up for 12–56 months (median: 34 months) without any loss to follow-up. During the follow-up period, no complications, such as anastomotic stricture or stone formation, were observed. Conclusion The application of 3D visualization technology for preoperative evaluation and intraoperative navigation can accurately and effectively facilitate early surgical repair of bile duct injury during LC and has clinical value for promotion and application.

Abstract Purpose Bile duct injury is a serious complication after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE). If it is not detected early and treated actively, it will not only affect the subsequent tumor-related treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients, but also may lead to serious consequences such as infection, liver failure and even death. To analyze the risk factors of bile duct injury after TACE in patients with HCC and explore the predictive indicators of bile duct injury after TACE, which is helpful for doctors to detect and intervene early and avoid the occurrence of serious complications. Method We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 847 patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent TACE for the first time in our interventional department. Patients were divided into two groups according to whether bile duct injury occurred after TACE: (1) bile duct injury group, N = 55; (2) no bile duct injury group, N = 792. The basic data, intraoperative conditions and the outcome of bile duct injury were analyzed. The chi-square test was used for comparison of enumeration data. The Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of measurement data. Risk factor analysis was performed using binary logistic regression analysis. Results Basic data and intraoperative conditions were compared between the bile duct injury group and the group without bile duct injury: preoperative alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (103.24 ± 32.77U/L vs. 89.17 ± 37.35U/L, P = 0.003); history of hepatobiliary surgery (36.4% vs. 20.8%, P = 0.011); intraoperative lipiodol volume (P = 0.007); combined use of gelatin sponge particles (65.5% vs. 35.0%, P

Background: An alternative method to standard laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SLC) is the “fundus first” method (FFLC). Concerns have been raised that FFLC can lead to misinterpretation of important anatomical structures, thus causing complications of a more serious kind than SLC. Comparisons between the methods are complicated by the fact that FFLC is often used as a rescue procedure in complicated cases. To avoid confounding related to this we conducted a population-based study with comparisons on the surgeon level. Method: In GallRiks, the Swedish registry for Gallbladder surgery, we stratified all cholecystectomies performed 2006–2020 in three groups: surgeries carried out by surgeons that uses FFLC in 80% group” and the operative time was shorter (OR 0.76 [0.69–0.83]). Conclusion: In this study including >160,000 cholecystectomies, both methods was found to be equally safe. Key message: During laparoscopic cholecystectomy, the standard method of dissection and fundus first dissection are equally safe surgical techniques. Surgeons need to learn both methods to be able to use the one most appropriate for each individual case.

Background: A critical view of safety (CVS) is important to ensure safe laparoscopic cholecystectomy. When the CVS is not possible, subtotal cholecystectomy is performed. While considering subtotal cholecystectomy, surgeons are often concerned about preventing bile leakage from the cystic ducts. The two main types of subtotal cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis are fenestrating and reconstituting. Previously, there were no selection criteria for these two; therefore, open conversion was performed. This study aimed to evaluate our goal-oriented approach to choose fenestrating or reconstituting subtotal cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis. Methods: We introduced our goal-oriented approach in April 2019. Before introducing this approach, laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis was performed without criteria for subtotal cholecystectomy. After our approach was introduced, laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis was performed according to the subtotal cholecystectomy criteria. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis between 2015 and 2021. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis was performed by surgeons regardless of whether they were novices or veterans. Results: The period from April 2015 to March 2019 was before the introduction (BI) of our approach, the period from April 2019 to December 2021 was after the introduction (AI) of our approach. There were 177 and 186 patients with acute cholecystitis during the BI and AI periods, respectively. There were no significant differences between groups in terms of preoperative characteristics, operative time, and blood loss. No difference in the laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy rate between groups (10.2% [BI] vs. 13.9% [AI]; p = 0.266) was obserbed. The open conversion rate during the BI period was significantly higher than that during the AI period (7.4% vs. 1.6%; p = 0.015). Conclusions: Our goal-oriented approach is feasible, safe, and easy for many surgeons to understand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Operations on the biliary areas are one of the most common procedures performed in the field of digestive surgery. The incidence of Bile Duct Injury (BDI) also increases with the improvement of laparoscopic techniques and pathology treatment in other biliary areas. BDI is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality, especially when not recognized intraoperatively, which occurs in only 25% to 32.4%. This study aims to determine the description of patients with BDI at RSUD Dr. Soetomo Surabaya from January 2021 to December 2023. This type of study is an observational analytical study with a cross sectional design using medical record data from patients with BDI at RSUD Dr. Soetomo Surabaya from January 2021 to December 2023. Samples were taken using the total sampling method which met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. From 26 study subjects whose surgical history was recorded, the group who underwent a history of laparoscopic surgery had an average Length of Stay (LOS) of 12.91 days with the fastest being 6 days and the longest being 19 days. Meanwhile, the open history group had an average LOS of 23.57 days with the fastest LOS being 15 days and the longest being 33 days. It was found that there was a longer length of stay in patients with treatment of more than 2 weeks compared to those with less than 2 weeks. Mortality rates were found to occur in patients with a history of open surgery, and type BDI E4. Bile duct injury can cause morbidity and mortality in patients. Therefore, it must be quickly recognized and treated well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To find out the pattern and management of Bile Duct Injuries (BDIs) presented to Hepatobilliary unit. Study Design: Descriptive Cross Sectional. Setting: Hepatobiliary Unit, Shaikh Zayed Hospital Lahore. Period: November 1, 2022, to April 30, 2023. Methods: Total of 79 patients with Bile duct injuries were included. Demographic data and relevant investigations were performed. BDIs severity was classified using the Strausberg Classification. Patients underwent appropriate surgical interventions, with follow-up for period of 6 months postoperative complications. Results: The mean age was 39.89±10.01 yrs, primarily females (81%). BDI resulted from laparoscopic cholecystectomy in 44.3%, open cholecystectomy in 51.9%, and conversion to open surgery in 3.8% cases. Jaundice (58.2%), bile leak (38.0%), and itching (3.8%) were common presentations. Surgical procedures included hepaticojejunostomy (77.2%), right hepatectomy with hepaticojejunostomy (8.9%), and liver resection + hepaticojejunostomy (13.9%). BDI classification revealed E2 (57.0%), E3 (36.7%), and E4 (6.3%) cases. Surgical site infection was observed in 11.4% of cases. Postoperatively 5.1% patients experienced anastomotic leaks and only the site of BDI was a significant factor for leak with the p value of <0.001. Conclusion: In conclusion the majority of BDIs were E2 (57.0%), E3 (36.7%), and E4 (6.3%). Procedure performed were hepaticojejunostomy (77.2%), right hepatectomy with hepaticojejunostomy (8.9%), and liver resection + hepaticojejunostomy (13.9%). Anastomotic leaks were significantly linked to the site of BDI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bile duct injury (BDI) repair surgery is usually associated with morbidity/mortality. The neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR) easily assesses a patient's inflammatory status. The study aims to determine the possible relationship between preoperative NLR (pNLR) with postoperative outcomes in BDI repair surgery. Methods: Approved Ethics/Research Committee retrospective study, in patients who had a Bismuth‐Strasberg type E BDI repair (2008–2023). Data registered was: morbidity, mortality, and long‐term outcomes (primary patency and loss of primary patency) (Kaplan–Meier). Group comparison (U Mann–Whitney), receiver operator characteristic (ROC): area under curve [AUC]; cut‐off value, and Youden index [J], and logistic regression analysis were used for pNLR evaluation. Results: Seventy‐three patients were studied. Mean age was 44.4 years. E2 was the commonest BDI (38.4%). Perioperative morbidity/mortality was 31.5% and 1.4%. Primary patency was 95.9%. 8.2% have lost primary patency (3‐year actuarial patency: 85.3%). Median pNLR was higher in patients who had any complication (4.84 vs. 2.89 p = 0.015), biliary complications (5.29 vs. 2.86 p = 0.01), and patients with loss of primary patency (5.22 vs. 3.1 p = 0.08). AUC's, cut‐off values and (J) were: any complication (0.678, pNLR = 4.3, J = 0.38, p = 0.007), serious complication (0.667, pNLR = 4.3, J = 0.34, p = 0.04), biliary complications (0.712, pNLR = 3.64, J = 0.46, p = 0.001), and loss of primary patency (0.716, pNLR = 3.24, J = 0.52, p = 0.008). Logistic regression was significant in any complication (Exp [B]: 0.1, p = 0.002), serious complications (Exp [B]: 0.2, p = 0.03), and biliary complications (Exp [B]: 8.1, p = 0.003). Conclusions: pNLR is associated with complications in BDI repair with moderate to acceptable predictive capacity. pNLR could potentially predict patency of a BDI repair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy (LSC) is a safe alternative for difficult cholecystectomies to prevent bile duct injury and open conversion. The primary aim was to detail the use and outcomes on LSCs. Methods: Retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). Relative clinical factors, outcomes, and 30‐day follow‐up between LSC and LC were compared using univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: Six hundred and twenty four cholecystectomies were performed and 53 (8.5%) required LSC. 81.8% were fenestrating LSC. Male sex was significantly overrepresented in the LSC group (p < 0.01) and patients requiring LSC were significantly older (p < 0.01). Same admission cholecystectomy was associated with a higher risk of LSC (p < 0.01). Patients with a history of previous surgery, preoperative ERCP, or percutaneous cholecystostomy had an increased risk of undergoing LSC (p < 0.01). A necrotic gallbladder was the most significant predictor of the need for a LSC (p < 0.001). A contracted gallbladder, extensive adhesions, gallbladder empyema, and severe inflammation were significant predictors of difficulty (all p < 0.01). Postoperative complications occurred in 26.4% of LSC patients. There were ten (18.9%) Clavien–Dindo Grade III complications, 5.7% required ERCPs, and 9.4% required relook laparotomies. Significantly, more patients in the LSC group developed bile leaks (n = 8, 15%) (p < 0.001). There were two readmissions within 30 days, one mortality, and no BDIs occurred in the LSC cohort. Conclusion: LSC provides a feasible surgical option that should be utilized in complex cholecystitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The problem of iatrogenic damage to the extrahepatic bile ducts during cholecystectomy remains relevant. Insufficient experience of the surgical team, limited knowledge of the topographic anatomy of the subhepatic space, especially in conditions of perivesical inflammatory infiltrate, poorly timed access conversion are some of the main reasons.The results of treatment of these patients depend on the timing of recognition of the injury, the type of the injury, the characteristics of reintervention, and timely reconstructive surgery performed in a specialized center. Up to 30 % of damage occurs due to combined injury to the extrahepatic bile ducts and afferent vessels of the liver, which aggravates the course of the disease.We report a clinical case of a female patient. The fragment of the hepaticocholedochus was excised during a planned cholecystectomy. In the same clinic, the primary reconstructive operation was performed (drainage of the hepaticocholedochus using a Kehr’s drain). Afterwards, an external fistula of the common hepatic duct was formed. The reconstructive operation was performed 4 days after the initial operation, in a specialized department of the regional clinical hospital. Relaparotomy was performed. In a dense inflammatory infiltrate during mobilization of the suspected hepaticocholedochus, a Kehr’s drain was identified, which distal branch was not located in the lumen of the bile duct. Thrombosis of the right hepatic artery was diagnosed. The Kehr’s drain was removed, the lobar ducts were identified to their confluence, and the confluence was preserved. The distal stump was sutured. Next, arteriotomy and thrombectomy were performed, and adequate retrograde and antegrade blood flow was recoverd. A hepaticoenteroanastomosis has been formed. The patient was discharged with recovery. When examined after 2 months, the condition was satisfactory. Timely diagnosis of thrombosis of the right hepatic artery, adequate revascularization and biliary reconstruction made it possible to avoid liver necrosis and achieve a good treatment outcome.

Abstract Background This study investigated the clinical application of the indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence navigation technique in bile duct identification during laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LCBDE) for complex hepatolithiasis. Methods Eighty patients with complex hepatolithiasis were admitted to our department between January 2022 and June 2023 and randomly divided into control and observation groups. The control group underwent conventional LCBDE, while the observation group underwent LCBDE guided by ICG fluorescence. Results Intraoperatively, the observation group had shorter operation and search times for the common bile duct (CBD), as well as reduced intraoperative blood loss and fewer complications, such as conversion to laparotomy and various injuries (gastroduodenal, colon, pancreatic, and vascular) than the control group, with statistical significance (P

Objective: The most feared complication during laparoscopic cholecystectomy remains a bile duct injury (BDI). Accurately risk-stratifying patients for a BDI remains difficult and imprecise. This study evaluated if the lethal triad of acute cholecystitis, obesity, and steatohepatitis is a prognostic measure for BDI. Methods: A retrospective review of the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) registry was performed. All laparoscopic cholecystectomy cases within the main NSQIP database for 2012–2019 were queried. Two study cohorts were constructed. One with the lethal triad of acute cholecystitis, BMI ≥ 30, and steatohepatitis. The other cohort did not have the full triad present. Multivariate analysis was performed via logistic regression modeling with calculation of odds ratios (OR) to identify independent factors for BDI. An uncontrolled and controlled propensity score match analysis was performed. Results: A total of 387,501 cases were analyzed. 36,887 cases contained the lethal triad, the remaining 350,614 cases did not have the full triad. 860 BDIs were identified resulting in an overall incidence rate 0.22%. There were 541 BDIs within the lethal triad group with 319 BDIs in the other cohort and an incidence rate of 1.49% vs 0.09% (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis identified the lethal triad as an independent risk factor for a BDI by over 15-fold (OR 16.35, 95%CI 14.28–18.78, P < 0.0001) on the uncontrolled analysis. For the controlled propensity score match there were 29,803 equivalent pairs identified between the cohorts. The BDI incidence rate remained significantly higher with lethal triad cases at 1.65% vs 0.04% (P < 0.001). The lethal triad was an even more significant independent risk factor for BDI on the controlled analysis (OR 40.13, 95%CI 7.05–356.59, P < 0.0001). Conclusions: The lethal triad of acute cholecystitis, obesity, and steatohepatitis significantly increases the risk of a BDI. This prognostic measure can help better counsel patients and potentially alter management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study investigated the clinical application of the indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence navigation technique in bile duct identification during laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LCBDE) for complex hepatolithiasis. Methods: Eighty patients with complex hepatolithiasis were admitted to our department between January 2022 and June 2023 and randomly divided into control and observation groups. The control group underwent conventional LCBDE, while the observation group underwent LCBDE guided by ICG fluorescence. Results: Intraoperatively, the observation group had shorter operation and search times for the common bile duct (CBD), as well as reduced intraoperative blood loss and fewer complications, such as conversion to laparotomy and various injuries (gastroduodenal, colon, pancreatic, and vascular) than the control group, with statistical significance (P < 0.05). Postoperatively, the observation group had lower rates of postoperative bile leakage, abdominal infection, postoperative hemorrhage, and residual stone than the control group. Additionally, the observation group demonstrated significantly shorter times for resuming flatus, removal of the abdominal drainage tube, and hospitalization than the control group, with statistical significance (P < 0.05). Conclusion: ICG fluorescence navigation technology effectively visualizes the bile duct, improves its identification rate, shortens the operation time, prevents biliary tract injury, and reduces the occurrence of complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anastomotic stricture formation at the biliary-enteric anastomotic site is the most common complication of Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy performed for post-cholecystectomy bile duct injuries. Percutaneous trans-hepatic biliary drainage followed by balloon dilatation is an available minimally invasive option to manage this complication. This will require multiple sittings along with the requirement of extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy to break the calculi before extracting them through the matured percutaneous tract. This leads to multiple hospital visits with prolonged treatment course. To provide a one stop solution, we adopted a simplified minimally invasive technique of combining laparoscopic and endoscopic approach to dilate the hepaticojejunostomy stricture as well as to extract the stones in the same sitting. A young female presented with cholangitis and hepatolithiasis following a hepaticojejunostomy done for bile duct injury 3 years back. In view of hepatolithiasis proximal to anastomotic stricture, a new technique of Laparo-endoscopy was performed to dilate the hepaticojejunostomy stricture and extract the calculi in the same sitting. This was preferred over percutaneous trans-hepatic biliary drainage which would have required multiple sessions. The patient has been followed up over a period of 4 years. All her parameters have remained within normal limits during the follow-up period. The Laparo-endoscopic approach is safe, feasible, and can provide a one stop solution in selected cases of biliary-enteric anastomotic stricture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this review is to show the current status of bile duct injury, specially produced during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. We will review etiopathogenesis, degrees of bile commitment, associated vascular lesions, classifications used and risk factors. In addition, how to assess the extent of the injury in a timely manner, both in the same surgery and in the postoperative surgery. The various therapeutic alternatives used are also shown. All in order to avoid serious complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Intraoperative biliary anatomy recognition is crucial for safety during laparoscopic cholecystectomy, since iatrogenic bile duct injuries represent a fatal complication, occurring in up to 0.9% of patients. Indocyanine green fluorescence cholangiography (ICG-FC) is a safe and cost-effective procedure for achieving a critical view of safety and recognizing early biliary injuries. The aim of this study is to compare the perioperative outcomes, usefulness and safety of standard intraoperative cholangiography (IOC) with ICG-FC with intravenous ICG. Methods: Between 1 June 2021 and 31 December 2022, 160 patients undergoing elective LC were randomized into two equal groups: Group A (standard IOC) and group B (ICG-FC with intravenous ICG). Results: No significant difference was found between the two groups regarding demographics, surgery indication or surgery duration. No significant difference was found regarding the visualization of critical biliary structures. However, the surgeon satisfaction and cholangiography duration presented significant differences in favor of ICG-FC. Regarding the inflammatory response, a significant difference between the two groups was found only in postoperative WBC levels. Hepatic and renal function test results were not significantly different between the two groups on the first postoperative day, except for direct bilirubin. No statistically significant difference was noted regarding 30-day postoperative complications, while none of the complications noted included bile duct injury events. Conclusions: ICG-FC presents equivalent results to IOC regarding extrahepatic biliary visualization and postoperative complications. However, more studies need to be performed in order to standardize the optimal dose, timing and mode of administration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bile duct injury (BDI) is still a major worrisome complication that is feared by all surgeons undergoing cholecystectomy. The overall incidence of biliary duct injuries falls between 0.2 and 1.3%. BDI classification remains an important method to define the type of injury conducted for investigation and management. Recently, a Consensus has been taken to define BDI using the ATOM classification. Early management brings better results than delayed management. The current perspective in biliary surgery is the laparoscopic role in diagnosing and managing BDI. Diagnostic laparoscopy has been conducted in various entities for diagnostic and therapeutic measures in minor and major BDIs. Methods: 35 cases with iatrogenic BDI following cholecystectomy (after both open and laparoscopic approaches) both happened in or were referred to Alexandria Main University Hospital surgical department from January 2019 till May 2022 and were analyzed retrospectively. Patients were classified according to the ATOM classification. Management options undertaken were mentioned and compared to the timing of diagnosis, and the morbidity and mortality rates (using the Clavien-Dindo classification). Results: 35 patients with BDI after both laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) (54.3%), and Open cholecystectomy (OC) (45.7%) (20% were converted and 25.7% were Open from the start) were classified according to ATOM classification. 45.7% were main bile duct injuries (MBDI), and 54.3% were non-main bile duct injuries (NMBDI), where only one case 2.9% was associated with vasculobiliary injury (VBI). 28% (n = 10) of the cases were diagnosed intraoperatively (Ei), 62.9% were diagnosed early postoperatively (Ep), and 8.6% were diagnosed in the late postoperative period (L). LC was associated with 84.2% of the NMBDI, and only 18.8% of the MBDI, compared to OC which was associated with 81.3% of the MBDI, and 15.8% of the NMBDI. By the Clavien-Dindo classification, 68.6% fell into Class IIIb, 20% into Class I, 5.7% into Class V (mortality rate), 2.9% into Class IIIa, and 2.9% into Class IV. The Clavien-Dindo classification and the patient's injury (type and time of detection) were compared to investigation and management options. Conclusion: Management options should be defined individually according to the mode of presentation, the timing of detection of injury, and the type of injury. Early detection and management are associated with lower morbidity and mortality. Diagnostic Laparoscopy was associated with lower morbidity and better outcomes. A proper Reporting checklist should be designed to help improve the identification of injury types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To find the factors contributing to postcholecystectomy symptoms after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Methodology: A retrospective observational study with 50 symptomatic patients visiting the outpatient department (OPD) of the Department of Surgery and Department of Casualty following laparoscopic cholecystectomy whose perioperative clinical factors were evaluated to predict the development of postcholecystectomy syndromes using a Chi-square test. Conclusion: • Pain was the predominant symptom seen in all (100%) of the patients. • Female sex (70%) and body mass index (BMI; 30%) were a strong significant predictor. • Previous history of hospitalization (p < 0.0008) for acute cholecystitis (32%), acute pancreatitis (4%), obstructive jaundice (18%), cirrhosis (14%) were significant predictors of pelvic congestion syndrome (PCS). • Ultrasonography (USG) findings (p < 0.0471) of thickened gallbladder (GB) wall (40%) and pericholecystic collection (16%) were strong predictors of difficult surgery and contributed to PCS. • The most common type of early PCS was bile leak (16%). • Age and previous abdominal surgeries were not significant predictors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Benign biliary disease (BBD) is a prevalent condition involving patients who require extrahepatic bile duct resections and reconstructions due to nonmalignant causes. Methods: This study followed all patients who underwent biliary resections for BBD between 2015 and 2023. We excluded those with malignant conditions and patients who had an 'open' operation. Based on the patient's anatomy, the procedures employed were either robotic Roux‐en‐Y hepaticojejunostomy (RYHJ) or robotic choledochoduodenostomy (CDD). Results: From the 33 patients studied, 23 were female, and 10 were male. Anesthesiology (ASA) class was 3 ± 0.5; the MELD score was 9 ± 4.1; the Child‐Pugh score was 6 ± 1.7. The primary indications for undergoing the operation included iatrogenic bile duct injuries, biliary strictures, and type 1 choledochal cysts. The average surgical duration was about 272 min, and the average blood loss amounted to 79 mL. Postoperatively, three patients experienced major complications, all attributed to anastomotic leaks. The average hospital stay was 4 days, with a readmission rate of 15% within 30 days. During an average follow‐up period of 33 months, one patient had to undergo a revision at 18 months due to stricture. This necessitated further duct resection and reanastomosis. Notably, there were no reported hepatectomies, no conversion to the 'open' method, no intraoperative complications, and no mortalities. Conclusions: Robotic extrahepatic bile duct resection and reconstruction with Roux‐en‐Y hepaticojejunostomy or choledochoduodenostomy is safe with an acceptable postoperative morbidity, short hospital length of stay, and low postoperative stricture rate at intermediate duration follow‐up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mirizzi syndrome is a complication of gallstone disease caused by an impacted gallstone in the infundibulum of the gallbladder or within the cystic duct, causing chronic inflammation and extrinsic compression of the common hepatic duct or common bile duct. Eventually, mucosal ulceration occurs and progresses to cholecystobiliary fistulation. Numerous systems exist to classify Mirizzi syndrome, with the Csendes classification widely adopted. It describes five types of Mirizzi syndrome according to the presence of a cholecystobiliary fistula and its corresponding severity, and whether a cholecystoenteric fistula is present. The clinical presentation of Mirizzi syndrome is non-specific, and patients typically have a longstanding history of gallstones. It commonly presents with obstructive jaundice, and can mimic gallbladder, biliary, or pancreatic malignancy. Achieving a preoperative diagnosis guides surgical planning and improves treatment outcomes. However, a significant proportion of cases of Mirizzi syndrome are diagnosed intraoperatively, and the presence of dense adhesions and distorted anatomy at Calot's triangle increases the risk of bile duct injury. Cholecystectomy remains the mainstay of treatment for Mirizzi syndrome, and laparoscopic cholecystectomy is increasingly becoming a viable option, especially for less severe stages of cholecystobiliary fistula. Subtotal cholecystectomy is feasible if total cholecystectomy cannot be performed safely. Additional procedures may be required, such as common bile duct exploration, choledochoplasty, and bilioenteric anastomosis. Conclusions: There is currently no consensus for the management of Mirizzi syndrome, as the management options depend on the extent of surgical pathology and availability of surgical expertise. Multidisciplinary collaboration is important to achieve diagnostic accuracy and guide treatment planning to ensure good clinical outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy (RYHJ) is usually required for major bile duct injury (BDI) as a definitive treatment. Hepaticojejunostomy anastomotic stricture (HJAS) is the most feared long-term complication following RYHJ. The ideal management of HJAS remains undefined. The provision of permanent endoscopic access to the bilioenteric anastomotic site can make endoscopic management of HJAS feasible and attractive option. In this cohort study, we aimed to evaluate short- and long-term outcomes of subcutaneous access loop created adjunct to RYHJ (RYHJ-SA) for management of BDI and its usefulness for endoscopic management of anastomotic stricture if occurred. Materials and Methods: This is a prospective study including patients who were diagnosed with iatrogenic BDI and underwent hepaticojejunostomy with subcutaneous access loop between September 2017 and September 2019. Results: This study included a total number of 21 patients whom ages ranged between 18 and 68 years. During follow-up, three cases had HJAS. One patient had the access loop in subcutaneous position. Endoscopy was done but failed to dilate the stricture. The other 2 patients had the access loop in subfascial position. Endoscopy of them failed to enter the access loop due to failure of fluoroscopy to identify the access loop. The three cases underwent redohepaticojejunostomy. Parajejunal (parastomal) hernia occurs in 2 patients in whom the access loop was fixed subcutaneous position. Conclusion: In conclusion, modified RYHJ with subcutaneous access loop (RYHJ-SA) is associated with reduced quality of life and patient satisfaction. Moreover, its role in endoscopic management of HJAS after biliary reconstruction for major BDI is limited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Bile duct injuries (BDIs) are a significant source of morbidity among patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). GoNoGoNet is an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm that has been developed and validated to identify safe ("Go") and dangerous ("No-Go") zones of dissection during LC, with the potential to prevent BDIs through real-time intraoperative decision-support. This study evaluates GoNoGoNet's ability to predict Go/No-Go zones during LCs with BDIs. Methods and procedures: Eleven LC videos with BDI (BDI group) were annotated by GoNoGoNet. All tool-tissue interactions, including the one that caused the BDI, were characterized in relation to the algorithm's predicted location of Go/No-Go zones. These were compared to another 11 LC videos with cholecystitis (control group) deemed to represent "safe cholecystectomy" by experts. The probability threshold of GoNoGoNet annotations were then modulated to determine its relationship to Go/No-Go predictions. Data is shown as % difference [99% confidence interval]. Results: Compared to control, the BDI group showed significantly greater proportion of sharp dissection (+ 23.5% [20.0–27.0]), blunt dissection (+ 32.1% [27.2–37.0]), and total interactions (+ 33.6% [31.0–36.2]) outside of the Go zone. Among injury-causing interactions, 4 (36%) were in the No-Go zone, 2 (18%) were in the Go zone, and 5 (45%) were outside both zones, after maximizing the probability threshold of the Go algorithm. Conclusion: AI has potential to detect unsafe dissection and prevent BDIs through real-time intraoperative decision-support. More work is needed to determine how to optimize integration of this technology into the operating room workflow and adoption by end-users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biliary pathology, once uncommon in children has shown an increasing prevalence in this age group. This trend underscores the importance of having highly skilled surgeons with expertise in biliary tree management to avoid biliary duct injury (BDI). Methods: A retrospective study analyzed 21 patients with biliary tract injuries from 2010 to 2022. It provides a descriptive analysis, raising concerns about its clinical value and emphasizing the need to understand biliary anatomy to prevent such injuries. Results: Patients ranged from 0 to 17 years, with 57.1 % females and 42.9 % males. The most common primary diagnoses were hepatic tumors (33.3 %), chronic calculous cholecystitis, and choledochal cysts (23.8 % each). Surgical procedures included hepatectomy (33.2 %), choledochal cyst resection (23.8 %), and laparoscopic cholecystectomy (28.6 %). Conservative management was chosen in 28.1 % of cases, while surgery was performed in 71.4 %. Complications included bilioma (23.8 %), biliary fistula, and cholangitis (19 % each). Twelve patients underwent a second intervention, six requiring a third intervention, with hepaticojejunostomy being the most common (57.1 %). One patient received a liver transplant from a related living donor. The mortality rate was 9.5 %, with a median hospital stay of 35 days. Concussion: BDI in pediatric patients poses challenges and is on the rise. Recognition of biliary anatomy is crucial to prevent injury. Clinical presentation includes fever, pain, jaundice, and cholestasis. Imaging studies aid early diagnosis. Specialized centers and precise classification are essential for optimal management. Less invasive options maybe suitable for mild cases, while hepaticojejunostomy remains standard for severe injuries. Further research is needed to refine management protocols and reduce morbidity and mortality in these complex cases.

Mirizzi syndrome is a rare chronic cholecystitis complication. However, the current consensus on managing this condition remains controversial, especially through laparoscopic surgery. This report describes the feasibility of treating type I Mirizzi syndrome with laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy and electrohydraulic lithotripsic gallstone removal. A 53-year-old woman presented with dark urine and right upper quadrant pain for 1 month. On examination, she was jaundiced. Blood tests showed highly elevated liver and biliary enzyme levels. Abdominal ultrasound showed a slightly dilated common bile duct with suspicion of choledocholithiasis. However, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography showed a narrowed common bile duct extrinsically compressed by a gallstone in the cystic duct, establishing a Mirizzi syndrome diagnosis. Elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy was planned. At operation, the trans-infundibulum approach was used since dissection around the cystic duct was difficult due to severe local inflammation of Calot's triangle. The gallbladder's neck was opened, and the stone was removed by lithotripsy via a flexible choledochoscope. Common bile duct exploration through the cystic duct was normal. The fundus and body of the gallbladder were resected, followed by T-tube drainage and suturing of the gallbladder's neck. The patient's postoperative clinical course was uneventful. Treating Mirizzi syndrome remains a major challenge for hepatobiliary specialists even with open surgery due to high complication rates, including bile duct injuries. Treatment is primarily to clear out the responsible stone and necrotic tissue. Due to advances in endoscopic surgery and equipment, subtotal cholecystectomy with laparoscopic gallstone extraction provides a safe and effective option for patients with Mirizzi syndrome. Laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy with electrohydraulic lithotripsy is a feasible and useful approach for treating Mirizzi syndrome that avoids iatrogenic bile duct injury.

Background: Bile duct injuries during laparoscopic cholecystectomy can arise from misinterpretation of biliary anatomy, leading to dissection in improper areas. The integration of a deep learning framework into laparoscopic procedures offers the potential for real-time anatomical landmark recognition, ensuring accurate dissection. The objective of this study is to develop a deep learning framework that can precisely identify anatomical landmarks, including Rouviere's sulcus and the liver base of segment IV, and provide a guided dissection line during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Methods: We retrospectively collected 40 laparoscopic cholecystectomy videos and extracted 80 images form each video to establish the dataset. Three surgeons annotated the bounding boxes of anatomical landmarks on a total of 3200 images. The YOLOv7 model was trained to detect Rouviere's sulcus and the liver base of segment IV as anatomical landmarks. Additionally, the guided dissection line was generated between these two landmarks by the proposed algorithm. To evaluate the performance of the detection model, mean average precision (mAP), precision, and recall were calculated. Furthermore, the accuracy of the guided dissection line was evaluated by three surgeons. The performance of the detection model was compared to the scaled-YOLOv4 and YOLOv5 models. Finally, the proposed framework was deployed in the operating room for real-time detection and visualization. Results: The overall performance of the YOLOv7 model on validation set and testing set were 98.1 % and 91.3 %, respectively. Surgeons accepted the visualization of guide dissection line with a rate of 95.71 %. In the operating room, the well-trained model accurately identified the anatomical landmarks and generated the guided dissection line in real-time. Conclusions: The proposed framework effectively identifies anatomical landmarks and generates a guided dissection line in real-time during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. This research underscores the potential of using deep learning models as computer-assisted tools in surgery, providing an assistant tool to accommodate with surgeons.

The formation of an internal fistula between the biliary system and the gastrointestinal tract is a rare condition with various etiologies, predominantly associated with recurrent chronic inflammation of the biliary system and tumors. Patients with this condition may lack specific clinical manifestations, presenting with symptoms such as abdominal pain, fever, jaundice, or may show no clinical signs at all. Common types of internal fistulas include cholecystoduodenal fistula, cholecystocolonic fistula, and choledochoduodenal fistula. Among these, the right hepaticoduodenal fistula is extremely rare and seldom reported in clinical literature. We herein report a case of right hepaticoduodenal fistula and analyze its mechanism, treatment principles, and preventive measures through a literature review.

Introduction: Histological injury to the biliary tree during organ preservation leads to biliary strictures after liver transplantation. The Bile Duct Injury (BDI) score was developed to assess histological injury and identify the grafts most likely to develop biliary strictures. The BDI score evaluates the bile duct mural stroma, peribiliary vascular plexus (PVP) and deep peribiliary glands (DPGs), which were correlated with post-transplant biliary strictures. However, the BDI score has not been externally validated. The aim of this study was to verify whether the BDI score could predict biliary strictures at our transplant centre. Methods: Brain-dead donor liver grafts transplanted at a single institution from March 2015 to June 2016 were included in this analysis. Bile duct biopsies were collected immediately before transplantation and assessed for bile duct injury by two blinded pathologists. The primary outcome was the development of clinically significant biliary strictures within 24 months post-transplant. Results: Fifty-seven grafts were included in the study which included 16 biliary strictures (28%). Using the BDI score, mural stromal, PVP and DPG injury did not correlate with biliary strictures including Non-Anastomotic Strictures. Severe inflammation (>50 leucocytes per HPF) was the only histological feature inversely correlated with the primary outcome (absent in the biliary stricture group vs. 41% in the no-stricture group, p = 0.001). Conclusions: The current study highlights limitations of the histological assessment of bile duct injury. Although all grafts had bile duct injury, only inflammation was associated with biliary strictures. The BDI score was unable to predict post-transplant biliary strictures in our patient population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hepaticojejunostomy (HJ) is the gold standard procedure for repairing major bile duct injury (BDI). Dilation status of the BD before repair has not been assessed as a risk factor for anastomotic stricture. Method: This retrospective single-centre study was performed on a population of 87 patients with BDI repaired by HJ between 2007 and 2021. Dilation status was assessed preoperatively, and dilation was defined as the presence of visible peripheral intrahepatic BDs with remaining BD diameter > 8 mm. The short- and long-term outcomes of HJ were assessed according to preoperative dilation status. Results: Before final repair, the BDs were dilated (dBD) in 56.3% of patients and not dilated (ND) in 43.7%. Patients with ND at the time of repair had more severe BDI injury than those with dBD (94.7% vs. 77.6%, p = 0.026). The rate of preoperative cholangitis was lower in patients with ND than in those with dBD (10.5% vs. 44.9%, p = 0.001). The rate of short-term morbidity after HJ was 33.3% (ND vs. dBD: 38.8% vs. 26.3%, p = 0.32). Long-term anastomotic stricture rate was 5.7% with a mean follow-up period of 61.3 months. There were no differences in long-term biliary complications according to dilation status (ND vs. dBD: 12.2% vs. 10.5%, p = 1). Conclusion: Dilation status of the BD before HJ for BDI seemed to have no impact on short- or long-term outcomes. Both surgical and radiological external biliary drainages after BDI appear to be acceptable options to reduce cholangitis before repair without increasing risk for long-term anastomotic stricture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Iatrogenic bile duct injuries (BDI) following laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) result in major morbidity and incidental mortality. There is a lack of unselected population-based cross-sectional studies on the incidence, management, and outcomes of BDI. We hypothesised that due to improved imaging capabilities and collective laparoscopic experience, BDI incidence will decrease over the study period and compare favourably with contemporary literature. Methods: After IRB approval, all cholecystectomies performed at national public healthcare facilities between 2008 and 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. BDIs were classified according to the Strasberg classification. The follow-up period ranged from 36 to 156 months. Results: A total of 241 BDIs of 29,739 laparoscopic cholecystectomies (LC) resulted in overall, minor, and major BDI incidence rates of 0.81%, 0.68%, and 0.13%, respectively. No significant decline in the BDIs was noted during the study period. Drainage in 66 (42.6%) and cases ERCP stent placement in 65 (41.9%) cases were equally used in Strasberg A lesions. Suture over T-tube in 20 (42.6%) and ERCP stenting in 19 (40.4%) cases were used in Strasberg D lesions. Roux-en-Y hepatojejunostomy (RYHJ) was performed in 30 (88.9%) of Strasberg E lesions. There were 27 (11.2%) patients with long-term bile duct strictures after BDI management. The overall mortality rate of BDIs and subsequent complications was 4.6%. Conclusions: The annual incidence of iatrogenic bile duct injury over an 11-years' time after laparoscopic cholecystectomy did not decline significantly. We noted an overall BDI incidence of 0.81% comprising of 0.68% minor and 0.13% of major lesions. The management of injuries met contemporary guidelines with comparable outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Static Cold Storage (SCS) injures the bile duct, while the effect of Normothermic Machine Perfusion (NMP) is unknown. In a sub-study of the COPE trial on liver NMP, we investigated the impact of preservation type on histological bile duct injury score (BDIS). Transplants with at least one bile duct biopsy, either at end of preservation or 1 h post-reperfusion, were considered. BDIS was determined by assessing peribiliary glands injury, stromal and mural loss, haemorrhage, and thrombosis. A bivariate linear model compared BDIS (estimate, CI) between groups. Sixty-five transplants and 85 biopsies were analysed. Twenty-three grafts were preserved with SCS and 42 with NMP, with comparable baseline characteristics except for a shorter cold ischemic time in NMP. The BDIS increased over time regardless of preservation type (p = 0.04). The BDIS estimate was higher in NMP [8.02 (7.40-8.65)] than in SCS [5.39 (4.52-6.26), p < 0.0001] regardless of time. One patient in each group developed ischemic cholangiopathy, with a BDIS of 6 for the NMP-preserved liver. In six other NMP grafts, BDIS ranged 7-12 without development of ischemic cholangiopathy. In conclusion, BDIS increases over time, and the higher BDIS in NMP did not increase ischemic cholangiopathy. Thus, BDIS may overestimate this risk after liver NMP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Impact of timing of repair on outcomes of patients repaired with Hepp-Couinaud hepatico-jejunostomy (HC-HJ) after bile duct injury (BDI) during cholecystectomy remains debated. This is an observational retrospective study at a tertiary referral hepato-biliary center. HC-HJ was always performed in patients without sepsis or bile leak and with dilated bile ducts. Timing of repair was classified as: early (≤ 2 weeks), intermediate (> 2 weeks, ≤ 6 weeks), and delayed (> 6 weeks). 114 patients underwent HC-HJ between 1994 and 2022: 42.1% underwent previous attempts of repair at referring institutions (Group A) and 57.9% were referred without any attempt of repair before referral (Group B). Overall, a delayed HC-HJ was performed in 78% of patients; intermediate and early repair were performed in 17% and 6%, respectively. In Group B, 10.6% of patients underwent an early, 27.3% an intermediate, and 62.1% a delayed repair. Postoperative mortality was nil. Median follow-up was 106.7 months. Overall primary patency (PP) attainment rate was 94.7%, with a 5- and 10-year actuarial primary patency (APP) of 84.6% and 84%, respectively. Post-repair bile leak was associated with PP loss in the entire population (odds ratio [OR] 9.75, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.64–57.87, p = 0.012); no correlation of PP loss with timing of repair was noted. Treatment of anastomotic stricture (occurred in 15.3% of patients) was performed with percutaneous treatment, achieving absence of biliary symptoms in 93% and 91% of cases at 5 and 10 years, respectively. BDI can be successfully repaired by HC-HJ regardless of timing when surgery is performed in stable patients with dilated bile ducts and without bile leak. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Laparoscopic cholecystectomy has become a gold standard treatment for symptomatic cholelithiasis and other related diseases done in most centers worldwide. It is associated with an increase in frequency of iatrogenic biliary injury with an incidence of 0.3–0.7%, resulting in a significant impact on quality of life, overall survival, and frequently medico-legal obligations. Early recognition of bile duct injury (BDI) is of supreme importance towards early treatment and good outcome. With an experienced hepatobiliary surgeon, hepaticojejunostomy by left hepatic duct approach is often challenging and considered impossible due to scarring and fibrosis but has a noble outcome for proximal common hepatic duct injury. Cases presentation We described two cases from northern Tanzania who had iatrogenic proximal bile duct injury following laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Hepaticojejunostomy by left hepatic duct was the approach used after difficult dissection at porta hepatis and partly the liver tissue to attain a significant length of the left hepatic duct for anastomosis done at least 3 months post-bile duct injury. No postoperative complication was observed, which includes biliary fistula, restenosis, peritonitis, and cholangitis. To date, no evidence of biliary stenosis or other biliary complication happened during follow-up for 1 year. Conclusion Early recognition of BDI is of supreme importance towards early treatment and good outcome. With an experienced hepatobiliary surgeon, hepaticojejunostomy by left hepatic duct approach has an honorable outcome for proximal bile duct injury.

Iatrogenic bile duct injuries remain a substantial problem in gastrointestinal surgery, especially if discovered later in the postoperative period. Herein, we report a case of an unusual bile leak following laparoscopic cholecystectomy consisting of an isolated right segmental hepatic duct injury of segment 5 together with an additional bile leak of a small duct connecting the gallbladder fossa with the common bile duct. We call this situation an incomplete isolated right segmental hepatic duct injury. Patient presented with infected biloma 2 weeks after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. After percutaneous drainage of the biloma and antibiotic therapy the complex biliary fistula was closed first with coil embolization of the small connection to the common bile duct and then with both antegrade and retrograde histoacryl embolization of the hereby created complete isolated right segmental hepatic duct injury in a single session. Patient was discharged the same day and recovered without complication or recurrence.

Acute cholecystitis is one of the most common causes of acute abdomen. Early laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the gold standard treatment, still burdened by a risk of intraoperative biliary duct injury. An alternative strategy to manage patients with severe acute cholecystitis is the percutaneous gallbladder drainage (PGBD). The Italian Society of Emergency Surgery and Trauma performed a systematic review and meta-analysis with the aim to clarify controversies about the preoperative use of PGBD. We extracted 32 studies: 9 Randomized Control Trial Studies (RCTs) and 23 no RCTs. The incidence of post-operative complications was lower in the PGBD associated at LC than in the LC alone (RCTs: RR 0.28, 95% CI 0.14 to 0.56, I2 = 63%). The incidence of the post-operative biliary leakage was higher in late PGBD' group (RCTs: RR 0.18, 95% CI 0.04 to 0.80). The incidence of intraabdominal abscess, blood loss, conversion to open, subtotal cholecystectomy, operative time and wound infection was lower in PGBD' group. The total hospital stay was the same. A strong recommendation is performed to the use of the PGBD + LC than upfront LC to reduce biliary leakage (recommendation "strong positive") in high risk acute cholecystitis especially in patients with higher perioperative risks or longstanding acute cholecystitis. For post-operative complications a recommendation "positive weak" suggests that PGBD + LC could be used than upfront LC to reduce the rate of post-operative complications. • Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is still burdened by a certain risk of biliary injury. • An alternative strategy to manage acute cholecystitis is the cholecystostomy. • Lower complications in the drainage before laparoscopic cholecystectomy group. • Secondary outcomes are in favour of the drainage before the cholecystectomy. • Cholecystostomy before cholecystectomy is recommended in severe cholecystitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) followed by laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is the most common management of gallstones combined with common bile duct (CBD) stones. This study aims to evaluate the impact of routine insertion of nasobiliary catheter during ERCP in cases of difficult LC. From total 110 patients who underwent ERCP followed by LC in the period from April 2019 to April 2020, nasobiliary (NB) catheter was inserted during ERCP in 55 patients after CBD clearance (NB group). In the other 55 patients, only CBD clearance was done (Control group). In the NB group, dynamic trans-nasobiliary intraoperative cholangiography (TN-IOC) was done during dissection of Calot's triangle. At the end of the procedure, trans-nasobiliay methylene blue (MB) test was done to detect any missed biliary injury. The primary outcome to be analyzed was the incidence and severity of bile duct injury (BDI), secondary outcomes were the operative time, conversion to open surgery, and hospital stay. Of the 110 patients, 57 patients (51.8%) were males and 53 (48.2%) were females. Median age was 55 years. One case of biliary leak was reported in the NB group (1.8%), while 2 cases (3.6%) were reported in the Control group. The average operative time in the NB group was 115 min versus 128 min in the Control group (P value < 0.001). No cases were converted to open cholecystectomy in the NB group (0%) with 5 cases (9.1%) converted to open in the Control group. The average postoperative hospital stay was 2 ± 0.1 days in the NB group versus 3.6 ± 5.3 days in the Control group (P value = 0.037). Routine insertion of nasobiliary tube during ERCP, in patients with combined gallbladder and CBD stones, is a simple, safe and dynamic method for IOC. This maneuver does not statistically decrease the incidence of BDI but can diagnose, minimize and treat BDI with shorter operative time and hospital stay. • ERCP followed by LC is an accepted management of gallstones combined with CBD stones. • ERCP itself is a predictor for the operative difficulty of LC. • NB catheter insertion during ERCP before difficult LC cases is a safe method for IOC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Tokyo Guidelines 2018 proposed fundus-first laparoscopic cholecystectomy (FFLC) as a bailout surgery. This study investigated the clinical impact of FFLC for severe cholecystitis. Methods: This study reviewed 772 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) between 2015 and 2018. Of these patients, 171 patients were diagnosed with severe cholecystitis according to our difficulty scoring system. FFLC was not prevalent in our faculty for the first 2 years [early period group (EG)], whereas FFLC was predominantly used for the last 2 years [late period group (LG)]. There were 81 patients (47%) belonging to the EG and 90 patients (53%) in the LG. The clinical data and the surgical outcomes of these patients were retrospectively analyzed. Results: The difficulty score did not differ between the two groups (11 vs. 11 points, p = 0.846). Patients underwent FFLC significantly more frequently in the LG (63% vs. 12%, p = 0.020). Laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy (LSC) was done in 10 patients (11%) of the LG, which was significantly low compared to that in the EG (n = 20, 25%) (p = 0.020). In all patients, LC was safely achieved without bile duct injury or conversion to laparotomy. The incidence of choledocholithiasis was significantly low in the LG (0 vs. 4, p = 0.048). The median postoperative hospital stay was significantly shorter in the LG (6 vs. 4 days, p < 0.001). Conclusion: After the introduction of FFLC, there were significant improvements in the surgical outcomes of LC for severe cholecystitis, including the rate of LSC, incidence of choledocholithiasis, and duration of postoperative hospital stay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cholecystectomy is one of the most frequently performed surgeries. The surgery is associated with many avoidable complications and hence requires a serious and cautious approach. Aim: The aim of this study was to know the outcome of post cholecystectomy biliary leaks and its management methods. Materials and methods: 12 cases of biliary leaks were studied from 132 open cholecystectomies and 185 laparoscopic cholecystectomies from 2022 January to 2023 January. Pre-operative workup with ultrasound abdomen, LFT and other biochemical investigations were done and diagnosis was established. The outcome of surgery and its most common post-operative complication - biliary leak was studied with following parameters: Post-operative diagnosis, Surgery - Lap or Open, Incision, Method of approach -- Fundus or Classical method, CBD exploration, Intra-operative findings, Drains used, Post-operative symptoms, Amount of collections, Removal of drains, USG -- Sub hepatic collections, ERCP etc. Results: In the present study of 12 cases, fundus first method was done in 3 cases of open cholecystectomies and none in laparoscopic cholecystectomies. Classical procedure was done in 7 cases out of which 3 cases were done in laparoscopy method and 4 cases in open method. Out of 12 cases ERCP done in 9 cases (i.e., 75%) and cholangiogram in 2 cases. Intra-operative detection of bile duct injury is noted in 3 cases of open cholecystectomies and non in laparoscopic method. In the present study, 42% of the patients were treated conservatively who required no therapy and surgical placement of the drain itself was sufficient. Endoscopic management of biliary leak was done in 16% with stenting alone in 16% and sphincterotomy + stenting in 25% of cases. Conclusion: Pain abdomen, Jaundice, Nausea and Vomiting are the major complaintsin case of bile leaks and fistulas. Pathologically, chronic cholecystitis is commonest cause of leaks after surgery mainly because of fibrosis at calot's triangle. Incidence of Post-operative bile leaks is almost the same in open and laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Routine placement of drains is must because it permits postoperative evacuation of serosanguineous exudates and monitoring of bleeding or leakage of bile. Abdominal collections, bilomas or sub-hepatic abscess are reported less with the placement of drains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To explore the effect of total cholesterol (TC) on bile duct injury in children with biliary atresia (BA) and investigate the immunological mechanism. Methods Peripheral blood TC levels were retrospectively collected from 118 BA children diagnosed by intraoperative cholangiography,80 infants of the same age with infantile hepatitis syndrome ( IHS) and 165 normal control (NC) children of the same age without any evidence of hepatopathology and liver function abnormalities admitted to Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center during the period of 2011 - 2020. The correlation between peripheral blood TC and various indicators of bile duct injury or multiple immune cells associated with BA formation was statistically analyzed respectively. Cholesterol was added into the co-culture system of CD177+ neutrophils and biliary epithelial cells ( BECs) in vitro, and its effect on BEC apoptosis was observed. Simultaneously, the changes of related indicators in CD177+ neutrophils after cholesterol stimulation were observed. BA children were divided into high-cholesterol BA group and normal-cholesterol BA group according to the detection value of peripheral blood TC. Through RNA sequencing analysis, the differences in gene expression of CD177+ neutrophils between the high-cholesterol BA group and the normal-cholesterol BA group were compared. Results The peripheral blood TC level of [ 4. 9 ( 4. 0, 6. 1)] mmoVL in BA children was higher than that of [ 3. 7 (3. 1, 4. 1)] mmoVL in NC group and [ 4. 2 ( 3. 3, 5. 4) ] mmoVL in IHS children, and the difference was statistically significant ( P < 0. 05). The peripheral blood TC level of [ 4. 9( 4. 0, 6. 1)] mmoVL in BA children was positively correlated with gamma-glutamyltransferase ( GGT) level of [ 497. O( 298. 5, 843.0) ] U/L, an indicator of bile duct injury ( r = 0. 401, P < 0. 05), as well as positively correlated with direct bilirubin ( DBIL) and total bile acid (TBA) ( r = 0. 338, P < 0. 05 ; r = 0. 235, P < 0. 05). In terms of the proportion of apoptotic cholangiocytes in liver tissue, the high-cholesterol BA group was 0. 724 ±0. 146, the normal-cholesterol BA group was 0. 232 ±0. 141, the NC group ( children with portal vein cavernous transformation of similar age) was 0. 242 ± 0. 228. There was a statistically significant difference between high-cholesterol BA group and the other two groups ( P < 0. 05 ). Peripheral blood TC content [ 4. 4 ( 3. 1, 5. 5) ] mmoVL in BA children was positively correlated with peripheral blood CD177+ neutrophil ratio ( 26. 5 ± 6. 4) % ( r = 0. 503, P < 0. 05), while there was no significant correlation between TC and peripheral blood monocytes [ 1. 0 ( 0. 8, 1. 2) ] X 109 /L or neutrophils ( 3. 2 ± 1. 4) X 109 /L ( P > 0. 05). The peripheral blood TC level of BA children ( 4. 7 ± 1. 6) mmoVL was significantly positively correlated with the number of peripheral blood T cells ( 4 952. 1 ± 1 985. 0) cells/µL( r = 0. 488, P <0. 05) and had no correlation with the number of peripheral blood B cells [971. 0( 664. 8,1 636. 1)] cells/µL (P > 0. 05). Compared with the normal-cholesterol BA group, the expression of various mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation-related genes ( CYBB, CALR, MT-CYB, MT-ND5, MT-ND]) was significantly up-regulated in high-cholesterol BA group, and the difference was statistically significant ( P < 0. 05 ). Under cholesterol stimulation, the mean fluorescence intensity ( MFI) of TOMM20 and DNA 8-OHdG, the indicators of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, were 73. 47 ± 6. 36 and 159. 07 ± 10. 17, respectively, and the differences were statistically significant as compared with those before stimulation (P <0. 05). The CD177+ neutrophil extracellular trap indicators, MPO and H2B were 60. 51 ±4. 26 and 157. 46 ±9. 40 respectively, and the differences were statistically significant (P <0. 05) as compared with those before stimulation. Meanwhile, in the co-culture system of CD177+ neutrophils and BECs, the viability of BECs after cholesterol stimulation was statistically significantly different from that before stimulation ( P < 0. 05). Conclusion Mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation in CD177+ neutrophils is up-regulated by cholesterol in BA, promoting the release of neutrophil extracellular traps and causing bile duct injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incidence of common bile duct injuries following laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) remains three times higher than that following open surgery despite numerous attempts to decrease intraoperative incidents by employing better training, superior surgical instruments, imaging techniques, or strategic concepts. This paper is a narrative review which discusses from a contextual point of view the need to standardise the surgical approach in difficult laparoscopic cholecystectomies, the main strategic operative concepts and techniques, complementary visualisation aids for the delineation of anatomical landmarks, and the importance of cognitive maps and algorithms in performing safer LC. Extensive research was carried out in the PubMed, Web of Science, and Elsevier databases using the terms "difficult cholecystectomy", "bile duct injuries", "safe cholecystectomy", and "laparoscopy in acute cholecystitis". The key content and findings of this research suggest there is high intersocietal variation in approaching and performing LC, in the use of visualisation aids, and in the application of safety concepts. Limited papers offer guidelines based on robust data and a timid recognition of the human factors and ergonomic concepts in improving the outcomes associated with difficult cholecystectomies. This paper highlights the most relevant recommendations for dealing with difficult laparoscopic cholecystectomies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]