Is Preoperative Evaluation of the Biliary Tree Necessary in Uncomplicated Gallstone Disease?

Aim: To analyse if preoperative radiology is of value in patients with uncomplicated gallstone disease. Material: 312 patients intended for laparoscopic cholecystectomy were randomly allocated to undergo preoperative radiology (intravenous cholangiography or magnetic resonance cholangiography) or to a control group. Intraoperative cholangiography was not used routinely in either group. Results: There was no bile duct injury and no difference in complication frequency between the two groups. The incidence of common bile duct stones was 3,8 % within the first postoperative year with no statistical difference between the two groups. Conclusions: Routine preoperative evaluation of the bile tree seems unnecessary before laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patients with uncomplicated gallstone disease.

Management of Complications from Hepatobiliary Surgery Using the Percutaneous Trans Jejunal Approach

Purpose The work was aimed at presenting the indications, techniques and results of the percutaneous transjejunal approach to the biliary tree in patients with hepatobiliary complications due to surgery. Patients and methods Ten patients, 7 males and 3 females, mean age 50 years (range, 10–62) with hepatico-jejunostomy, who developed cholangitis together with jaundice or bile leakage, underwent this procedure, performed through the anastomotic loop that was not surgically anchored to the abdominal wall in all cases but one. The transjejunal approach was chosen because of non-dilated bile ducts in 3 patients, complex pathologic situations in 5 patients and to avoid complications to a transplanted liver in 2 patients. The jejunal loop was identified using CT, US and fluoroscopy in 4 patients and after its opacification in the remaining 6 (by percutaneous transhepatic or intravenous cholangiography or fistulography). Results The procedure was technically and diagnostically successful in all cases. Therapeutic procedures (stenting, dilation, litholysis) were also performed using the transjejunal approach in 7 patients and in 6 of them complete pathological resolution was achieved. There were no complications. Conclusions Different pathologies of the biliary tree, in patients with bilio-enteric anastomoses, have been identified and treated by this technique; they were fistulas, anastomotic and/or multiple segmental benign or malignant stenoses of the bile duct, and diffuse intrahepatic lithiasis. The procedure was safe and reliable.