Laparoscopic cholecystectomy: the state of the art. A report on 700 consecutive cases

Born in secret in 1987, developed in an atmosphere of skepticism and even hostility throughout 1988, the laparoscopic cholecystectomy triumphed in 1989-90 and caused a veritable revolution in the world of general surgery. The 700 consecutive cases that we report here reflect the spirit of these various periods. From prudently restrictive, our indications widened to include 90% of all patients with gallbladder lithiasis. Sclero-atrophic gallbladders constitute the greatest challenge for endoscopic maneuvers. This group of patients should be treated by the most experienced operators only. The figures for mortality (0.1%) and complications (3%) are very comparable and even better than those for traditional cholecystectomy. The quality of recovery is infinitely better; there is absence of pain, a short period of hospitalization, return to normal physical activity within 10 days, rapid return to work, and total preservation of the abdominal muscles for participation in sports activities. All these advantages are assets of the laparoscopic cholecystectomy which are not available to the 6% of patients for whom an intra-operative conversion to open surgery is necessary. These patients recover within the conditions of a traditional cholecystectomy which are far from being poor. The large multicenter studies, such as those carried out in France and Belgium recently involving 3,708 patients, arrive at identical conclusions. The laparoscopic cholecystectomy is on its way to becoming the gold standard of treatment for gallbladder lithiasis. It is the first successful step towards surgical techniques of the 21st century which will be carried out inside the musculo-cutaneous envelope of the unopened human body.

Endoscopic management of cystic duct fistulas after laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Two patients are reported who developed bile ascites as a result of cystic duct fistulas following laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Both patients were successfully treated with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, utilizing sphincterotomy and nasobiliary tube placement. Characteristics of this syndrome and advantages of this form of therapy are emphasized.

Infectious complications of endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography managed in a surgical unit

The immediate infectious pancreato-biliary complications of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) warranting transfer to a surgical unit are analyzed, in order to evaluate their frequency and severity as well as means of treatment and prevention. Thirty complications of this type were observed in a series of 3226 ERCP performed with or without endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) over a six year period (0.9%). ES had been performed in 12 of 30 cases, but the complication could not be attributed to the procedure. Post-ERCP complications included: acute cholangitis: 16 cases (53%); acute cholecystitis: 8 cases (26%); acute pancreatitis: 4 cases (13%); infected pancreatic pseudocyst: 2 cases (6%). The global mortality rate was 16.6% (five patients): Four of the deaths were due to septic complications. Twenty-seven of the 30 patients underwent surgery, and three of them died (11%). Acute cholangitis was responsible for most of the deaths (four of five) and the mortality appeared related to the long interval before surgery (three of four deaths). Strict adherence to good endoscopic procedures (aseptic conditions, injection without excessive pressure, antibiotic prophylaxis) and decompression of the biliary tract (nasobiliary drain or transhepatic catheter) should help reduce the frequency of post-ERCP complications, and especially cholangitis, which appears to benefit from early surgical treatment.

Endoscopic papillotomy while the gallbladder is in situ

The authors report on their experience with 25 patients who underwent an endoscopic papillotomy with gallbladder in situ and review the current literature on this topic. Twenty-four out of 25 patients in this study had their common bile duct cleared of stones. Five patients (24%) required cholecystectomy on follow-up at an average of 14.4 months. There was no mortality associated with the procedure. The authors' experience and review of the literature suggest that endoscopic papillotomy plays an important role in the removal of common bile duct stones in persons who have their gallbladder in situ, especially in those patients who are at high risk for surgery, either because of advanced age or other medical problems. However, the use of endoscopic papillotomy alone in young, healthy persons is more problematic because of the relatively high rate of cholecystitis or recurrent biliary colic necessitating a cholecystectomy at a later date. The authors suggest that, in the future, the ideal treatment regimen for common bile duct stones in patients with their gallbladder in situ may be urgent endoscopic papillotomy with a scheduled elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

[Clinical significance of endoscopic sphincterotomy compared with surgical common bile duct exploration and surgical sphincterotomy]

Records of 940 patients with endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) and 100 patients with choledochotomy for stone removal were compared. Those with ES were characterized by older mean age (65.9 vs. 60.6, p < 0.001), similar frequency of operative risks (36% vs. 45%), and a less complication rate (8.2% vs. 53%, p < 0.001) as compared with the surgery group. Complications of ES included cholangitis, pancreatitis, bleeding, and basket impaction. One patient each with cholangitis and pancreatitis died, thus a mortality rate of 0.2%. Complications of choledochotomy occurred in 53 patients with no death. Most of them were associated with anesthesia, laparotomy, wound and immobilization. The complications of ES should decrease due to recent development of lithotripsy instruments and endoscopic stenting to prevent cholangitis. Follow-up of 74 patients 15-21 years after surgical sphincterotomy revealed recurrent stones in 3.5%, which was lower than a recurrence rate of 10.3% in 290 patients 5-14 years after ES. However, that rate may be an underestimate, because the follow-up was obtained in only 79% of those with surgical sphincterotomy as compared with 99% of ES. Ninety percent of those with recurrence after ES underwent endoscopic treatments again, whereas 10% had surgery. Easy repetition at the time of recurrence is one of major advantages of the endoscopic treatment.

Combination therapy of laparoscopic cholecystectomy and endoscopic transpapillary lithotripsy for both cholecystolithiasis and choledocholithiasis

This report describes five patients with cholecystolithiasis and choledocholithiasis who were treated by combination endoscopic extraction of common bile-duct stones with sphincterotomy (EST) and laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). Following this combination procedure the patients were relieved completely of obstructive jaundice and right upper quadrant pain, leaving only small trocar insertion scars made during the short course of hospitalization. The combination therapy of EST and LC will be recommended for this kind of patient as a minimally invasive procedure.

[Surgical and non-surgical treatments of gallstones]

Comparisons were made of therapeutic modalities for gallstones. Four-hundred thirty-five patients with gallstones were operated on with the mortality rate of 0.7%. Extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL) was performed in 84 patients with gallbladder stones. Complete stone disappearance rate at 1 year was 31% in patients with one to three radio-lucent stones not larger than 3cm in diameter and 57% in solitary stones up to 2cm with the US pattern of Ia or Ib. There was no major complication. Endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) was performed in 131 patients with common bile duct stones. The success rate was for stone extraction, was 97%. Immediate complications occurred in 8% cases, yielding the mortality rate of 0.8%. Common bile duct stones recurred in 2 of 113 patients (3%). Acute cholecystitis was experienced in 2 of 43 patients with the gallbladder left in situ; 2 of 12 with and none of 31 without gallbladder stones. In conclusion, ESWL is a safe and effective treatment in selected patients. EST can be the first-choice modality in the treatment of not only the post-cholecystectomy cases but also the patients with the gallbladder without stones.

[Evaluation of urgent treatment for impacted bile duct stones]

One hundred and forty-four urgent treatments for acute obstructive suppurative cholangitis (AOSC), acute obstructive cholangitis (AOC), or/and acute pancreatitis caused by impacted bile duct stones were performed for eight years from 1984 to 1991. The breakdown of these treatments are as follows. [table: see text] It was not easy to diagnose every severe case of AOSC. As a result, however, endoscopy was very effective both in diagnosis and treatment. Concerning patients with thinner bile duct, endoscopic drainage was useful than percutaneous drainage. We prefer ENBD to EST followed by basket extraction of bile duct stones in an emergency state. ENBD is a rather easy technique even for beginners of ERCP, and is less invasive. The life-saving effect of ENBD is not inferior to that of EST.

Role of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography after orthotopic liver transplantation

We reviewed the records of 20 liver transplant patients who underwent 28 procedures [endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)] to rule out biliary obstruction, treat bile leaks, dilate and/or stent strictures, or remove stones and debris. Three patients (two with abnormal T-tube cholangiograms and one with hyperbilirubinemia) underwent ERCP to rule out obstruction. Therapeutic ERCP (sphincterotomy with balloon dilatation or stone extraction) was successful in 16 of 17 patients, including seven of nine in whom there was resolution of bile leaks without the use of stents or surgery. Mild pancreatitis occurring in one patient was the only complication experienced that was related to ERCP. We conclude that ERCP is a safe and important modality in the medical management of biliary tract complications after orthotopic liver transplantation.

Management of postoperative bile leakage with endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) and a naso-biliary drain (NBD)

Between July 1987 and December 1990, 13 patients with postoperative bile leakage were treated with endoscopic sphincterotomy and a naso-biliary drain. All the leaks healed in two weeks, except for one (intrahepatic) that needed two months to heal in association with percutaneous management. The non-surgical treatment of bile leakage is the preferred approach on account of the superior safety, efficacy and cost-effectiveness as compared with surgical repair, which is associated with significant morbidity, mortality and costs. The treatment of choice has to be endoscopic, which is much easier and safer than the transhepatic approach, especially in the non-dilated duct, while another advantage over radiology includes the possibility for rapid definitive treatment of distal obstruction (e.g. residual stones). A leak from an extrahepatic duct heals rapidly, while a leak from an intrahepatic duct takes longer to heal and sometimes needs associated percutaneous drainage. Finally, the authors propose treating an extrahepatic bile leak merely with naso-biliary drainage without cutting the papilla, and an intrahepatic bile leak with endoscopic sphincterotomy, nasobiliary drainage and a bilio-duodenal endoprosthesis.

Treatment of calculi of the common bile duct

Endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) is regarded as an alternative therapeutic approach to the surgical treatment of choledocholithiasis. To clarify the indication for each of these two methods, a prospective study has been performed comparing patients with calculi of the common bile duct who had undergone endoscopic or surgical treatment. Mortality, morbidity and stone clearance were used as criteria for the evaluation of the dependence of age on results achieved by the two modalities. Of 306 patients with choledocholithiasis, 199 underwent surgical exploration of the duct and 107 underwent endoscopic sphincterotomy. Patients who were more than 60 years of age and had previously undergone cholecystectomy underwent endoscopic sphincterotomy. All other patients had surgical treatment. There were no significant differences among the two groups with regard to mortality rates. The incidence of relevant complications as well as the incidence of surgical revisions related to postoperative complications in the operation group was, however, significantly higher (p less than 0.05). In contrast with this, the incidence of retained stones was significantly lower (p less than 0.01) in the group that underwent surgical treatment (2.5 percent) than in the group that had endoscopy (11.2 percent). When assessing the results in terms of stone clearance, complications and mortality rates, findings seem to indicate that a safe limit for the application of surgical treatment would be 60 years of age, whereas older patients should be primarily considered as candidates for EST.

Postoperative bile leakage: endoscopic management

Bile leakage is an infrequent but serious complication after biliary tract surgery. This non-randomised single centre study evaluated the endoscopic management of this problem in 55 consecutive cases. Treatment consisted of standard sphincterotomy and, if needed, subsequent stone extraction with or without endoprosthesis placement. The aim of all treatments was to facilitate bile flow into the duodenum. The biliary tract and the site of the leakage were visualised during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in 98%. There was distal obstruction in 33--caused by retained gall stones in 15 patients and concomitant strictures in 18. Overall, 48 of 55 patients were treated endoscopically. An excellent outcome (clinical and radiological resolution of the bile leak) was achieved in 43 patients (90%). Five patients (10%) had continuing sepsis from which they died. Postoperative bile leakage can be diagnosed safely and effectively by ERCP and subsequent endoscopic management is successful in most cases.

Tumours of Oddi: diagnosis and surgical treatment

A retrospective review of 56 patients operated upon for tumours of Oddi was performed in order to determine optimal diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Common presenting symptoms were jaundice (86%) and anemia (21%). Mean size of the tumour was 2.3 cm. Five tumours were benign and 51 were malignant. According to the classification of Martin, five were grade I: 10 grade II; 18 grade III; and 18 grade IV. Forty-seven patients underwent resection of the tumour: three local excisions for small benign tumors, six ampullectomies (followed in three by a Whipples' procedure for recurrence) and 41 Whipples' procedures. The hospital mortality was 5.3%, minor complications appeared in 21%. The overall five years survival was 41%. It was 75% in grade I, 50% in grade II, 40% in grade III and 10% in grade IV. The patients who received ampullectomies were alive with a follow-up of one, two and three years. All patients operated upon for a benign tumour were alive except one who died of cardiac failure. Ultrasonography and duodenoscopy are the most useful tests for the diagnosis of tumours of Oddi. Prognosis depends on the degree of infiltration of the duodenal wall and the presence of positive lymph nodes. Whipples' procedure is best but ampullectomy can be used in elderly or poor risk patients. Malignant tumours of the ampullary region are infrequent and reported to constitute between 0.02 and five percent of all cancers of the digestive tract. With wider application of endoscopic techniques, there has been an increasing interest in this group of tumours during recent years. In the literature tumours of Oddi are usually reported in the group of periampullary tumours, including tumours of the ampulla itself, duodenal wall surrounding the ampulla, the distal part of the common bile duct and head of the pancreas. We have wanted to distinguish specifically the tumours of the ampulla of Vater and have adopted the term tumour of Oddi introduced by Marchal and Hureau.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Role of ERCP and therapeutic biliary endoscopy in association with laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Laparoscopic removal is rapidly becoming the preferred method of cholecystectomy; however, choledocholithiasis cannot usually be managed with a laparoscopic approach. Combined endoscopic sphincterotomy and laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a potential solution to this problem. To determine the feasibility of this combined procedure we studied 41 patients who had both endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Indications for ERCP included jaundice, gallstone pancreatitis, dilated ducts on sonography, elevated liver enzymes, or stones seen on operative cholangiography. Twenty-eight patients had ERCP preoperatively. Nine patients had common duct stones; these were successfully removed from eight patients after sphincterotomy. Two patients had unexpected strictures requiring a change in surgical approach. Thirteen patients had ERCP postoperatively. Eight of those patients had common duct stones, and all were successfully removed following endoscopic sphincterotomy. Three patients had postoperative strictures, one of which was treated by endoscopic stent placement. No complications as a result of ERCP or sphincterotomy were encountered. ERCP and endoscopic sphincterotomy can be safely performed both preoperatively and as early as 1 day postoperatively. If indicators of choledocholithiasis are present, preoperative ERCP is preferred, because stone removal occasionally is unsuccessful, and cholangiographic findings may change the operative approach. Postoperative ERCP can define and, in some instances, treat biliary tract injuries resulting from laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

ERCP and endoscopic sphincterotomy in infants and children with jaundice due to common bile duct stones

ERCP was performed in two infants (29 and 62 days old) and eight children (5 to 12 years old) with jaundice due to common bile duct stones. Seven patients had hemolytic anemia and three patients had a family history of gallstone disease. Successful cannulation of the common bile duct demonstrating stones was accomplished in all patients. Four patients had coexisting gallstones and were treated surgically. Six children who had previously undergone cholecystectomy were treated by endoscopic sphincterotomy and stone extraction without complication. We believe that ERCP should be utilized by expert endoscopists in children with evidence of extra-hepatic cholestasis, and endoscopic sphincterotomy should be the treatment of choice in children who have previously undergone cholecystectomy, and who are jaundiced secondary to common bile duct stones.

Treatment of common bile duct stones using mono-octanoin

A retrospective analysis of 48 patients undergoing mono-octanoin infusion via nasobiliary catheter following failure of endoscopic extraction of common bile duct stones is reported. Among 35 patients who received a complete course of treatment, nine (26 per cent) had duct clearance by the completion of the infusion and a further eight on subsequent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) (total 49 per cent). Two patients had a successful stone extraction after enlargement of the sphincterotomy (total non-surgical clearance rate 54 per cent). None of five patients with stones greater than 2 cm in diameter had stone clearance at the completion of the infusion and only one at subsequent ERCP. Among 13 patients receiving an incomplete course of treatment seven had clear ducts on repeat ERCP (54 per cent). Mono-octanoin infusion via a nasobiliary catheter is of limited value in the management of this difficult group of patients, although it may be successful in some.

[Choledocholithotomy and papillosphincterotomy in surgery of the bile ducts]

The Authors argue about the different surgical choices feasible in case of CBD stones. They consider a case-record of 74 patients that underwent, from January 1988 to June 1990, choledocholithotomy or transduodenal sphincterotomy for non-neoplastic pathology of the CBD in the I Divisione di Chirurgia Generale OO.RR. Bergamo. Analysis of the data shows a significant pre-operative alteration of the gamma-GT plasmatic levels. That represent a risk-index useful to suspect a silent CBD lithiasis. The good results attained with the choledocholithotomy and with the transduodenal sphincterotomy show the efficacy of both methods, that keep up different indications. The Authors point out the efficacy of the antibiotic prophylaxis in the prevention of the operative infections.

Endoscopic biliary drainage for severe acute cholangitis

BACKGROUND

Emergency surgery for patients with severe acute cholangitis due to choledocholithiasis is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Because recent results suggested that emergency endoscopic drainage could improve the outcome of such patients, we undertook a prospective study to determine the role of this procedure as initial treatment.

METHODS

During a 43-month period, 82 patients with severe acute cholangitis due to choledocholithiasis were randomly assigned to undergo surgical decompression of the biliary tract (41 patients) or endoscopic biliary drainage (41 patients), followed by definitive treatment. Hospital mortality was analyzed with respect to the use of endoscopic biliary drainage and other clinical and laboratory findings. Prognostic determinants were studied by linear discriminant analysis.

RESULTS

Complications related to biliary tract decompression and subsequent definitive treatment developed in 14 patients treated with endoscopic biliary drainage and 27 treated with surgery (34 vs. 66 percent, P greater than 0.05). The time required for normalization of temperature and stabilization of blood pressure was similar in the two groups, but more patients in the surgery group required ventilatory support. The hospital mortality rate was significantly lower for the patients who underwent endoscopy (4 deaths) than for those treated surgically (13 deaths) (10 vs. 32 percent, P less than 0.03). The presence of concomitant medical problems, a low platelet count, a high serum urea nitrogen concentration, and a low serum albumin concentration before biliary decompression were the other independent determinants of mortality in both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Endoscopic biliary drainage is a safe and effective measure for the initial control of severe acute cholangitis due to choledocholithiasis and to reduce the mortality associated with the condition.

Endoscopic sphincterotomy in young patients with choledochal dilatation and a long common channel: a preliminary report

An anomalous elongated pancreaticobiliary common channel encourages reflux up both the biliary tree and the pancreatic ductal system, resulting in progressive choledochal dilatation, cholangitis with ductal calculi, relapsing pancreatitis and malignant change. Transduodenal sphincteroplasty has been used to improve drainage from the abnormal channel. The use of endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) to establish drainage and minimize the surgical risks is reported in six symptomatic patients with mild choledochal dilatation (common bile duct diameter less than 15 mm), a common channel less than 15 mm in length and a distal stenosis. This was successful in five patients, who have no further symptoms. ES failed in the only patient with an undilated common channel and this patient went on to have open surgery. We believe ES to be safe and effective in the treatment of selected cases of long common channel.

Endoscopic therapy for bile duct stones in a geriatric population

During the 5 year period to May 1988, 137 consecutive patients (age range, 65-102 years; median 84 years) with a diagnosis of choledocholithiasis, were referred to The Middlesex Hospital Geriatric Department. Endoscopic sphincterotomy was successful in 96.2% of cases and immediate biliary drainage was achieved in all but one of these patients. Stones were cleared endoscopically in 73.3% and surgically in 4.7% of cases. Long-term stenting was employed in 14.3% of patients. The 30 day mortality after endoscopic or surgical treatment was 4.7% (six deaths), although death was probably unrelated to therapy in half the cases. Deaths were due to procedural cardiorespiratory arrest (1), pancreatitis (1), pneumonia (2) and cerebrovascular accident (2). Endoscopic treatment is effective even in a high-risk geriatric population. After sphincterotomy patients with intact gall bladders should be managed expectantly.

Diagnosis and management of common bile duct stones in patients with sickle hemoglobinopathies

Nine of 35 patients with sickle hemoglobinopathies and cholelithiasis were found to have concomitant common bile duct (CBD) stones. We describe the diagnosis and management of these patients with CBD stones. Historical information, physical examination, and routine laboratory tests were unable to identify accurately the patients with CBD stones. Similarly, ultrasonography of the hepatobiliary system was an insensitive method for detecting CBD stones, as only 3 of 8 patients were correctly identified. In contrast, both an intraoperative cholangiogram and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography were sensitive procedures for detection of CBD stones. We conclude that CBD stones are relatively common in patients with sickle cell disease and cholelithiasis, and clinicians should have a high index of suspicion for their presence.

Six hundred patients with gallstones

A total of 610 patients with gallstones were treated over an 8-year period in a single surgical unit. Of these patients, 384 had cholecystectomy, 86 surgical duct exploration and 140 endoscopic sphincterotomy. Four patients died after cholecystectomy (1%), but there were no deaths after the treatment of duct stones. The proportion of patients with duct stones having endoscopic sphincterotomy with the gallbladder in situ rose considerably during the 8-year period, from about 20% to 75%. Gallstones tend to present in the elderly as duct stones, and in the young as gallbladder stones. The majority of patients over 75 years of age had endoscopic sphincterotomy, whereas the younger patients were usually treated surgically.

Clinical meaning of GGT activity in follow-up of patients with alcohol-related liver injury and cholestasis

The dynamics of GGT was investigated in three groups of patients after removing some primary causes of GGT increase. Group A included 34 patients with alcohol-related liver disease, group B included 16 patients with alcoholic liver injury and cholestasis, caused by concomitant alcoholic pancreatitis and group C included 17 patients with extrahepatic cholestasis, caused by choledocholithiasis. Follow-up assays of GGT were performed on the 7th, 14th and 30th days. Our results showed that the dynamics of GGT was more rapid after removing the cause for cholestasis than in stopping alcohol consumption in patients with chronic liver diseases. On the 14th day more than a 50% decrease in GGT activity was noted in 20% of the patients from groups A and B and in almost all cases from group C. On the 30th day, the reference range of GGT was not attained by any of the patients with liver disease nor in five patients from group C. No significant correlation was found between the severity of liver damage and the extent of GGT increase at the beginning and at the end of the follow-up period.

[Bile duct surgery in acute pancreatitis]

Established principles of biliary surgery in connection with biliary pancreatitis include cholecystectomy to prevent recurrence of pancreatitis and biliary drainage if an impacted papillary stone is present. Controversies persist with regard to laparoscopic cholecystectomy and with regard to the timing of ERC and endoscopic papillotomy. The role of early prophylactic ERC has become more clear when in 1988 Carr Locke and coworkers presented a prospective series of patients randomised for different management modalities and stratified according to severity of the pancreatitis. Thus the current recommendation is to plan early ERC and papillotomy for those patients who, according to one of the severity scoring systems, are at risk for a complicated course. Patients with predicted mild disease will not profit from this procedure and are unnecessarily exposed to its risks.

Endoscopic approach to pancreatic duct calculi and obstructive pancreatitis

Twelve patients with chronic pancreatitis and obstructing pancreatic calculi underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and attempted pancreatic stone extraction. This procedure, utilizing conventional stone baskets and balloons, as well as extracorporeal or laser lithotripsy in a subset, was ultimately successful in 11 of 12 patients. Nine of the 10 patients with relapsing pancreatitis have not had a symptomatic flare at a mean follow-up of 17 months. In contrast, neither of the patients who presented with chronic pain had convincing symptomatic improvement. The authors conclude that endoscopic removal of pancreatic duct calculi deserves further investigation in the treatment of relapsing attacks of chronic pancreatitis.

Endoscopic management of bile duct stones

The surgical risk of common duct exploration for the treatment of biliary calculi is considerably higher than that of cholecystectomy. Therefore, introduction of endoscopic sphincterotomy in 1974 was a major advance. It has become the therapy of choice in cholecystectomized patients or in those with an increased operative risk. Endoscopic sphincterotomy has a mortality rate of around 1% and a morbidity rate of 7%. These figures compare favourably with open surgery, especially in old patients. The procedure fails in about 10% of all patients referred for endoscopic removal of their calculi. However, several techniques have been described or are currently under evaluation to overcome these failures: intracorporeal or extracorporeal lithotripsy, long-term stenting of the bile duct, or direct application of solvents. Long-term follow-up studies show that between 2% and 20% of successfully managed patients may develop recurrent stones, mainly caused by bile stasis and infection. Patients with a functioning gall-bladder and no concomitant gall-bladder stones probably do not require cholecystectomy after successful endoscopic treatment of their choledochal stones. While endoscopic stone removal has replaced surgery in the elderly frail patients it has no major advantages in the young and fit patients, especially when the gall-bladder is still in situ.

[The use of decompressive endoscopic operations in the complicated course of cholelithiasis]

The article is based on an analysis of observation of 853 patients with complicated forms of cholelithiasis. The average age of patients was 73.5 years, two thirds of them had critical coexistent diseases. The system of treatment proposed by the authors allowed achievement of good results (lethality is less than 5%) while the methods of treatment generally accepted in surgical practice is followed by higher lethality achieving 40%. The work analyzes errors and complications of endoscopic decompressing operations and gives recommendations for their prevention.

[Long-term results of endoscopic sphincterotomy in the treatment of residual/recurrent choledocholithiasis]

Endoscopic sphincterotomy is widely accepted as the technique of choice in the treatment of residual or recidivant choledocholithiasis since the results obtained with this technique are favorable when compared to biliary surgery in most series. However, the experience of long term follow up of patients with choledocholithiasis in whom this technique would have been applied as the only treatment is still scarce up to date. We have studied 40 patients (mean age 65.6 +/- 11.1 years) with residual or recidivant choledocholithiasis who had undergone endoscopic treatment successfully before the 30th of June 1985, who could be contacted by a mailed questionnaire or by phone by August 1990. The follow up time 70.7 +/- 19.4 months (mean +/- typical deviation). Out of them, 36 (90%) had been asymptomatic up to the contact date (30 cases) or up to death due to causes not related to biliary pathology (6 patients). Out of the 4 remaining patients, 2 presented mild dyspepsia and another patient has probably developed recidivant choledocholithiasis (according to I.V. cholangiography). The fourth patient presented a severe episode of cholangitis and acute pancreatitis, related to a new episode of choledocholithiasis and died 5 and a half years after the endoscopic sphincterectomy. This represents a 2.5% mortality. These long term results of endoscopic sphincterotomy in patients with residual or recidivant choledocholithiasis are an other point in favour of using this technique as the single treatment of choice in patients above 60 years old.

Common bile duct stones. Detection and removal with endoscopic techniques

Common bile duct stones are frequently discovered after cholecystectomy or are the first sign of biliary tract disease. Because detection usually requires cholangiography and reoperation is technically difficult, risky, and thus undesirable, nonsurgical methods of identifying and removing the stones have evolved. Among these, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with endoscopic retrograde sphincterotomy and stone extraction is the method of choice after cholecystectomy. As newer methods of dealing with biliary disease evolve and alter the spectrum of complications, ERCP will remain an essential diagnostic and management tool.

[Metabolic changes in a patient in the early phase of acute pancreatitis]

The present paper reports on the perioperative metabolic changes in a 70-year-old female patient in whom an acute (oedematous) pancreatitis occurred during the transduodenal excision of a villous adenoma of the duodenal papilla. Since blood was taken for metabolic investigations before, during and after surgery, data on the changes in the intermediary metabolism during the early phase of acute pancreatitis in humans was recorded. Raised activity of the pancreatic enzymes amylase and lipase was demonstrable just minutes after extirpation of the papillary tumour after intraoperative cholangiography had been performed via a choledochotomy. This showed occlusion of the duodenal papilla as well as imaging the pancreatic duct. The reflux of bile into the pancreatic duct is considered to be one of the causative factors of acute pancreatitis (Opie-syndrome). The following metabolic changes were registered at surgery and on the first day thereafter: reduction in the serum concentration of cholesterol ester, the triglycerides and the phospholipids by 30 to 50% of the preoperative values respectively, as well as lactacidaemia (up to 60 mg/dl). At the same time, the serum bilirubin concentration and the concentrations of the amino acids alanine and glutamate in the serum were temporarily raised. The question is, whether these metabolic changes were a direct consequence of the activity of the pancreatic enzymes of amino acid and lipid metabolism that were released into the blood, or whether reduced synthesis by the liver (lipoproteins, lecithin: cholesterol-acyl-transferase) was responsible for these changes.

[Papillotomy in acute pancreatitis: more benefits than risks]

The pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis is still unclear. OPIE's theory that obstruction of the Ampulla of Vater can be an important etiological factor in acute pancreatitis is still relevant for the ongoing discussion whether endoscopic papillotomy can improve acute pancreatitis. Patients with severe acute pancreatitis have to undergo an early ERCP for the detection of the biliary origin of the disease. In case of the detection of choledocholithiasis endoscopic papillotomy should be performed. The rate of complications and the duration of hospitalization can be significantly reduced in contrast to conservative treatment. Controlled clinical studies are necessary to answer the question if endoscopic papillotomy should be carried out in all patients with severe acute pancreatitis.

Endoscopic papillotomy in biliary tract pain and fluctuating cholestasis with common bile duct dilatation and small gallbladder stones

In patients suspected of having functional disorders of the papilla it is often difficult to establish the indications whether or not to perform endoscopic papillotomy (EP). We report on thirty-two consecutive patients referred for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography who all had longstanding biliary tract pain and episodes of liver enzyme elevation indicating cholestasis. Further features were: 1) a dilated common bile duct (CBD) after cholecystectomy (n = 11) or 2) a dilated CBD without or with larger (greater than cystic duct diameter) gallbladder stones (n = 6) or 3) multiple small gallbladder stones, with a normal or dilated CBD, in patients with signs of acute gallstone pancreatitis or in whom elective cholecystectomy was not indicated (n = 15). No CBD stones, organic obstruction or other disorders were found in these patients. Without further diagnostic procedures, EP was routinely performed. The laboratory (up to 3 months) and clinical findings (2 to 4 years follow up) showed improvement in all patients undergoing EP. We conclude that immediate EP appears justified in these selected patients.

Evaluation of endoscopic sphincterotomy in sphincter of Oddi dysfunction

In this prospective study the efficacy of endoscopic sphincterotomy was evaluated in ten post-cholecystectomy patients with clinical and biliary manometric evidence of SO dysfunction. Ten patients (8 females, 2 males, median age 59 years) were assessed at a median period of 24 months (range 12-48) after endoscopic sphincterotomy. Eight of the ten patients (80%) were symptomatically improved after endoscopic sphincterotomy although only four were totally asymptomatic. The two patients who had unchanged symptoms after sphincterotomy have since had alternative diagnoses made and have improved on appropriate therapy. It is concluded that endoscopic sphincterotomy is effective in relieving symptoms in post-cholecystectomy patients with clinical and manometric evidence of SO dysfunction.

Biliary sludge as a cause of acute pancreatitis

BACKGROUND

In about 20 to 40 percent of cases of acute pancreatitis, no cause can be found, and these are labeled idiopathic. In this study, we sought to determine the frequency with which patients with acute idiopathic pancreatitis have biliary sludge, a suspension of cholesterol monohydrate crystals or calcium bilirubinate granules that is found predominantly in the gallbladder.

METHODS

Between 1980 and 1988, we prospectively studied 86 patients who had acute pancreatitis. In patients with no known cause of pancreatitis and no ultrasonographic evidence of gallstones or dilatation of the biliary ducts, we determined how often biliary sludge was present and its subsequent fate by repeated microscopical examinations of bile samples and abdominal ultrasonography. The outcome of patients treated by cholecystectomy or papillotomy was compared with that of untreated patients.

RESULTS

The pancreatitis was considered idiopathic in 31 of the 86 patients (36 percent), of whom 23 had microscopical evidence of biliary sludge. Biliary sludge was detected by ultrasonography in only 11 of the 23 patients (48 percent). The sludge detected by ultrasonography was composed of calcium bilirubinate granules in 10 and cholesterol monohydrate crystals in 1 (P = 0.003). Calcium bilirubinate granules were found more frequently in men (nine men vs. four women, P less than 0.001). Of the 21 patients in whom biliary sludge was the only finding (2 patients also had dilasted bile ducts when restudied), the 6 treated by cholecystectomy and the 4 treated by papillotomy had fewer recurrences of acute pancreatitis during follow-up (up to seven years) than the 11 untreated patients (P = 0.011). The presence of biliary sludge appeared to increase the likelihood of recurrent attacks of pancreatitis (P = 0.020).

CONCLUSIONS

Biliary sludge is an underestimated cause of acute idiopathic pancreatitis.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy and ERCP with sphincterotomy in an elderly patient with situs inversus

Situs inversus viscerum (transposition of the viscera) is a rare condition with a genetic predisposition that is autosomal recessive. We present a patient with situs inversus, cholelithiasis, and choledocholithiasis who was successfully treated via laparoscopic cholecystectomy and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography with sphincterotomy. This paper further expands the application of these techniques and shows that they can be safely and effectively applied in the setting of situs inversus, although attention must be paid to the details of left-right reversal.