Laparoscopic common bile duct exploration using a rigid nephroscope

Minimally Invasive Common Bile Duct Stone Management in Gastric Bypass Patients: Laparoscopic Common Bile Duct Exploration with Disposable Bronchoscope

BACKGROUND

Bariatric surgery patients may develop common bile duct stones, and the alterations in their anatomy present challenges in treating this condition. Methods such as laparoscopic bile duct exploration is impractical in many healthcare facilities, due to the absence of a choledochoscope. This study assesses the feasibility of laparoscopic exploration of the common bile duct using a disposable bronchoscope in these individuals.

METHOD

The study involved 32 participants who had undergone gastric bypass surgery. These participants presented with both bile duct stones and bile ducts exceeding 8 mm in diameter, diagnosed through either MRCP or cholangiography conducted during the surgery. Stone extraction was carried out through either choledotomy or transcystic routes using a disposable bronchoscope and endoscopic baskets.

RESULTS

The patients' ages ranged from 27 to 66 years, with a mean bile duct diameter of 11.6 mm (SD 3.1 mm). A 100% stone clearance rate was achieved for all patients. None of the patients required conversion to open surgery. No T-tubes were placed. One patient developed biloma and intra-abdominal abscesses, which were successfully treated with a percutaneous drain over the course of a week. No mortalities were recorded during the course of this study.

CONCLUSION

Our study results demonstrate that laparoscopic bile duct exploration is both feasible and safe in patients who have undergone gastric bypass surgery. The utilization of a disposable bronchoscope emerges as a practical and cost-effective alternative to a choledochoscope in this procedure.

Use of rigid tubal ligation scope: Serendipity in laparoscopic common bile duct exploration

AIM

To assess the feasibility, safety of rigid tubal ligation scope in laparoscopic common bile duct (CBD) exploration.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Rigid nephroscope was used for laparoscopic CBD exploration until one day we tried the same with the rigid tubal ligation scope, which was passed easily into CBD both proximally and distally visualising the interior of the duct for presence of stone that were removed using endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticography (ERCP) basket. This serendipity led us to use this scope for numerous patients from then on. A total of 62 patients, including male and female, underwent laparoscopic CBD exploration after choledochotomy with rigid tubal ligation scope between March 2007 and December 2012 followed by cholecystectomy. All the patients had both cholelithiasis and choledocholithiasis with minimum duct diameter of 12 mm. A total of 48 patients were given T-tube through choledochotomy and closed, and the remaining 14 patients had primary closure of choledochotomy.

RESULTS

There were no intra-operative complications in any of the patients like CBD injury or portal vein injury. Post-operatively graded clamping of T-tube was done and was removed after 15 days in the patients who were given T-tube. None had retained the stone after T-tube cholangiography, which was done before removing the tube. Mean duration of follow up was 6 months. No patients had any complaints during the follow up.

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopic CBD exploration is also feasible with rigid tubal ligation scope. With experienced surgeons, CBD injury is very minimal and stone clearance can be achieved in almost all patients. This rigid tubal ligation scope can be an alternative to other rigid and flexible scopes.

Laparoscopic choledocholithotomy with rigid nephroscope

BACKGROUND

Apart from the required expertise, a major deterrent to laparoscopic common bile duct (CBD) lithotomy (LCDL) remains the relatively prohibitive cost of the flexible choledochoscope, and it also has a shortcoming of not being effective in removal of large impacted CBD stones.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

All patients presenting with CBD stones were treated, without exclusion, by laparoscopic cholecystectomy plus transdochal LCDL after relevant investigations. LCDL was performed using a rigid nephroscope. The CBD was closed either with running 3-0 polyglactin acid (Vicryl; Ethicon) sutures without a stent or around a T tube in a few patients. Perioperative parameters were recorded in all patients.

RESULTS

Transdochal LCDL was performed on 172 consecutive patients. Five patients had a prior open cholecystectomy, 26 patients presented with acute cholecystitis, 5 patients presented with mild acute pancreatitis, and 12 patients presented after failed endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Twenty-eight (16.28%) patients had multiple stones, 2 had biliary sludge, and no stone was found in 3 patients. Stone size varied from 4 to 12 mm. The average operative time was 68 minutes (range, 45-127 minutes). Primary repair was performed with 3-0 Vicryl continuous sutures, and the T tube was left in place in 13 (7.56%) patients. Conversion to an open procedure was required in 8 patients (4.65%). Postoperatively, mild acute pancreatitis occurred in 1 patient, and biliary peritonitis occurred in 5 patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Rigid scope transdochal LCDL is feasible, probably easier, better for impacted large CBD stones, and definitely more affordable.

Evolution in surgery: influence of minimally invasive approaches on the hepatobiliary surgeon

BACKGROUND

Advances in technology and in medical knowledge underlie the constant change in paradigms for medical care. Those who understand, anticipate, and plan for these changes will have the greatest impact on future care of patients and education of the next generation of scholars.

METHODS

Review of pertinent literature.

RESULTS

In hepatobiliary surgery, rapid developments in laparoscopic surgery, image-guided interventions, and minimally invasive ablative therapies have combined to produce much improved care for patients with disease of the liver and biliary tract. Laparoscopic procedures of the gallbladder, bile duct, and liver have altered the morbidity of operations on these organs. Major changes in the treatment of liver abscess, gallstone disease, and liver tumors have resulted from recent changes in technology, highlighting the great opportunities the surgeon anticipating these changes may capitalize on to improve, not only patient care, but the field of surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Active investigation and developments in education in these areas to improve the training of the next generation of surgeons undoubtedly will improve patient care.

The cost of laparoscopic surgery is the price of progress

Pragmatism