Occult pancreaticobiliary reflux is a pathogenic factor of some benign biliary diseases and gallbladder cancer

Background:Pancreaticobiliary maljunction(PBM)is a well-known high-risk factor for biliary malignant tumors because of constant pancreaticobiliary reflux(PBR).However,the impact of occult pancreaticobiliary reflux(OPR),which is characterized by high bile amylase levels in individuals with anatomically normal pancreaticobiliary junction,on biliary diseases remains unclear.The aim of this study was to assess the correlation between OPR and biliary diseases.Methods:We enrolled 94 consecutive patients with normal pancreaticobiliary junction and primary biliary diseases confirmed by magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography.We prospectively collected patients’bile samples and measured bile amylase levels.We investigated the incidence of OPR and the difference in bile amylase levels among these patients and assessed the correlation between high bile amylase levels(HBAL)and benign or malignant biliary diseases,as well as the OPR risk factors.Results:The incidence of OPR was 36.6%in patients with benign biliary diseases,26.7%in those with cholangiocarcinoma and 62.5%in those with gallbladder cancer.The median bile amylase level tended to be higher in patients with gallbladder cancer than in those with benign biliary diseases,but there was no significant difference(165.5 IU/L vs.23.0 IU/L,P=0.212).The prevalence of an HBAL with bile amylase levels of 1000-7500 IU/L was similar in patients with gallbladder cancer and benign biliary diseases.However,the incidence of HBAL with bile amylase levels greater than 7500 IU/L was significantly higher in patients with gallbladder cancer than in those with benign biliary diseases(37.5%vs.4.2%,P=0.012).Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that choledocholithiasis was an independent risk factor for OPR.Conclusions:OPR can occur in benign and malignant biliary diseases,and it may be a pathogenic factor for some benign biliary diseases and a high-risk factor for gallbladder cancer.There is a correlation between choledocholithiasis and OPR.

Early Versus Delayed Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy for Acute Cholecystitis with Mild Pancreatitis

The safety and feasibility of early laparoscopic cholecystectomy(LC)for acute cholecystitis with mild pancreatitis were explored.A total of 973 patients with acute pancreatitis,including 651 mild cases and 322 moderate or severe cases were retrospectively studied from July 2014 to December 2018 in our department.And 426 mild pancreatitis cases with acute cholecystitis were enrolled in this study,of which 328 patients underwent LC during the same-admission(early LC group),and 98 patients underwent LC a period of time after conservative treatment(delayed LC group).Clinical characteristics,operative findings and complications were recorded and followed up.The two groups were comparable in age,gender,the grade of American Society of Anesthesiologist(ASA),biochemical findings and Balthazar computer tomography(CT)rating(P>0.05).The operation interval and hospital stay in early LC group were significantly shorter than in delayed LC group(5.83+1.62 vs.41.3618.44 days;11.38+2.43 vs.16.49+3.48 days,P<0.01).There was no significant difference in the average operation time between the two groups.No preoperative biliary related events recurred in early LC group but there were 21 cases of preoperative biliary related events in delayed LC group(P<0.01).There was no significant difference in conversion rate(3.85 vs.5.10%,P=0.41)and surgical complication rate(3.95 vs.4.08%,P-0.95)between early LC group and delayed LC group.During the postoperative follow-up period of 375 cases,biliary related events recurred in 4 cases in early LC group and 3 cases in delayed LC group(P=0.37).The effect of early LC during the same-admission is better than delayed LC for acute cholecystitis with mild pancreatitis.