Gastroduodenal artery disconnection during liver transplantation decreases non-anastomotic stricture incidence

Background:The hepatic artery is the only blood source nourishing the biliary duct and associated with biliary complication after liver transplantation(LT).Gastroduodenal artery(GDA)disconnection increased proper hepatic artery flow.Whether this procedure attenuates biliary non-anastomotic stricture(NAS)is not clear.Methods:A total of 241 patients with LT were retrospectively analyzed.The patients were divided into the GDA disconnection(GDA-)and GDA preservation(GDA+)groups.Propensity score matching(PSM)was administrated to reduce bias.Logistic regression was conducted to analyze risk factors for biliary NAS before and after PSM.Postoperative complications were compared.Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and log-rank tests were performed to compare overall survival.Results:In all,99 patients(41.1%)underwent GDA disconnection,and 49(20.3%)developed NAS.Multivariate logistic regression revealed that GDA preservation(OR=2.24,95%CI:1.11-4.53;P=0.025)and model for end-stage liver disease(MELD)score>15(OR=2.14,95%CI:1.12-4.11;P=0.022)were risk factors for biliary NAS.PSM provided 66 pairs using 1:2 matching method,including 66 GDA disconnection and 99 GDA preservation patients.Multivariate logistic regression after PSM also showed that GDA preservation(OR=3.15,95%CI:1.26-7.89;P=0.014)and MELD score>15(OR=2.41,95%CI:1.08-5.36;P=0.031)were risk factors for NAS.When comparing complications between the two groups,GDA preservation was associated with a higher incidence of biliary NAS before and after PSM(P=0.031 and 0.017,respectively).In contrast,other complications including early allograft dysfunction(P=0.620),small-for-size graft syndrome(P=0.441),abdominal hemorrhage(P=1.000),major complications(Clavien-Dindo grade≥3,P=0.318),and overall survival(P=0.088)were not significantly different between the two groups.Conclusions:GDA disconnection during LT ameliorates biliary NAS incidence and may be recommended for application in clinical practice.

“Wrapping the gastroduodenal artery stump” during pancreatoduodenectomy reduced the stump hemorrhage incidence after operation

Objective： After pancreaticoduodenectomy （PD）, the postoperative gastroduodenal artery stump （GDAS） hemorrhage is one of the most serious complications. The purpose of this study is to determine whether wrapping the GDAS during PD could decrease the postoperative GDAS hemorrhage incidence. Methods： A retrospective review involving 280 patients who underwent PD from 2005 to 2012 was performed. Wrapping the GDAS during PD was defined as ＂Wrapping the GDAS using the teres hepatis ligamentum during PD＂. A total of 140 patients accepted the ＂wrapping＂ procedure （wrapping group）. The other 140 patients didn＇t apply the procedure （non-wrapping group）. Age, sex, preoperative data, estimated intraoperative blood loss, postoperative complications, pathologic parameters and hospitalization time were compared between two groups. ResultsI There were no significant differences in patient characteristics between two groups. After wrapping, the incidence of postoperative GDAS bleeding decreased significantly （1/140 vs. 9/140, P=0.01）. The rates of the other complications （such as intra-abdominal infection pancreatic fistula, billiary fistula, gastrointestinal bleeding, et aL） showed no significant differences. Conclusions： Wrapping the GDAS during PD significantly reduced the postoperative GDAS hemorrhage incidence. And the ＂wrapping＂ had no obvious influence on other complications.

Hemosuccus pancreaticus caused by gastroduodenal artery pseudoaneurysm associated with chronic pancreatitis: A case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND Hemosuccus pancreaticus is a very rare but severe form of upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage.The most common etiology is peripancreatic pseudoaneurysm secondary to chronic pancreatitis.Due to the rarity of gastroduodenal artery pseudoaneurysms,most of the current literature consists of case reports.Limited knowledge about the disease causes diagnostic difficulty.CASE SUMMARY A 39-year-old man with a previous history of chronic pancreatitis was hospitalized due to hematemesis and melena for 2 wk,with a new episode lasting 1 d.Two weeks prior,the patient had visited a local hospital for repeated hematemesis and melena.Esophagogastroduodenoscopy indicated hemorrhage in the descending duodenum.The patient was discharged after the bleeding stopped,but hematemesis and hematochezia recurred.Bedside esophagogastroduodenoscopy showed no obvious bleeding lesion.On admission to our hospital,he had hematemesis,hematochezia,left middle and upper abdominal pain,severe anemia,and elevated blood amylase.After admission,intermittent hematochezia was observed.Abdominal contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed a pseudoaneurysm in the pancreas head.Angiography confirmed the diagnosis of gastroduodenal artery pseudoaneurysm.The pseudoaneurysm was successfully embolized with a coil and cyanoacrylate.No bleeding was observed after the operation.After discharge from the hospital,a telephone follow-up showed no further bleeding signs.CONCLUSION Hemosuccus pancreaticus caused by gastroduodenal artery pseudoaneurysm associated with chronic pancreatitis is very rare.This diagnosis should be considered when upper gastrointestinal bleeding and abdominal pain are intermittent.Abdominal enhanced computed tomography and angiography are important for diagnosis and treatment.

Study of Relationship Between the Blood Supply of the Extrahepatic Bile Duct and Duct Supply Branches from Gastroduodenal Artery on Imaging and Anatomy

Background： Liver transplantation has become the treatment of choice for patients with end-stage acute or chronic hepatic disease. Bile duct complications are common events after liver transplantation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the blood supply of the human bile duct and identify the underlying mechanisms of bile duct complications after liver transplantation. Methods： The duct supply branches from gastroduodenal artery and blood supply of extrahepatic bile duct system were re-evaluated through selective hepatic angiography from 600 patients. In addition, 33 cadavers were injected with latex casting material into the common hepatic artery, then the extrahepatic bile duct and the branches from the common hepatic artery were carefully dissected to visualize the gastroduodenal artery and its branching to the extrahepatic bile duct. Results： The bile duct artery arose from the branch of the gastroduodenal artery in 8.1% （49/600）. Of these 49 individuals, the bile duct artery was supplied by the gastroduodenal artery （61.22%, 30/49）, the proper hepatic artery （14.29%, 7/49）, or both the gastroduodenal artery and the proper hepatic artery （24.49%, 12/49）. In our study of 33 cadavers, the percentage that the bile duct artery arose from the gastroduodenal artery was 27.27%. The blood supply to the bile extrahepatic bile ducts was divided into different segments and formed longitudinal and arterial network anastomosed on the walls of the duct. Conclusions： There is a close relationship between the duct supply branches from gastroduodenal artery and the blood supplying patterns of the extrahepatic bile duct system. In liver transplant surgery, the initial part of the gastroduodenal artery is preferred to be preserved in the donor liver. It is of great significance to improve the success rate of operation and reduce complications.

Nonclassical Cause of Obstructive Jaundice: A Case Report of Multiple Visceral Arterial Aneurysms in a Young Patient

Multiple visceral artery aneurysms are relatively rare;the rarest are superior mesenteric artery and gastroduodenal artery aneurysms. The clinical presentation depends on the size and site of the aneurysm. We report the case of a 33-year-old man with recurrent episodes of obstructive jaundice and weight loss. Computed tomography with contrast revealed scattered hepatic arterial aneurysms with two other aneurysms along the course of the left gastro-duodenal and superior mesenteric artery. Investigations to determine the etiology were negative, but the patient had a history of smoking and substance abuse. Angiography revealed an occluded feeding artery. The patient developed multiorgan failure, leading to cardiac arrest and died. Diagnosing multiple visceral artery aneurysms needs a high index of suspicion;early diagnosis enables early intervention, which can reduce the high mortality of this condition.