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.

Global, regional, and national burden of gallbladder and biliary diseases from 1990 to 2019

BACKGROUND Gallbladder and biliary diseases(GABDs)are a major public health issue.AIM To analysis the cause-specific incidence,prevalence,and years lived with disability(YLDs)and its temporal trends of GABDs at the global,regional,and national level.Data on GABD were available from the Global Burden of Disease study 2019.METHODS The estimated annual percentage change(EAPC)was used to quantify temporal trend in GABD age-standardized incidence rates(ASIRs),age-standardized prevalence rate(ASPR),and age-standardized YLD rate(ASYR)by region,sex.We analyzed the relationship between the GABD burden and country development level using the human development index(HDI).RESULTS In 2019,the incident cases of GABD were 52003772,with an ASIR of 63432/100000 population.Globally,the number of incident cases and ASIR of GABD increased 97%and 58.9%between 1990 and 2019.Although,the ASPR and ASYR decreased from 1990 to 2019,the number of prevalent and YLDs cases increased.The highest ASIR was observed in Italy,and the highest ASPR and ASYR was observed in United Kingdom.The highest burden of GABD was found in low-SDI region,and the burden in female was significantly higher than males.A generally negative correlation(ρ=-0.24,P<0.05)of GABD with the EAPC and human development index(HDI)(in 2021)were observed for ASIR.What’s more,no correlation in ASPR(ρ=-0.06,P=0.39)and ASYR(ρ=-0.07,P=0.36)of GABD with the EAPC and HDI(in 2021)were observed,respectively.CONCLUSION GABD remain a major global public health challenge;however,the burden of GABD varies geographically.Globally,the number of incident cases and ASIR of GABD increased between 1990 and 2019.The results of our study provide insight into the global disease burden of GABD and may assist policymakers in formulating effective policies to mitigate modifiable risk factors.

Western blotting in the diagnosis of duodenal-biliary and pancreaticobiliary refluxes in biliary diseases

BACKGROUND: Currently adopted diagnostic methods for duodenal-biliary and pancreaticobiliary refluxes carry many flaws, so the incidence of the two refluxes demands further larger sample size studies. This study aimed to evaluate Western blotting for the diagnosis of refluxes in biliary diseases. METHODS: An oral radionuclide (99)mTc-DTPA test (radionuclide, RN) was conducted for the observation of duodenal-biliary reflux prior to measuring bile radioactivity and Western blotting for detecting bile enterokinase (EK). Pancreaticobiliary reflux was assessed by biochemical and Western blotting tests for biliary amylase activity and trypsin-1, respectively. In accordance with bile sample origin, our samples were classified into ductal bile and gall bile groups; based on each individual biliary disease, we further classified the ductal bile group into five subgroups, and the gall bile group into four sub-groups. Western blotting was conducted to assess the two refluxes in biliary diseases. RESULTS: Consistencies were noted between EK and RN tests when diagnosing duodenal-biliary reflux (P<0.001). The amylase and trypsin-1 tests also showed consistency in diagnosing pancreaticobiliary reflux (P<0.001). Amylase and lipase levels within gall and ductal bile were strongly correlated (P<0.05). In the common bile duct pigment stone group, the EK and trypsin-1 positive rates were found to be insignificant (P>0.05); in the common bile duct cyst group, the EK positive rate was significantly lower than the trypsin-1 positive rate (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Western blotting can accurately reflect duodenal-biliary and pancreaticobiliary refluxes. EK has greater sensitivity than RN for duodenal-biliary reflux. The majority of biliary amylase and lipase comes from the pancreas in all biliary diseases; pancreaticobiliary reflux is the predominant source in the common bile duct cyst group and duodenal-biliary reflux is responsible for the ductal pigment stone group.

Critical values of monitoring indexes for perioperative major adverse cardiac events in elderly patients with biliary diseases

BACKGROUND Major adverse cardiac events(MACE) in elderly patients with biliary diseases are the main cause of perioperative accidental death, but no widely recognized quantitative monitoring index of perioperative cardiac function so far.AIM To investigate the critical values of monitoring indexes for perioperative MACE in elderly patients with biliary diseases.METHODS The clinical data of 208 elderly patients with biliary diseases in our hospital from May 2016 to April 2021 were retrospectively analysed. According to whether MACE occurred during the perioperative period, they were divided into the MACE group and the non-MACE group.RESULTS In the MACE compared with the non-MACE group, postoperative complications, mortality, hospital stay, high sensitivity troponin-Ⅰ(Hs-TnI), creatine kinase isoenzyme(CK-MB), myoglobin(MYO), B-type natriuretic peptide(BNP), and Ddimer(D-D) levels were significantly increased(P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression showed that postoperative BNP and D-D were independent risk factors for perioperative MACE, and their cut-off values in the receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curve were 382.65 pg/mL and 0.965 mg/L, respectively.CONCLUSION The postoperative BNP and D-D were independent risk factors for perioperative MACE, with the critical values of 382.65 pg/mL and 0.965 mg/L respectively. Consequently, timely monitoring and effective maintenance of perioperative cardiac function stability are of great clinical significance to further improve the perioperative safety of elderly patients with biliary diseases.

Hyponatremia is associated with more severe biliary disease

BACKGROUND Sodium level is an important clinical predictor of complex biliary disease.Hyponatremia has been observed in conjunction with biliary disease,however the nature of this association remains unclear.AIM To investigate the association between serum sodium and severe biliary disease.METHODS Of 920 patients with gallstone disease treated at the SFVA Hospital from 1989-2019 were studied.We conducted multivariate analyses of correlation between sodium level and biliary disease severity,the presence/location of biliary bacteria,and other factors.Minimum sodium level pre-intervention was collected.Gallstones,bile,and blood(as relevant)were cultured.Illness severity was characterized:(1)None(no infectious manifestations);(2)Systemic inflammatory response syndrome;(3)Severe illness(gangrenous cholecystitis,cholangitis,necrotizing pancreatitis);and(4)Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome(bacteremia,hypotension,organ failure).Comorbidity was defined using the Charlson Comorbidity Index(CCI).RESULTS Decreased sodium level significantly correlated with worsening illness severity,ascending bacterial infection,gangrenous changes,elevated CCI score,increasing age,male sex,and glucose.On multivariate analysis,all factors,except age,gender and glucose,independently correlated with sodium level and factors were additive.CONCLUSION This unique study is the first to explore,with such granularity,the relationship between biliary disease and sodium.No prior studies have examined specific culture and clinical data.It illustrates an inverse,independent correlation between illness severity and sodium.Culture data demonstrate that sodium decreases as infection ascends from gallstone colonization to bactibilia to bacteremia.Patient comorbidity and gangrenous changes also independently correlate with sodium on multivariate analysis.Sodium level is an important clinical indicator of disease severity for patients with biliary disease.

CA19-9 antigen levels can distinguish between benign and malignant pancreaticobiliary disease

BACKGROUND:CA19-9 is a carbohydrate tumor-associated antigen which is frequently upregulated in pancreatobiliary neoplasia.However,it may also be elevated in patients with jaundice in the absence of a tumor due to biliary obstruction,and in other non-hepato-pancreatico-biliary conditions.This study aimed to evaluate whether CA19-9 levels could accurately differentiate between benign and malignant pancreatobiliary disease.METHODS:All patients referred to a single surgeon for investigation of pancreaticobiliary disease in 2003 in whom a firm diagnosis had been established were included.For malignant disease,a histological diagnosis was required but for benign disease a firm radiological diagnosis was deemed adequate.The patients were divided into 4 categories:pancreatic adenocarcinoma(PCa);cholangiocarcinoma(CCa);chronic pancreatitis(CP)and biliary calculous disease(Calc).Bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase levels corresponding to the point of assessment of CA19-9 were also noted.RESULTS:Final diagnoses were made of pancreatic adenocarcinoma(PCa,n=73),cholangiocarcinoma(CCa,n=19),ampullary carcinoma(Amp,n=7),neuroendocrine carcinoma(Neu,n=4),duodenal carcinoma(Duo,n=3),chronic pancreatitis(CP,n=115),and biliary calculous disease(Calc,n=27).Median CA19-9 levels(U/ml)were:PCa,653;CCa,408;Duo,403;Calc,27;CP,19;Neu,10.5;Amp,8(reference range:0-37).The CA19-9 levels were significantly greater for malignant than for benign disease,could differentiate PCa from CCa/Duo,and were significantly higher in unresectable than in resectable PCa.The sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value(PPV)and negative predictive value(NPV)for CA19-9 were 84.9%,69.7%,67.7%and 86.1%,respectively.A ROC analysis provided an area under the curve for CA19-9 of 0.871(0.820-0.922),giving an optimal CA19-9 of 70.5 U/ml for differentiating benign from malignant pathology.Using this cut-off,the sensitivity was 82.1%,while specificity,PPV and NPV improved to 85.9%,81.3%and 86.5%,respectively.When standard radiology was included(US/ CT/MRCP)in the decision process,the results improved to 97.2%,88.7%,86.6%,and 97.7%.For benign disease,the CA19-9 correlated directly with the serum bilirubin,but for malignant disease,CA19-9 levels were elevated independent of the bilirubin level.CONCLUSIONS:CA19-9 is useful in the differentiation of pancreatobiliary disease and when using an optimized cut-off and combining with routine radiology,the diagnostic yield is improved significantly,thus stressing the importance of a multi-disciplinary approach to pancreatobiliary disease.

Management of occluded self-expanding biliary metal stents in malignant biliary disease

Background: Occlusion of self-expanding metal stents(SEMS) in malignant biliary obstruction occurs in up to 40% of patients. This study aimed to compare the different techniques to resolve stent occlusion in our collective of patients.Methods: Patients with malignant biliary obstruction and occlusion of biliary metal stent at a tertiary referral endoscopic center were retrospectively identified between April 1, 1994 and May 31, 2014. The clinical records were further analyzed regarding the characteristics of patients, malignant strictures, SEMS,management strategies, stent patency, subsequent interventions, survival time and case charges.Results: A total of 108 patients with biliary metal stent occlusion were identified. Seventy-nine of these patients were eligible for further analysis. Favored management was plastic stent insertion in 73.4% patients. Second SEMS were inserted in 12.7% patients. Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage and mechanical cleansing were conducted in a minority of patients. Further analysis showed no statistically significant difference in median overall secondary stent patency(88 vs. 143 days, P = 0.069), median survival time(95 vs. 192 days, P = 0.116), median subsequent intervention rate(53.4% vs. 40.0%, P = 0.501)and median case charge(€5145 vs. €3473, P = 0.803) for the treatment with a second metal stent insertion compared to plastic stent insertion. In patients with survival time of more than three months,significantly more patients treated with plastic stents needed re-interventions than patients treated with second SEMS(93.3% vs. 57.1%, P = 0.037).Conclusions: In malignant biliary strictures, both plastic and metal stent insertions are feasible strategies for the treatment of occluded SEMS. Our data suggest that in palliative biliary stenting, patients especially those with longer expected survival might benefit from second SEMS insertion. Careful patient selection is important to ensure a proper decision for either management strategy.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in pancreatic and biliary tract disease in Korean children

AIM:To assess the indications,findings,therapeutic procedures,safety,and complications of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP) performed in Korean children.METHODS:The demographic characteristics,indications for ERCP,findings,therapeutic procedures,and complications of 122 pediatric patients who underwent 245 ERCPs in the Asan Medical Center between June 1994 and March 2008 were investigated.RESULTS:The mean age of the 122 patients was 8.0 ± 4.2 years.Indications were biliary pathology in 78(64.0%),pancreatic pathology in 43(35.2%),and chronic abdominal pain in one.Biliary indications included choledochal cysts in 40,choledocholithiasis in 24,suspected sclerosing cholangitis in 8,trauma in 2,and other conditions in 4.Pancreatic indications includedacute pancreatitis in 7,acute recurrent pancreatitis in 11,chronic pancreatitis in 20,trauma in 3,and pancreatic mass in 2.Of the 245 ERCPs,success rate was 98.4% and 190(77.6%) were for therapeutic purposes,including endoscopic nasal drainage(51.8%),biliary sphincterotomy(38.0%),pancreatic sphincterotomy(23.3%),stent insertion(15.1%),stone extraction(18.8%),and balloon dilatation(11.0%).Complications were postERCP pancreatitis in 16(6.5%),ileus in 23(9.4%),hemorrhage in 2(0.8%),perforation in 2(0.8%),sepsis in 1(0.4%),and impacted basket in 1(0.4%).There were no procedure-related deaths,and most complications improved under supportive care.CONCLUSION:This study showed that there is a high incidence of choledochal cyst and diagnostic and therapeutic ERCP for the management of various biliary and pancreatic diseases was safe and effective in Korean children.

Reoperation for benign biliary tract diseases in 149 cases: causes and prevention

BACKGROUND: Failure to diagnose and treat benign bi- liary tract disease relatively common surgical disease may cause serious consequences. Since the introduction of B- mode ultrasonography, CT, or MRI early and accurate diagnosis of the disease has been possible. In clinical prac- tice, however, these methods have not been adequately used. Inappropriate surgical procedures can also lead to bile duct injury or stenosis after injury, residual cholecystitis, stenosis after cholangiojejunostomy, or stenosis of the Od- di' s sphincter. But improvement of the diagnosis and treat- ment of benign biliary tract disease remains a great chal- lenge to clinicians. METHODS: A total of 149 patients with benign biliary tract disease who had received reoperation from June 1988 to June 2001 were analyzed retrospectively. Among them 95 patients (63.76%) received operation twice and 38 (25.5%) underwent 3 operations. Sixteen patients (10.74%) needed 4 or more operations. The procedures for the first opera- tion included cholecystectomy (71 patients, 47.65%), cho- lecystectomy with exploration of the common bile duct (42, 28.19%), cholangiojejunostomy (21, 14.1%), and la- paroscopic cholecystectomy (15, 10.06%). RESULTS: The causes for reoperation included residual and recurrent bile duct stones in 53 patients (35.57%), bile duct injury or stenosis after injury in 41 (27.52%), residual cho- lecystitis with or without stones in 28 (18.8%), stenosis af- ter cholangiojejunostomy in 17 (11.41%), stenosis of the Oddi's sphincter in 5 (5.35%), and others in 5 (5.35%). Four patients (2.68%) died after operation. CONCLUSIONS: To prevent reoperation for benign biliary tract diseases, the following measures should be taken to in- crease preoperative diagnostic rate, to understand condi- tions of the biliary tract by using imaging techniques and cholangiography, to examine comprehensively and careful- ly with choledochoscopy, cholangiography and B-mode ul-trasonography intraoperatively, to choose appropriate ope- rative procedures to decrease the rate of residual stones, and to decide the time for the first repair according to inju- ry type of the bile duct. Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy with cholangioplasty is the best operation for the recon- struction of the biliary tract.

Spontaneous gallbladder perforation,pericholecystic abscess and cholecystoduodenal fistula as the first manifestations of gallstone disease

BACKGROUND:Gallstone disease is common,and complications that are frequently encountered include acute cholecystitis and acute pancreatitis,but rarely gallbladder perforation. METHOD:Data were retrospectively collected from clinical case notes and a literature review is presented. RESULTS:A 72-year-old lady presented with spontaneous gallbladder perforation,pericholecystic abscess and cholecystoduodenal fistula as the first manifestations of gallstone disease.She was previously well and had no abdominal complaints.Her condition was successfully managed with initial antibiotic therapy followed by interval cholecystectomy and fistula repair. CONCLUSIONS:Our case highlighted some uncommon but severe complications which occurred simultaneously as the first manifestations of previously asymptomatic gallstone disease.Such complications need to be considered in patients suspected of intra-abdominal sepsis,even when there are no characteristic symptoms.

Current considerations on intraductal papillary neoplasms of the bile duct and pancreatic duct

Pancreatobiliary intraductal papillary neoplasms(IPNs)represent precursors of pancreatic cancer or bile duct cholangiocarcinoma that can be detected and treated.Despite advances in diagnostic methods,identifying these premalignant lesions is still challenging for treatment providers.Modern imaging,biomarkers and molecular tests for genomic alterations can be used for diagnosis and follow-up.Surgical intervention in combination with new chemotherapeutic agents is considered the optimal treatment for malignant cases.The balance between the risk of malignancy and any risk of resection guides management policy;therefore,treatment should be individualized based on a meticulous preoperative assessment of high-risk stigmata.IPN of the bile duct is more aggressive;thus,early diagnosis and surgery are crucial.The conservative management of low-risk pancreatic branch-duct lesions is safe and effective.

New trends in diagnosis and management of gallbladder carcinoma

Gallbladder(GB)carcinoma,although relatively rare,is the most common biliary tree cholangiocarcinoma with aggressiveness and poor prognosis.It is closely associated with cholelithiasis and long-standing large(>3 cm)gallstones in up to 90%of cases.The other main predisposing factors for GB carcinoma include molecular factors such as mutated genes,GB wall calcification(porcelain)or mainly mucosal microcalcifications,and GB polyps≥1 cm in size.Diagnosis is made by ultrasound,computed tomography(CT),and,more precisely,magnetic resonance imaging(MRI).Preoperative staging is of great importance in decisionmaking regarding therapeutic management.Preoperative staging is based on MRI findings,the leading technique for liver metastasis imaging,enhanced three-phase CT angiography,or magnetic resonance angiography for major vessel assessment.It is also necessary to use positron emission tomography(PET)-CT or ^(18)F-FDG PET-MRI to more accurately detect metastases and any other occult deposits with active metabolic uptake.Staging laparoscopy may detect dissemination not otherwise found in 20%-28.6%of cases.Multimodality treatment is needed,including surgical resection,targeted therapy by biological agents according to molecular testing gene mapping,chemotherapy,radiation therapy,and immunotherapy.It is of great importance to understand the updated guidelines and current treatment options.The extent of surgical intervention depends on the disease stage,ranging from simple cholecystectomy(T1a)to extended resections and including extended cholecystectomy(T1b),with wide lymph node resection in every case or IV-V segmentectomy(T2),hepatic trisegmentectomy or major hepatectomy accompanied by hepaticojejunostomy Roux-Y,and adjacent organ resection if necessary(T3).Laparoscopic or robotic surgery shows fewer postoperative complications and equivalent oncological outcomes when compared to open surgery,but much attention must be paid to avoiding injuries.In addition to surgery,novel targeted treatment along with immunotherapy and recent improvements in radiotherapy and chemotherapy(neoadjuvant-adjuvant capecitabine,cisplatin,gemcitabine)have yielded promising results even in inoperable cases calling for palliation(T4).Thus,individualized treatment must be applied.

Biliary-colonic fistula caused by cholecystectomy bile duct injury

Biliary-colonic fistula is a rare complication after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. We present a case of post-cholecystectomy iatrogenic biliary injury that resulted in a fistula between the common hepatic duct and large bowel. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography provided good visualization of injury even with concurrent normal level of alkaline phosphatase. Radiologic findings and surgical management of this condition are discussed in detail.

Disease spectrum and use of cholecystolithotomy in gallstone ileus

BACKGROUND: Gallstone ileus is a heterogeneous and highly morbid condition that suffers from a lack of consensus regarding the timing and approach to management of the biliary tree and associated fistula. METHODS: We report three cases that demonstrate the spectrum of gallstone ileus with classical examples of both Barnard’s and Bouveret’s syndromes. Clinical presentation diagnostic imaging, surgical technique and outcome are discussed. RESULTS: One patient with Barnard’s syndrome presented with recurrent gallstone ileus. To minimize the risks of complex, definitive biliary surgery and avoid further recurrent episodes, a cholecystolithotomy was performed with effect Two cases of Bouveret’s syndrome were successfully managed with enterolithotomy/cholecystectomy and multivisceral resection respectively, thus highlighting the diverse nature of this disease and management options. CONCLUSIONS: Following enterolithotomy, potentially morbid definitive one-stage surgery in typically compromised, elderly patients needs to be weighed against the risk of recurrence and ongoing biliary pathology. We suggest the use of open cholecystolithotomy for the removal of residual gallstones when the patient is not suitable for definitive biliary surgery.

Current management of concomitant cholelithiasis and common bile duct stones

The management policy of concomitant cholelithiasis and choledocholithiasis is based on a one-or two-stage procedure.It basically includes either laparoscopic cholecystectomy(LC)with laparoscopic common bile duct(CBD)exploration(LCBDE)in the same operation or LC with preoperative,postoperative and even intraoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography-endoscopic sphincterotomy(ERCP-ES)for stone clearance.The most frequently used worldwide option is preoperative ERCP-ES and stone removal followed by LC,preferably on the next day.In cases where preoperative ERCP-ES is not feasible,the proposed alternative of intraoperative rendezvous ERCP-ES simultaneously with LC has been advocated.The intraoperative extraction of CBD stones is superior to postoperative rendezvous ERCP-ES.However,there is no consensus on the superiority of laparoendoscopic rendezvous.This is equivalent to a traditional two-stage procedure.Endoscopic papillary large balloon dilation reduces recurrence.LCBDE and intraoperative ERCP have similar good outcomes.The risk of recurrence after ERCP-ES is greater than that after LCBDE.Laparoscopic ultrasonography may delineate the anatomy and detect CBD stones.The majority of surgeons prefer the transcductal instead of the transcystic approach for CBDE with or without T-tube drainage,but the transcystic approach must be used where possible.LCBDE is a safe and effective choice when performed by an experienced surgeon.However,the requirement of specific equipment and advanced training are drawbacks.The percutaneous approach is an alternative when ERCP fails.Surgical or endoscopic reintervention for retained stones may be needed.For asymptomatic CBD stones,ERCP clearance is the firstchoice method.Both one-stage and two-stage management are acceptable and can ensure improved quality of life.

Liver involvement in patients with COVID-19 infection:A comprehensive overview of diagnostic imaging features

During the first wave of the pandemic,coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)infection has been considered mainly as a pulmonary infection.However,different clinical and radiological manifestations were observed over time,including involvement of abdominal organs.Nowadays,the liver is considered one of the main affected abdominal organs.Hepatic involvement may be caused by either a direct damage by the virus or an indirect damage related to COVID-19 induced thrombosis or to the use of different drugs.After clinical assessment,radiology plays a key role in the evaluation of liver involvement.Ultrasonography(US),computed tomography(CT)and magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)may be used to evaluate liver involvement.US is widely available and it is considered the first-line technique to assess liver involvement in COVID-19 infection,in particular liver steatosis and portal-vein thrombosis.CT and MRI are used as second-and third-line techniques,respectively,considering their higher sensitivity and specificity compared to US for assessment of both parenchyma and vascularization.This review aims to the spectrum of COVID-19 liver involvement and the most common imaging features of COVID-19 liver damage.

Application of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in biliary-pancreatic diseases

Background Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography （ERCP） has been used increasingly for the treatment of choledocholithiasis, gallstone pancreatitis, and benign or malignant bile duct or pancreatic duct stenosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate ERCP for the diagnosis and therapy of biliary-pancreatic diseases. Methods A total of 2075 patients who underwent diagnostic and therapeutic ERCP from June 2001 to March 2009 were analyzed retrospectively. Achievement and complication rates were calculated, and the therapeutic effect was observed. Results In all the 64 cases who underwent diagnostic ERCP, the procedure was successful, in 2011 cases therapeutic ERCP was performed, and the success rate was 94.6%. In the therapeutic ERCP cases, 1434 （93.0%） were successful among the 1542 cases of choledocholithiasis, and 422 （90.0%） of the 469 cases with benign or malignant bile duct or pancreatic duct stenosis, or acute obstructive suppurative cholangitis with stent placement or endoscopic nasobiliary drainage were successful. Fifty-nine （90.8%） cases of the 65 who underwent a pre-cut for pancreatic sphincterotomy were successful. Complication rate was 5.1% and the most frequent complication was acute pancreatitis （4.4%）. Conclusions ERCP is one of the major diagnostic and therapeutic methods for biliary-pancreatic disease. Therapeutic ERCP is a minimally invasive, safe and effective treatment method for various biliary-pancreatic diseases.

Role of stair-climbing test in predicting postoperativecardiopulmonary complications in elderly patients with biliarydiseases

One hundred and twenty-six patients above 80 years old with biliary diseases undergoing operations in Shaoxing People’s Hospital from Jan.2002 to Jan.2007 were analyzed retrospectively.All patients performed a preoperative stair-climbing test,and the risks for cardio-pulmonary complications were evaluated with pair-matching and linear correlations analysis between stair-climbing height(h)and left ventricular ejective factor(EF),forced vital capacity(FVC)and forced expiratory volume in one second(FEV1).There was a significant difference in the incidence of cardiopulmonary complications among different stair-climbing heights.Stair-climbing heights were positively related with EF,FVC and FEV1.This suggests that the stair-climbing test is an effective and simple method for predicting cardiopulmonary complica-tions in elderly patients with biliary diseases.

Pyogenic liver abscess: Differences in etiology and treatment in Southeast Asia and Central Europe

Knowledge of etiology and timely treatment of underlying causes,when possible,play an important role in the successful therapy of patients with pyogenic liver abscess (PLA).Recent publications from Central Europe and Southeast Asia hint at considerable differences in etiology.In this article,we aim to elaborate these differences and their therapeutic implications.Apart from some special types of PLA that are comparable in Southeast Asia and Central Europe (such as posttraumatic or postprocedural PLA),there are clear differences in the microbiological spectrum,which implies different risk factors and disease courses.Klebsiella pneumoniae (K.pneumoniae) PLA is predominantly seen in Southeast Asia,whereas,in Central Europe,PLA is typically caused by Escherichia coli,Streptococcus or Staphylococcus,and these patients are more likely to be older and to have a biliary abnormality or malignancy.K.pneumoniae patients are more likely to have diabetes mellitus.Control of septic spread is crucial in K.pneumoniae patients,whereas treatment of the underlying diseases is decisive in many Central European PLA patients.

Clinical analysis of patients with iatrogenic bile duct injury

BACKGROUND: The main cause of iatrogenic bile duct injury is misidentification of the common bile duct as the cystic duct. In this article, we summarize the experience in the treatment of 112 patients with iatrogenic bile duct injury. METHOD: Clinical data of these patients treated at 10 hospitals of Songhua river area, Heilongjiang province, China from January 1978 to January 2005 were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: In 55.4% patients (62/112), iatrogenic bile duct injury was due to misidentification of the anatomy of Calot's triangle before cholecystectomy. Their diagnosis was based on clinical features, celiac puncture and imaging examination in which ultrasonography was most sensitive, giving a diagnostic rate of 97. 5%. Six types of injury were identified according to their locations, and type Ⅲ damage was commonly seen ( 92/112 ). The curative rate in this group was 95.5% (107/112). Eighty-seven patients (77.7%) underwent Roux-en-Y choledochojejunostomy with a cure rate of 94.3% (82/87). CONCLUSION: The prevention of iatrogenic bile duct injury lies in identifying the topography of extrahepatic bile ducts. Roux-en-Y choledochojejunostomy is usually the treatment of choice.