Cholangiojejunostomy for multiple biliary ducts in living donor liver transplantation: A case report

BACKGROUND Laparoscopic living donor hepatectomy(LLDH)has been successfully carried out in several transplant centers.Biliary reconstruction is key in living donor liver transplantation(LDLT).Reliable biliary reconstruction can effectively prevent postoperative biliary stricture and leakage.Although preoperative magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography and intraoperative indocyanine green cholangiography have been shown to be helpful in determining optimal division points,biliary variability and limitations associated with LLDH,multiple biliary tracts are often encountered during surgery,which inhibits biliary reconstruction.A reliable cholangiojejunostomy for multiple biliary ducts has been utilized in LDLT.This procedure provides a reference for multiple biliary reconstructions after LLDH.CASE SUMMARY A 2-year-old girl diagnosed with ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency required liver transplantation.Due to the scarcity of deceased donors,she was put on the waiting list for LDLT.Her father was a suitable donor;however,after a rigorous evaluation,preoperative magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography examination of the donor indicated the possibility of multivessel variation in the biliary tract.Therefore,a laparoscopic left lateral section was performed on the donor,which met the estimated graft-to-recipient weight ratio.Under intraoperative indocyanine green cholangiography,4 biliary tracts were confirmed in the graft.It was difficult to reform the intrahepatic bile ducts due to their openings of more than 5 mm.A reliable cholangiojejunostomy was,therefore,utilized:Suture of the jejunum to the adjacent liver was performed around the bile duct openings with 6/0 absorbable sutures.At the last follow-up(1 year after surgery),the patient was complication-free.CONCLUSION Intrahepatic cholangiojejunostomy is reliable for multiple biliary ducts after LLDH in LDLT.

Biliary metal stents should be placed near the hilar duct in distal malignant biliary stricture patients

BACKGROUND Endoscopic biliary drainage using a self-expandable metallic stent(SEMS)has been widely performed to treat distal malignant biliary obstruction(DMBO).However,the optimal position of the stent remains unclear.AIM To determine the ideal position for SEMS placement.METHODS In total,135 DMBO patients underwent SEMS(uncovered or covered)placement over a ten-year period.A total of 127 patients with biliary obstruction between the junction of the cystic duct and Vater’s papilla were enrolled.An SEMS was placed through the upper common bile duct 2 cm from the biliary hilar duct in 83 patients(Hilar group)or near the top of the biliary obstruction in 44 patients(Lower group).Technical and functional success,adverse events,and risk factors for SEMS dysfunction were evaluated.RESULTS The stent patency period was significantly longer in the Hilar group than in the Lower group(P value<0.01).In multivariate analysis,the only statistically significant risk factor for SEMS dysfunction was being in the Lower group(hazard ratio:9.94,95%confidence interval:2.25–44.0,P<0.01).CONCLUSION A longer patency period was achieved by positioning the SEMS near the biliary hilar duct.

The abnormal expression of E-cadherin in intrahepatic bile duct epithelia cells in biliary atresia and its relationship with apoptosis

To explore the relationship between the expression of E-cadherin and the apoptosis in intrahepatic bile duct epithelial cells in biliary atresia (BA).Methods The E-cadherin expression was demonstrated by immunohistochemical staining for the liver specimens from 38 children with BA and 16 normal children.The apoptotic intrahepatic bile duct epithelial cells in these specimens were visualized by TdT-mediated dUTP-digoxigenin nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay,and the apoptotic index (AI) was calculated from the percentage of apoptotic cells in total cells.Results The intensity of E-cadherin expression in bile duct epithelial cells in BA group was lower than that in the normal control group (0.33±0.12 vs 0.62±0.20,P<0.01).On the other hand,the AI in BA group was significant higher than that in control group (51.74±19.93 vs 12.34±19.32,P<0.01).An inverse correlation was detected between the intensity of E-cadherin and the AI in the liver from children with BA.Conclusion The abnormal decrease of E-cadherin may lead to an increase of the apoptosis of intrahepatic bile epithelial cells in BA,resulting in developmental disorder of intrahepatic bile duct and ductal plate malformation in the liver.12 refs,4 figs,1 tab.