• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.72 no.2
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• pp.228-231
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• 2012

Bronchobiliary fistula (BBF), defined as an abnormal communication between the biliary duct and bronchial trees, is a very rare condition. Bilioptysis is a pathognomonic finding for BBF. We studied a 58-year-old man, who had a BBF complicated by liver biloma that occurred after radiofrequency ablation. The diagnosis was confirmed by the presence of bile-stained sputum and an Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio-Pancreatography. BBF was treated successfully by endoscopic sphincterotomy and biliary drainage with insertion of a double pig-tail plastic stent into the biloma. We suggest that the optimal choice of treatment modality for BBF depends on the natural course of the underlying disease, and the status of the biliary stricture.

• Annals of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.307-312
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• 2023

Hepatic arterioportal fistulae are abnormal communications between the hepatic artery and portal vein. They are reported to be congenital or acquired secondary to trauma, iatrogenic procedures, hepatic cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma, but less likely to occur spontaneously. Extrahepatic portal venous obstruction (EHPVO) can lead to pre-hepatic portal hypertension. A spontaneous superimposed hepatic arterioportal fistula can lead to pre-sinusoidal portal hypertension, further exacerbating its physiology. This report describes a young woman with long-standing EHPVO presenting with repeated upper gastrointestinal variceal bleeding and symptomatic hypersplenism. Computed tomography scan demonstrated a cavernous transformation of the portal vein and a macroscopic hepatic arterioportal fistula between the left hepatic artery and portal vein collateral in the central liver. The hepatic arterioportal fistula was associated with a flow-related left hepatic artery aneurysm and a portal venous collateral aneurysm proximal and distal to the fistula, respectively. Endovascular coiling was performed for the hepatic arterioportal fistula, followed by proximal splenorenal shunt procedure. This case illustrates an uncommon association of a spontaneous hepatic arterioportal fistula with EHPVO and the utility of a combined endovascular and surgical approach for managing multifactorial non-cirrhotic portal hypertension in such patients.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.38-40
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• 2020

Bronchobiliary fistula is a rare disease defined as an abnormal connection between the biliary tract and the bronchial tree. We report the successful surgical repair of bronchobiliary fistula. A 78-year-old man underwent surgery and several rounds of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization and radiofrequency ablation as treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma. He presented with greenish sputum and chronic cough for several months, and his symptoms did not resolve after endoscopic treatment. We performed lobectomy of the right lower lobe and omentopexy for bronchobiliary fistula under laparotomy and thoracotomy. The bronchobiliary fistula was successfully closed, and the bilious sputum disappeared after surgery.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.69 no.2
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• pp.119-123
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• 2010

Bronchobiliary fistula is a rare disorder consisting of an abnormal communication between the bronchial tree and the biliary duct. In Western countries, trauma, postoperative biliary stenosis, and biliary lithiasis are the predominant causative factors of bronchobiliary fistula. Bilioptysis (bile stained sputum) is a pathognomic finding for bronchobiliary fistula. To date, there are just a few reported cases of bronchobiliary fistula after sclerosis of a liver cyst. We describe the case of a 74-year-old woman who developed bronchobiliary fistula after sclerosing therapy of a liver cyst. The diagnosis was confirmed by the presence of bilioptysis and the chest and dynamic liver CT findings. The patient was successfully treated with antibiotics and percutaneous transhepatic catheter drainage.

• Clinical Endoscopy
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.521-526
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• 2023

Portobiliary fistulas are rare but may lead to life-threatening complications. Biliary plastic stent-induced portobiliary fistulas during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography have been described. Herein, we present a case of portal cavernography and recurrent hemobilia after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in which a portobiliary fistula was detected in a patient with portal biliopathy. This likely indicates a change in clinical presentation (from bilhemia to hemobilia) after biliary drainage that was successfully treated by placement of a fully covered, self-expandable metallic stent.

• Annals of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.201-210
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• 2023

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is associated with a higher incidence of biliary/vasculobiliary injuries than open cholecystectomy. Anatomical misperception is the most common underlying mechanism of such injuries. Although a number of strategies have been described to prevent these injuries, critical view of safety method of structural identification seems to be the most effective preventive measure. The critical view of safety can be achieved in the majority of cases during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. It is highly recommended by various guidelines. However, its poor understanding and low adoption rates among practicing surgeons have been global problems. Educational intervention and increasing awareness about the critical view of safety can increase its penetration in routine surgical practice. In this article, a technique of achieving critical view of safety during laparoscopic cholecystectomy is described with the aim to enhance its understanding among general surgery trainees and practicing general surgeons.

• Annals of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.211-216
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• 2023

It has been shown that external pancreatic ductal stenting (EPDS) can reduce the incidence of clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula. Although studies have described EPDS in open pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD), EPDS in minimally invasive PD has not been reported yet. Thus, the objective of this study was to describe the technique of EPDS in minimally invasive PD. The procedure was performed either laparoscopically or using a robot. Once PD was completed, key steps included triple enterotomy, threading of silk-suture through all enterotomies and exteriorization, completing posterior layer of pancreaticojejunostomy (PJ), railroading stent through preplaced silk-suture, intubation of stent into the pancreatic duct, completion of PJ, followed by hepaticojejunostomy and parietalization of jejunum at the stent exit site. EPDS in PD through a minimally invasive approach can be performed safely in selected cases with either a small-sized pancreatic duct or a soft pancreas.

• Annals of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.189-194
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• 2023

Backgrounds/Aims: Postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) is a source of major morbidity and mortality. Early diagnosis and treatment of POPF is mandatory to improve patient outcomes and clinical risk scores may be ombined with postoperative drain fluid amylase (DFA) values to stratify patients. The aim of this pilot study was to etermine if intraoperative fluid amylase (IFA) values correlate with DFA1 and POPF. Methods: In patients undergoing PD from February to November 2020, intraoperative samples of intra-abdominal fluid adjacent to the pancreatic anastomosis were taken and sent for fluid amylase measurement prior to abdominal closure. Data regarding patient demographics, postoperative DFA values, complications, and mortality were prospectively collected. Results: Data were obtained for 52 patients with a median alternative Fistula Risk Score (aFRS) of 9.9. Postoperative complications occurred in 20 (38.5%) patients (five Clavien grade ≥ 3). There were eight POPFs and two patients died (pneumonia/sepsis). There was a significant correlation between IFA and DFA1 (R² = 0.713; p < 0.001) and DFA3 (p < 0.001), and the median IFA was higher in patients with POPF than patients without (1,232.5 vs. 122; p = 0.0003). IFA > 260 U/L predicted POPF with sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of 88.0%, 75.0%, 39.0%, and 97.0%, respectively. The incidence of POPF was 43.0% in high-risk (high aFRS/IFA) and 0% in lowrisk patients (low aFRS/IFA). Conclusions: IFA correlated with POPF and may be a useful adjunct to clinical risk scores to stratify patients during PD. Larger, prospective studies are needed to determine whether IFA has clinical utility.

• Clinical Endoscopy
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.802-811
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• 2023

Background/Aims: Covered self-expandable metallic stents (cSEMS) have become popular for endoscopic ultrasound-guided hepaticogastrostomy with transmural stenting (EUS-HGS). We compared the time to recurrent biliary obstruction (TRBO), complications, and reintervention rates between EUS-HGS using plastic stent (PS) and cSEMS in patients with unresectable malignancies at multicenter institutions in Japan. Methods: Patients with unresectable malignant biliary obstruction who underwent EUS-HGS between April 2015 and July 2020 at any of the six participating facilities were enrolled. Primary endpoint: TRBO; secondary endpoints: rate of complications other than recurrent biliary obstruction and technical success rate of reintervention were evaluated. Results: PS and cSEMS were used for EUS-HGS in 109 and 43 patients, respectively. The TRBO was significantly longer in the cSEMS group than in the PS group (646 vs. 202 days). Multivariate analysis identified two independent factors associated with a favorable TRBO: combined EUS-guided antegrade stenting with EUS-HGS and the use of cSEMS. No significant difference was observed in the rate of complications other than recurrent biliary obstruction between the two groups. The technical success rate of reintervention was 85.7% for PS and 100% for cSEMS (p=0.309). Conclusions: cSEMS might be a better option for EUS-HGS in patients with unresectable malignancies, given the longer TRBO.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.83 no.3
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• pp.705-711
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• 2022

A 46-year-old male with alcoholic liver cirrhosis underwent a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) for refractory ascites. On the 9th day after the procedure, he presented with melena and decreasing hemoglobin levels. Hemobilia due to fistula formation between the right intrahepatic bile duct and right hepatic artery was suspected on computed tomography. Angiography revealed a fistula of the small branches of the hepatic segmental arteries, and right intrahepatic bile duct was confirmed; embolization was successfully performed with a coil for the eighth segmental hepatic artery, a glue-lipiodol mixture for the fifth segmental hepatic artery, and gelfoam slurry for the right anterior hepatic artery. However, 2 days after embolization, the patient died owing to aggravated disseminated intravascular coagulopathy. When gastrointestinal bleeding occurs after TIPS, careful evaluation is immediately required, and hemobilia should be considered.