Edward C. S. Lai

Early treatment of acute biliary pancreatitis by endoscopic papillotomy

BACKGROUND Most patients with acute biliary pancreatitis have stones in the biliary tract or ampulla of Vater. Because these stones may be passed spontaneously soon after a patient is admitted to the hospital, the importance of early operative removal is not known. We tested the hypothesis that endoscopic papillotomy within 24 hours of admission decreased the incidence of complications in patients with acute biliary pancreatitis. METHODS We studied 195 patients with acute pancreatitis who were randomly assigned to one of two groups: 97 patients underwent within 24 hours after admission emergency endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) followed by endoscopic papillotomy for ampullary and common-bile-duct stones, and 98 patients received initial conservative treatment and selective ERCP with or without endoscopic papillotomy only if their condition deteriorated. RESULTS One hundred twenty-seven patients ultimately proved to have biliary stones. Emergency ERCP with or without endoscopic papillotomy resulted in a reduction in biliary sepsis as compared with conservative treatment (0 of 97 patients vs. 12 of 98 patients, P = 0.001). The decrease in biliary sepsis occurred both in patients predicted to have mild pancreatitis (0 of 56 patients in the group that received emergency ERCP vs. 4 of 58 patients in the conservative-treatment group, P = 0.14) and in patients predicted to have severe pancreatitis (0 of 41 patients vs. 8 of 40 patients, P = 0.008). In all patients who had unrelenting biliary sepsis, persistent ampullary or common-bile-duct stones were identified. There were no major differences in the incidence of local complications (10 patients in the group that received emergency ERCP vs. 12 patients in the conservative-treatment group) or systemic complications (10 patients vs. 14 patients) of acute pancreatitis between the two groups, but the hospital mortality rate was slightly lower in the group undergoing emergency ERCP with or without endoscopic papillotomy (5 patients vs. 9 patients, P = 0.4). CONCLUSIONS Emergency ERCP with or without endoscopic papillotomy is indicated in the treatment of patients with acute pancreatitis.

Endoscopic Biliary Drainage for Severe Acute Cholangitis

Abstract Background. Emergency surgery for patients with severe acute cholangitis due to choledocholithiasis is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Because recent results suggested that emergency endoscopic drainage could improve the outcome of such patients, we undertook a prospective study to determine the role of this procedure as initial treatment. Methods. During a 43-month period, 82 patients with severe acute cholangitis due to choledocholithiasis were randomly assigned to undergo surgical decompression of the biliary tract (41 patients) or endoscopic biliary drainage (41 patients), followed by definitive treatment. Hospital mortality was analyzed with respect to the use of endoscopic biliary drainage and other clinical and laboratory findings. Prognostic determinants were studied by linear discriminant analysis. Results. Complications related to biliary tract decompression and subsequent definitive treatment developed in 14 patients treated with endoscopic biliary drainage and 27 ...

Prospective randomized study of early versus delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis.

OBJECTIVE A prospective randomized study was undertaken to compare early with delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA Laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis is associated with high complication and conversion rates. It is not known whether there is a role for initial conservative treatment followed by interval elective operation. METHOD During a 26-month period, 99 patients with a clinical diagnosis of acute cholecystitis were randomly assigned to early laparoscopic cholecystectomy within 72 hours of admission (early group, n = 49) or delayed interval surgery after initial medical treatment (delayed group, n = 50). Thirteen patients (four in the early group and nine in the delayed group) were excluded because of refusal of operation (n = 6), misdiagnosis (n = 5), contraindication for surgery (n = 1), or loss to follow-up (n = 1). RESULTS Eight of 41 patients in the delayed group underwent urgent operation at a median of 63 hours (range, 32 to 140 hours) after admission because of spreading peritonitis (n = 3) and persistent fever (n = 5). Although the delayed group required less frequent modifications in operative technique and a shorter operative time, there was a tendency toward a higher conversion rate (23% vs. 11%; p = 0.174) and complication rate (29% vs. 13%; p = 0.07). For 38 patients with symptoms exceeding 72 hours before admission, the conversion rate remained high after delayed surgery (30% vs. 17%; p = 0.454). In addition, delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy prolonged the total hospital stay (11 days vs. 6 days; p < 0.001) and recuperation period (19 days vs. 12 days; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Initial conservative treatment followed by delayed interval surgery cannot reduce the morbidity and conversion rate of laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis. Early operation within 72 hours of admission has both medical and socioeconomic benefits and is the preferred approach for patients managed by surgeons with adequate experience in laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Hepatic Resection for Hepatocellular Carcinoma An Audit of 343 Patients

ObjectiveThe authors summarize the results of patients who had hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma over a 22-year period. Summary Background DataRecent reports showed improved perioperative results and long-term prognosis. MethodsThe perioperative outcome of 343 patients was studied according to three different time periods: before 1987 (n = 149); 1987 to 1991 (n = 128); and 1992 to present (n = 66). Survival analysis was made by stratifying patients into two categories–either before or after 1987. The majority of patients had large tumors (78%). cirrhosis (73%), and a major hepatectomy (73%). ResultsBesides an increased resectability rate (23%), there was a marked reduction of the recent morbidity (32%; p < 0.001), operative (4.5%; NS) and hospital (6%; p < 0.02) mortality rates. The recent surgical approach was identified as a significant contributory factor to the lowered hospital mortality rate. Patients in the latter part of the study had significantly better suvival, with a 1-, 3-and 5-year survival rate of 68%, 45%. and 35%, respectively. Early detection and effective treatment of recurrences contributed to the improved prognosis. ConclusionsThe recent management strategy and technological advances improved the results of surgical treatment for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Perioperative Nutritional Support in Patients Undergoing Hepatectomy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

BACKGROUND Resection of hepatocellular carcinoma is associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Since intensive nutritional support can reduce the catabolic response and improve protein synthesis and liver regeneration, we performed a prospective study to investigate whether perioperative nutritional support could improve outcome in patients undergoing hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma. METHODS We studied 124 patients undergoing resection of hepatocellular carcinoma. Sixty-four patients (39 with cirrhosis, 18 with chronic active hepatitis, and 7 with no associated liver disease) were randomly assigned to receive perioperative intravenous nutritional support in addition to their oral diet, and 60 patients (33 with cirrhosis, 12 with chronic active hepatitis, and 15 with no associated liver disease) were randomly assigned to a control group. The perioperative nutritional therapy consisted of a solution enriched with 35 percent branched-chain amino acids, dextrose, and lipid emulsion (50 percent medium-chain triglycerides) given intravenously for 14 days perioperatively. RESULTS There was a reduction in the overall postoperative morbidity rate in the perioperative-nutrition group as compared with the control group (34 percent vs. 55 percent; relative risk, 0.66; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.45 to 0.96), predominantly because of fewer septic complications (17 percent vs. 37 percent; relative risk, 0.57; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.34 to 0.96). There were also a reduction in the requirement for diuretic agents to control ascites (25 percent vs. 50 percent; relative risk, 0.57; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.37 to 0.87), less weight loss after hepatectomy (median loss, 0 kg vs. 1.4 kg, P = 0.01), and less deterioration of liver function as measured by the change in the rate of clearance of indocyanine green (-2.8 percent vs. -4.8 percent at 20 minutes, P = 0.05). These benefits were seen predominantly in the patients with underlying cirrhosis who underwent major hepatectomy. There were five deaths during hospitalization in the perioperative-nutrition group, and nine in the control group (P not significant). CONCLUSIONS Perioperative nutritional support can reduce complications after major hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma associated with cirrhosis.

Heterotopic pancreas: Review of a 26 year experience☆

A retrospective review of 37 patients (22 men and 15 women) with histologically verified heterotopic pancreas treated at the department of surgery of the University of California at Los Angeles Medical Center from 1959 to 1985 was carried out. There were 31 adults (mean age 50 years) and 6 children (mean age 2.8 years). The majority of lesions were in the stomach, duodenum, and jejunum. One was found inside a duplicated stomach. Symptomatic lesions were confined to the gastroduodenal region and were larger, with frequent mucosal ulceration. Upper gastrointestinal contrast roentgenograms were sensitive tools for detection (87.5 percent of patients) and diagnosis (71.4 percent of patients) of these lesions. Endoscopy should be performed whenever epigastric pain is the presenting symptom. Resection of the tissue-bearing segment of small intestine is advisable when encountered incidentally at operation. In the absence of endoscopic biopsy confirmation, we recommend surgical exploration and frozen section histopathologic study for all symptomatic patients. Limited local excision has been shown to be a safe and adequate procedure for patients with these congenital anomalies.

Anterior approach for difficult major right hepatectomy

Abstract. In selected patients with huge right hepatic tumors that had infiltrated the surrounding structures, injudicious mobilization of the liver before transection, as in the conventional manner, may result in excessive bleeding, prolonged ischemia from rotation of the hepatoduodenal ligament, and spillage of cancer cells into the systemic circulation. Alternatively, the “anterior” approach, which involves initial completion of the parenchymal transection before the right hepatic lobe is mobilized, can be adopted for these patients with difficult right hepatic tumors. After hilar control of the inflow vessels, liver parenchyma was transected using an ultrasonic dissector until the anterior surface of the inferior vena cava is exposed. The right hepatic lobe is then mobilized laterally by securing all venous tributaries, including the right hepatic vein. The prospective data of 25 patients who had major right hepatectomy using the “anterior” approach were compared with data from 34 patients who had their operation performed in the conventional manner. Despite the facts that larger tumors (p < 0.004), more extrahepatic structures (p < 0.05), and the caudate lobes (p < 0.03) were resected, the amount of perioperative blood transfusion, fluid replacement, and outcome between the two groups of patients were comparable. There were three hospital deaths, among which one could be attributed to an intraoperative catastrophe during hepatectomy using the conventional approach. The “anterior” approach is a safe, effective option for selected patients undergoing complicated major right hepatectomy.

Prognostic significance of pathologic features of hepatocellular carcinoma a multivariate analysis of 278 patients

Background. In patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, surgical resection may offer a chance of cure. However, tumor recurrence is not infrequent after resection.

Tumor encapsulation in hepatocellular carcinoma. A pathologic study of 189 cases

One hundred eighty‐nine surgically resected hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) were analyzed to study tumor encapsulation and the pathologic features that might account for the better prognosis in relation to it, and to examine the prognostic and pathobiologic significance of capsular thickness. Tumor encapsulation was found in 72 (46.8%) of the 154 cases with adequate histologic sections of the tumor‐nontumor junctions. Encapsulated tumors showed a much lower incidence of direct liver invasion (P < 0.0001), tumor microsatellites (P < 0.0001), and venous permeation (P = 0.02) when compared with non‐encapsulated ones. Significantly better disease‐free and actuarial survival times were observed in patients with encapsulated tumors (medians, 9.9 and 18.3 months, respectively), compared with those with nonencapsulated ones (medians, 4.0 and 5.9 months, respectively; P = 0.0001 and 0.001, respectively). The incidence of tumor encapsulation did not increase or decrease with tumor size. Tumor encapsulation did not correlate with the presence of cirrhosis or the abundance of tumor stroma, suggesting that formation of the tumor capsule was independent of the degree of fibrosis within and outside the tumor, Among the 72 cases of encapsulated HCC, the capsular thickness ranged from 0.13 to 3.09 mm (mean ± standard deviation = 0.87 ± 0.59 mm), and it was unrelated to tumor size or presence of cirrhosis. Although it was apparent that a lower extensive tumor invasiveness contributed significantly to the better prognosis in encapsulated HCC, there was no correlation between capsular thickness and liver invasion, microsatellites, venous permeation, or survivals. Therefore, the thickness of tumor capsules was not helpful in prognostication.

A prospective study on fish bone ingestion. Experience of 358 patients.

A prospective study was performed on 358 patients to examine the diagnosis, management, and natural history of fish bone ingestion. All patients admitted with the complaint had a thorough oral examination. Flexible endoscopy under local pharyngeal anesthesia would be performed on patients with negative findings. Of 117 fish bones encountered, 103 were removed (direct removal, 21; endoscopic removal, 82) and 12 were inadvertently dislodged. One was missed and the other one necessitated removal with rigid laryngoesophagoscopy under general anesthesia. Morbidity (1%) occurred in patients with triangular bones in the hypopharynx, resulting in one mucosal tear and two lengthy procedures. Mean hospital stay was 7 hours. Prediction of the presence of fish bones by symptoms and radiograph was poor. The location of symptoms, however, was useful in guiding the endoscopist to the site of lodgment. Of patients who refused endoscopy, only one (2.8%) developed retropharyngeal abscess. As compared to those who received endoscopy, 31.8% had fish bones detected. As the yield of fish bone detected was also inversely related to the duration of symptoms, we strongly suspect that most of the unremoved fish bones would be dislodged and passed. However, because of the serious potential complication from fish bone ingestion, we believe that a combination of oral examination followed by flexible endoscopy is indicated in all patients. When triangular bones in the hypopharynx are encountered, rigid laryngoesophagoscopy should be considered. This protocol had safely and effectively dealt with the present series of patients.