J. Moodley

Conservative management of thoracobiliary fistula

BACKGROUND Thoracobiliary fistulas are rare manifestations of biliary disruption. Given their rarity it is not surprising that there is little consensus on the optimal management of thoracobiliary fistulas. METHODS Patients presenting with thoracobiliary fistulas over a 5-year period (1996 to 2001) were evaluated. Initial management was conservative with tube thoracostomy or drainage of sepsis when appropriate, or both; antibiotics and somatostatin were routinely administered. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography was performed when symptoms persisted to delineate the thoracobiliary communication and undertake sphincteroplasty. RESULTS Eight patients with a mean age of 31.9 years (range 15 to 42) were evaluated. Biliary effusion occurred in 3 patients after hepatic injury (n = 2) and percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (n = 1). Bilioptysis occurred in 5 patients after hepatic abscess (n = 4) and hepatic injury (n = 1) The biliary effusion (n = 3) was successfully managed by endoscopic sphincterotomy in 2 patients; the third patient underwent urgent surgical biliary drainage. Bilioptysis (n = 5) was successfully managed in 3 patients; persistence of symptoms in 2 patients prompted surgical intervention. CONCLUSIONS Thoracobiliary fistulas may be successfully managed using a conservative approach. Surgery should be reserved for persistence of symptoms after exhaustion of this approach.

Thoracic splanchnic nerves: implications for splanchnic denervation

Splanchnic neurectomy is of value in the management of chronic abdominal pain. It is postulated that the inconsistent results of splanchnicectomies may be due to anatomical variations in the pattern of splanchnic nerves. The advent of minimally invasive and video‐assisted surgery has rekindled interest in the frequency of variations of the splanchnic nerves. The aims of this study were to investigate the incidence, origin and pattern of the splanchnic nerves in order to establish a predictable pattern of splanchnic neural anatomy that may be of surgical relevance. Six adult and 14 fetal cadavers were dissected (n = 38). The origin of the splanchnic nerve was bilaterally asymmetrical in all cases. The greater splanchnic nerve (GSN) was always present, whereas the lesser splanchnic nerve (LSN) and least splanchnic nerve (lSN) were inconsistent (LSN, 35 of 38 sides (92%); LSN, 21 of 38 sides (55%). The splanchnic nerves were observed most frequently over the following ranges: GSN, T6–9: 28 of 38 sides (73%); LSN, when present, T10–11: (10 of 35 sides (29%); and lSN, T11–12: 3 of 21 sides (14%). The number of ganglionic roots of the GSN varied between 3 and 10 (widest T4–11; narrowest, T5–7). Intermediate splanchnic ganglia, when present, were observed only on the GSN main trunk with an incidence of 6 of 10 sides (60%) in the adult and 11 of 28 sides (39%) in the fetus. The higher incidence of the origin of GSN above T5 has clinical implications, given the widely discussed technique of undertaking splanchnicectomy from the T5 ganglion distally. This approach overlooks important nerve contributions and thereby may compromise clinical outcome. In the light of these variations, a reappraisal of current surgical techniques used in thoracoscopic splanchnicectomy is warranted.

Thoracoscopic splanchnicectomy: pilot evaluation of a simple alternative for chronic pancreatic pain control.

Abstract. Achieving adequate pain control in patients with chronic pancreatitis remains a surgical challenge. The quest for a procedure that retains all of the residual pancreatic tissue in the absence of ductal dilatation remains elusive. This study sought to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of thoracoscopic splanchnicectomy and attempted to outline the surgical anatomy appropriate to an adequate denervation. Of 17 patients considered suitable for the procedure, 16 had a sucessful outcome, which was statistically significant (p < 0.001). The longest follow-up of 30 months suggests that the procedure may be more enduring than percutaneous procedures. However, the surgical anatomy is not predictable owing to the racemose arrangement of the splanchnic fibers, and a long pleurotomy with transection of all medial fibers is necessary to effect denervation. Thoracoscopic splanchnicectomy may effect immediate pain relief with negligible morbidity and absent mortality. Although the follow-up period is short, the patient with the longest follow-up remains pain-free at 30 months. This procedure warrants scrutiny for its role in long-term pancreatic pain control.

Pitfalls in thoracoscopic sympathectomy: mechanisms for failure.

The technical ease of thoracoscopic sympathectomy has established this as the procedure of choice for upper-limb sympathectomy. Notwithstanding the invariable success of this procedure, those rare instances of unsuccessful sympathectomy are disconcerting to the surgeon. Unsuccessful sympathectomy manifests as persistent or recurrent sympathetic activity after a seemingly successful procedure. The causes of this phenomenon include misinterpretation of the sympathetic chain at thoracoscopy, regeneration of the sympathetic chain, and alternate neural pathways via the nerve of Kuntz. With the large numbers of sympathectomies being undertaken, the few instances of unsuccessful sympathectomy have prompted a review of this subject. Although alternate neural pathways may have little significance when a T2 ganglionectomy is undertaken, anatomic misinterpretation of the sympathetic chain is an important yet under-recognized cause of an unsuccessful sympathectomy. Sympathetic nerve regeneration remains extremely uncommon. Persistent and recurrent sympathetic activity may be successfully managed by resympathectomy performed thoracoscopically.

Anatomical variations of the second thoracic ganglion

In recent years the second thoracic ganglion has gained anatomical significance as an important conduit for sympathetic innervation of the upper extremity. Thoracoscopic excision of the second thoracic ganglion is now widely recognized as affording the most effective treatment option for palmar hyperhidrosis. This study recorded the incidence, location and associated additional neural connections of the second thoracic ganglion. Bilateral dissection of 20 adult cadavers was undertaken, and all neural connections of the second thoracic ganglion were recorded. Nineteen cadavers (95%) demonstrated additional neural connections between the first thoracic ventral ramus and second intercostal nerve. These were classified as either type A (47.5%) or type B (45%) using the intrathoracic ramus (nerve of Kuntz) between the second intercostal nerve and the ventral ramus of the first thoracic nerve as a basis on both right and left sides. The second thoracic ganglion was commonly located (92.5%) in the second intercostal space at the level of the intervertebral disc between the second and third thoracic vertebrae. Fused ganglia between the second thoracic and first thoracic (5%) and stellate (5%) ganglia were noted. These findings should assist the operating surgeon with a clear knowledge of the anatomy of the second thoracic ganglion during thoracoscopic sympathectomy with a view to improving the success rate for upper limb sympathectomy.

Congenital absence of the gall bladder

Congenital absence of the gall bladder is an extremely rare embryological aberration with a reported incidence ranging between 0.013 and 0.075%. This report, the first from South Africa, discusses 2 cases of gall bladder agenesis, bringing to 413 the number of cases reported in the literature. In confirming the diagnosis of an agenesis of the gall bladder, it is necessary to exclude the abnormal locations which are intrahepatic, retrohepatic, on the left side, or within the lesser omentum or falciform ligament and retroperitoneal. Patients with gall bladder agenesis are classified into 3 categories: i) Multiple foetal anomaly (12.9%), ii) Asymptomatic (31.6%) and iii) Symptomatic (55.6%). Notwithstanding current diagnostic modalities, this rare condition may still present a dilemma to the abdominal surgeon. Agenesis of the gall bladder is a well-recognised but uncommon congenital abnormality. With the advent of minimal access surgery laparotomy may be avoided as the condition, when suspected, may be confirmed by ERCP and CT scan.

Traumatic thoracobiliary fistula : Report of a case successfully managed conservatively, with an overview of current diagnostic and therapeutic options

Thoracobiliary fistula is a rare complication of hepatic trauma that may present a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. We report a case of a thoracobiliary fistula complicating thoracoabdominal trauma. Although numerous imaging modalities are able to detect the condition, optimal imaging is achieved with endoscopic retrograde cholangiography, which provides anatomic delineation and has the therapeutic potential of a sphincterotomy. Conservative therapy consists of a safe temporizing measure during the workup and may, on occasion, be the only therapy that is necessary provided that controlled drainage of the fistula is achieved. The current recommendation would be the exhaustion of nonoperative therapeutic modalities before resorting to surgical intervention.

Horner syndrome after sympathectomy in the thoracoscopic era.

Objective Horner syndrome after sympathectomy has significantly decreased in current surgical practice. This is predominantly due to refinements in operative techniques, and an improved understanding of the patterns of sympathetic outflow pathways. We present a review of our experience with this disconcerting complication of sympathectomy when undertaken for palmar hyperhidrosis. Methods and Technique Over a 12-year period (1992 to 2004), patients undergoing sympathectomy for palmar hyperhidrosis were prospectively evaluated. In all patients the thoracoscopic approach was attempted bilaterally. The technique entailed the accurate identification of the second thoracic ganglion, followed by its dissection and resection. Excessive manipulation and cautery on the sympathetic chain was avoided. Results A total of 1137 procedures were undertaken in 567 patients. In 1 patient (during the early part of the technical experience) a unilateral Horner syndrome was noted on the first postoperative day; this effect was noted to have resolved spontaneously within 6 months. Review at 3 months was possible in 382 patients, either directly or telephonically. In these patients no further case of Horner syndrome was documented. Conclusions The key to avoiding the development of a Horner syndrome after sympathectomy entails a thorough appreciation of the appropriate surgical anatomy, avoidance of violent manipulation and traction of the sympathetic chain, and the avoidance of diathermy on the sympathetic chain. The adherence to these principles has consigned Horner syndrome after sympathectomy as an entity of historical interest.

Right aortic arch with isolated left brachiocephalic artery

Right aortic arch with complete isolation of the left brachiocephalic artery is an extremely uncommon anomaly of the aortic arch. This case reports the hitherto unreported association of the right aortic arch with isolated left brachiocephalic artery presenting with a subclavian steal syndrome detected in a 36‐year‐old female patient being investigated for increasing attacks of episodic dizziness, vertigo, and left upper limb claudication spanning 1 year. A review of the literature relevant to this condition is presented. It is likely that with advances in imaging techniques and a wider clinical usage of these investigative modalities there will be further recognition of these uncommon conditions. Clin. Anat. 14:47–51, 2001.

Prospective evaluation of combined suprapubic and urethral catheterization to urethral drainage alone for intraperitoneal bladder injuries.

BACKGROUND The role of suprapubic catheterization after repair of intraperitoneal bladder injury is controversial and has been found to be superfluous in retrospective studies. We sought to evaluate bladder drainage prospectively. METHODS Patients were prospectively enrolled and were assigned to suprapubic catheter drain after bladder repair or urethral catheter alone determined by the unit admitting the patient. Factors that were evaluated were associated injuries, hospital stay, duration of catheterization, and catheter-related complications. RESULTS There were 42 patients: there were 39 male patients, and the mean age was 29.6 years. The patients were matched for age and associated injuries. The morbidity (p = 0.004) and hospital stay (p = 0.028) were significantly higher in the suprapubic drainage group. CONCLUSION Urethral catheterization is adequate to effect bladder drainage after intraperitoneal bladder injury. In addition, it is associated with a shorter hospital stay and lower morbidity.