Per-Jonas Blind

Iatrogenic bile duct injury – a cost analysis

INTRODUCTION Iatrogenic bile duct lesions following cholecystectomy represent a feared complication occurring in up to 0.9%. The aim of the present study was to estimate the total cost associated with both minor and major bile duct injuries. MATERIAL AND METHODS Detailed information on 24 consecutive patients, out of which 14 were considered to have minor and 10 patients considered as having major bile duct injury, provided the underlying information that rendered calculations on average individual costs for both groups of injuries. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Calculating individual costs for minor and major bile duct injuries with actual incidences of cholecystectomies performed and the incidence of iatrogenic bile duct injury demonstrated that the total costs, including in-hospital cost, sick leave and loss of production, were substantial. For the management of minor bile duct injuries costs were within the range of 136,787-159,585 EUR and for the management of major bile duct injuries from 336,903-449,204 EUR per million inhabitants and year. The total costs for the management of all types of bile duct injuries were thus within the range of 473,690-608,789 EUR per million inhabitants annually for the society.

Microcirculation changes during liver resection — A clinical study

BACKGROUND In this study we aimed to evaluate effects of liver resection on hepatic microcirculation. In addition we wanted to study if histological liver damage could be detected intra-operatively. PATIENTS AND METHODS 40 patients undergoing hepatic resection were included and grouped according to if they were operated with a major or minor resection. Hepatic microcirculation measurements were made intra-operatively before and after liver resection with sidestream dark-field (SDF) imaging. Red blood cell velocity (RBCV), sinusoidal diameter and functional sinusoidal density were determined. RESULTS After hepatic resection RBCV increased in both the minor and major groups (44 μm/s, P=0.016 and 121 μm/s, P=0.002). RBCV in patients with histological damages was 225 (148-464) μm/s vs. 161 (118-329) μm/s in patients with no damage (P=0.016). CONCLUSION A hepatic resection leads to an increase of sinusoidal RBCV. SDF imaging could potentially be used to intraoperatively identify histological damages.

A comparison between hepatic artery ligation and portal 5-Fu infusion versus 5-Fu intra arterial infusion for colorectal liver metastases.

AIM A prospective randomized study was executed comparing two regimens of regional therapy for liver metastases from colorectal cancer. METHODS Eighteen patients were allocated to hepatic artery occlusion for 16 h followed by intraportal 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu) infusion (1000 mg/m(2)) for 5 days every sixth week (HAO). Twenty-one patients received intra-arterial 5-Fu infusion+Leucovorin (100 mg) i.v. for 2 days every second week (HAI). The follow up every third month included CT and CEA. Thirteen patients had limited extrahepatic cancer. At tumor progression regional therapy was stopped and systemic chemotherapy or the best supportive care was administered. RESULTS The study was discontinued after randomization of 39 patients. No significant difference in survival within patients with and without extrahepatic cancer was present. The mean survival was longer in the HAI group than for the HAO group (19 months versus 13 months, p=0.0147) (median 18 (8-37) versus 12 (2-26). PR and SD were registered in 8/18 in the HAO group and 17/21 patients in HAI group. The median time to progress was 4 (1-22) months versus 7 (1-23) months for the HAO and HAI group, respectively. CONCLUSION Regional intraarterial infusion with 5-Fu gives significantly better survival than hepatic artery occlusion followed by portal infusion. A limited amount of extrahepatic cancer does not influence survival time. A trial comparing hepatic artery 5-FU infusion and Leucovorin versus the most effective systemic therapy is warranted.

Pancreaticojejunostomy: a valid operation in chronic pancreatitis?

Objective. Patients with chronic pancreatitis and intractable pain may be candidates for surgical intervention and various types of surgery have been described over time. The objective of this study was to describe long-term outcome following pancreaticojejunostomy in patients with chronic pancreatitis. Material and methods. Thirty-two patients with chronic pancreatitis underwent lateral pancreatiocojejunostomy and were then followed-up for 5 years. Results. The short-term results on relief of abdominal pain were good, but seemed to deteriorate at long-term follow-up (5 years), as did pancreatic exocrine and endocrine function. A substantial number of patients admitted to continued alcohol abuse at 5-year follow-up (31%). Conclusions. Pancreaticojejunostomy in patients with chronic pancreatitis renders good pain relief. In effect, the deterioration in abdominal pain at long-term follow-up was in parallel with a tendency towards a decline in both exocrine and endocrine function and a continued alcohol abuse.

Surface microdialysis sampling: a new approach described in a liver ischaemia model.

We recently have shown that samples from microdialysis (MD) probes placed on the surface of the heart reflect metabolic events in the myocardium. This new interesting observation challenges us to consider whether surface application of MD applies to other parenchymatous organs and their surfaces. In 13 anesthetized pigs, transient liver ischaemia was achieved by occlusion of arterial and venous inflow to the liver. Two probes on liver surface and two in parenchyma were perfused with a flow rate of 1 μl per min (n = 13). An identical set‐up was used for probes with a flow rate of 2 μl per min (n = 9). Samples were collected for every 15‐min period during 60 min of baseline, 45 min of ischaemia and 60 min of reperfusion. Lactate, glucose, pyruvate and glycerol were analysed in MD samples. We focused on relative changes in the present study. There was a strong agreement in relative lactate and glucose levels between probes placed on liver surface and those on parenchyma. No significant differences in relative changes in lactate and glucose levels were seen between samples from surface probes and probes in liver parenchyma during equilibration, baseline, ischaemia or reperfusion with a flow rate of 1 μl per min. MD sampling applied on the liver surface is a new application area for the MD technique and may be used to monitor liver metabolism during both physiological and pathophysiological conditions.

Outcome of microdialysis sampling on liver surface and parenchyma

BACKGROUND To investigate whether surface microdialysis (μD) sampling in probes covered by a plastic film, as compared to noncovered and to intraparenchymatous probes, would increase the techniques sensitivity for pathophysiologic events occurring in a liver ischemia-reperfusion model. Placement of μD probes in the parenchyma of an organ, as is conventionally done, may cause adverse effects, e.g., bleeding, possibly influencing outcome. METHODS A transient ischemia-reperfusion model of the liver was used in six anesthetized normoventilated pigs. μD probes were placed in the parenchyma and on the liver surface. Surface probes were either left uncovered or were covered by plastic film. RESULTS Lactate and glucose levels were significantly higher in plastic film covered probes than in uncovered surface probes throughout the ischemic period. Glycerol levels were significantly higher in plastic film covered probes than in uncovered surface probes at 30 and 45 min into ischemia. CONCLUSIONS Covering the μD probe increases the sensibility of the μD-technique in monitoring an ischemic insult and reperfusion in the liver. These findings confirm that the principle of surface μD works, possibly replacing need of intraparenchymatous placement of μD probes. Surface μD seemingly allows, noninvasively from an organs surface, via the extracellular compartment, assessment of intracellular metabolic events. The finding that covered surface μD probes allows detection of local metabolic changes earlier than do intraparenchymatous probes, merit further investigation focusing on μD probe design.

Microdialysis in early detection of temporary pancreatic ischemia in a porcine model.

Background: Ischemic injury to the pancreas occurs in various clinical conditions. A method for online monitoring of pathophysiological events in pancreatic parenchyma is missing. Aims: To assess the timing of microdialysis (MD) technique response on temporary changes in pancreatic perfusion, and to evaluate the relationship between MD data and systemic markers of anaerobic metabolism and inflammation. Methods: In anaesthetized normoventilated pigs, MD probes were placed in right (control) and left (ischemic) pancreatic lobes, respectively. Following the clamping of the vessels, ischemia was verified by tissue oxygen tension (PtiO2) measurements. Results: PtiO2 decreased within 20 min after the clamping of the vessels, already returning to baseline levels at the first sampling point after the removal of the clamp. MD lactate levels increased, whereas pyruvate and glucose levels decreased at 20 min after the induction of ischemia. These trends continued until the end of ischemia and returned to baseline following reperfusion. Serum lactate, amylase and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels decreased throughout the protocol time. Conclusion: MD data were in concordance with changes in PtiO2, which is indicative of local anaerobic metabolism. MD allowed the detection of pathophysiological processes within the ischemic pancreas at a stage when no elevations of systemic markers of ischemia or inflammation were observed.