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A 75-year-old man presented with a 3-week history of melaena and right upper quadrant pain. This was on a background of significant alcohol intake and a complex medical history. He was haemodynamically unstable with investigations indicating a new iron-deficiency anaemia. After resuscitation, urgent intervention was required under general anaesthesia. This involved a triple phase abdominal CT, followed by emergency oesophagogastroduodenoscopy. This revealed deep ulceration with extension to the pancreatic head and common bile duct. There was also evidence of pneumobilia on CT, secondary to a choledochoduodenal fistula. Treatment encompassed an invasive and medical approach. Following treatment, the patient was stable, with follow-up endoscopy exhibiting good duodenal mucosal healing.

ObjectiveBiliary calculi, a common benign disease of the gastrointestinal tract, are affected by multiple factors, including diet, lifestyle, living environment, and personal and genetic background. Its occurrence is believed to be related to a change in biliary microbiota. Approximately 10%–20% of symptomatic patients with cholecystolithiasis have choledocholithiasis, resulting in infection, abdominal pain, jaundice, and biliary pancreatitis. This study aimed to determine whether a dysfunction in the sphincter of Oddi, which controls the outflow of bile and separates the bile duct from the intestine, leads to a change in biliary microbiota and the occurrence of biliary calculi.MethodsForty patients with cholecystolithiasis and choledocholithiasis were prospectively recruited. Bile specimens were obtained, and biliary pressure was measured during and after surgery. The collected specimens were analyzed with 16S rRNA gene to characterize the biliary microbiota. The risk factors of common bile duct calculi were analyzed numerically combined with the pressure in the sphincter of Oddi.ResultsDifferent biliary microbiota were found in all cases. Patients with sphincter of Oddi dysfunction had significantly increased biliary microbiota as well as significantly higher level of systemic inflammation than patients with normal sphincter of Oddi.ConclusionsThe systemic inflammatory response of patients with sphincter of Oddi dysfunction is more severe, and their microbial community significantly differs from that of patients with normal sphincter of Oddi, which makes biliary tract infection more likely; furthermore, the biliary tract of patients with sphincter of Oddi dysfunction has more gallstone-related bacterial communities.

Aim: Evaluation of the effectiveness of percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography in the diagnostics of bile duct diseases complicated by obstructive jaundice. Material and methods: This article presents the experience of using percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography in 88 patients with benign and malignant common bile duct diseases complicated by obstructive jaundice. Results: Methods of direct contrasting of the biliary tract make it possible to visualize choledocholithiasis with 86.5% accuracy, with 84.1% common bile duct strictures, with 87.8% stricture of biliodigestive anastomosis and with 97.5% accuracy of cholangiocarcinomas. Conclusions: Direct antegrade bile duct enhancement should be used if ERCPG has low explanatory value. PTCG in case of “endoscopically complicated forms” of choledocholithiasis, CBD and BDA strictures and cholangiocarcinomas enhances all bile duct sections and helps assess the level and completeness of biliary blockade. Following PTCG, measures can be taken to achieve biliary decompression regardless of OJ genesis.

ZusammenfassungDer Name Abraham Vater ist international mit der Mündung des Ductus choledochus und des Ductus pancreaticus assoziiert. Vor 300 Jahren wurden Vaters Schriften zusammen mit den wichtigsten anatomischen Publikationen dieser Zeit veröffentlicht. In seinen Experimenten untersuchte er insbesondere die Vereinigung beider Gänge und deren physiologische Bedeutung. Die Papilla duodeni major ist in dieser Publikation weder Bestandteil der Experimente, noch beschreibt Vater sie detailliert. Abraham Vater trägt in seiner Schrift vielmehr das damalige Wissen über diese anatomische Region zusammen und diskutiert dieses.

Purpose This study evaluated the efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) in patients with resected ampulla of Vater (AoV) carcinoma.Materials and Methods Data from 646 patients who underwent surgical resection at Asan Medical Center between 2000 and 2017 were retrospectively reviewed.Results The median age of the patients was 62 years, and 54.2% were male. Patients were classified into AC group (n=165, 25.5%) and no AC group (n=481, 74.5%). With a median follow-up duration of 88 months, in patients with stage I, II, III, median recurrence-free survival (RFS) was not reached, 44 months, and 15 months, respectively, and the median overall survival (OS) were not reached, 88 months and 35 months, respectively. Despite no statistical significance, RFS and OS were better in stage II patients with AC than in those without AC (median RFS, 151 months vs. 38 months; p=0.156 and median OS, 153 months vs. 74 months; p=0.299). In multivariate analysis for RFS and OS, TNM stage, R1 resection status, presence of lymphovascular invasion, and perineural invasion remained significant factors, whereas AC (hazard ratio [HR], 0.74; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.54 to 1.00; p=0.052) was marginally related with RFS. After propensity score matching in only stage II/III patients, RFS and OS with AC were numerically longer than those without AC (HR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.60 to 1.06; p=0.116 and HR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.56 to 1.06; p=0.111).Conclusion AC with fluoropyrimidine did not improve survival of patients with resected AoV carcinoma. However, multivariate analysis with prognostic factors showed a marginally significant survival benefit with AC.

IntroductionEndoscopic and open surgical interventions are widely implemented as the standard practice in common bile duct exploration. However, the laparoscopic approach has been also reported to have comparative/superior outcomes in this concept. This has created an ongoing debate about the ideal approach to adopt in practice.MethodsA systematic review of the published evidence over the last decade that has looked into the outcomes of laparoscopic exploration of the common bile duct through transductal and transcystic approaches.ResultsOur systematic review included 36 relevant papers. The majority were based on nonrandomized protocols conducted in single centers with high expertise. The data analysis showed that laparoscopic common bile duct exploration through both approaches was successful in more than 84% of the patients, with an average length of hospital stay of 5.6 days. Conversion to open surgery was reported in 5%-8% of the patients, and the bile leak rates from the more recent studies was 0%-12%, with mortality figures of 0%-1.3%. The outcomes were statistically in favor of the transcystic route when compared to the transductal route from the viewpoints of bile leak rates, mean operative time, duration of hospital stay and morbidity.ConclusionIn experienced hands, both laparoscopic approaches in common bile duct exploration are safe in patients who are clinically fit to have this intervention. It is associated with a statistically significant lower overall morbidity and shorter duration of hospital stay when compared to open surgery. Relevant up-to-date high-quality randomized trials are unavailable.

Objective. Common bile duct stone (CBDS) recurrence is associated with bile microbial structure. This study explored the structure of bile microbiome in patients with recurrent CBDS, and its relationship with the recurrence of CBDS. Methods. Patients with recurrent CBDS (recurrence group) and controls without CBDS (control group) requiring endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) were prospectively included. The control group was noncholelithiasis patients, mainly including benign and malignant biliary stenosis. Bile samples were collected, and bile microbiome structure was analyzed by the 16S rRNA encoding gene (V3–V4). Results. A total of 27 patients in the recurrence group and 19 patients in the control group were included. The diversity of bile microbiome in the recurrence group was significantly lower than that in the control group (Shannon index: 2.285 vs. 5.612, P = 0.001 ). In terms of bile microbial distribution, patients with recurrent CBDS had significantly higher Proteobacteria (86.72% vs. 64.92%, P = 0.037 ), while Bacteroidetes (3.16% vs. 8.53%, P = 0.001 ) and Actinobacteria (0.29% vs. 6.74%, P = 0.001 ) are significantly lower compared with the control group at the phylum level. At the genus level, the recurrence group was mainly the Escherichia, and there was a variety of more evenly distributed microbiome in the control group, with significant differences between the two groups. Conclusion. The diversity of bile microbiome in patients with recurrent CBDS is lower. Patients with recurrent CBDS may have bile microbial imbalance, which may be related to the repeated formation of CBDS.

The ampulla of Vater gives rise to a versatile group of cancers of mixed/hybrid histologic phenotype. Ampullary carcinomas (ACs) are most frequently intestinal or pancreatobiliary adenocarcinomas but other subtypes, such as medullary, mucinous, or signet ring/poorly cohesive cell carcinoma, may be encountered. Ampullary cancer can also be subclassified based on immunohistochemical features, however these classification systems fail to show robust prognostic reliability. More recently, the molecular landscape of AC has been uncovered, and has been shown to have prognostic and predictive significance. In this article, the site-specific, histologic, and genetic characteristics of ampullary carcinoma and its precursor lesions are discussed.

Fasciolopsis buski, also called the giant intestinal fluke, is the largest intestinal fluke of the zoonotic trematode parasites and found mainly in Southeast Asian countries, including China. Fasciolopsis buski infection was formerly a common health problem in many countries, but it is now rare. Typically, it can be cured by oral drugs, but some infected patients need surgical intervention because of the severity of their condition or because of an unclear diagnosis or even misdiagnosis. Here, we report a case of a 15-year-old girl from Guizhou Province, China, presenting with recurrent upper-middle abdominal pain that was misdiagnosed as a choledochal cyst. Through laparotomy combined with postoperative histopathological examination, the source of the pain was proven to be mechanical biliary obstruction caused by F. buski infection. In the past, mechanical obstruction, especially biliary obstruction, caused by F. buski infection leading to surgery was not uncommon, but it is very rare in modern society. Moreover, delayed treatment and misdiagnosis of parasitic infection can lead to severe consequences. Therefore, we reviewed the previous literature on F. buski infection treated by surgical operation and summarized the characteristics and therapeutic strategies of these cases to raise clinicians’ awareness of this rare infection.

The etiology of distal common bile duct (CBD) dilatation is complex. Linear-array endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) can not only visualize the distal and surrounding structures of the bile duct closely but also obtain pathological specimens by fine-needle aspiration, which provides an important basis for the diagnosis and differential diagnosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of linear-array EUS in the etiology of distal CBD dilatation. Patients with distal CBD dilatation underwent linear-array EUS in the endoscopic center of The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University and Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Kunshan were collected from January 2015 to June 2019. The pathology results after surgery, endoscopic pathology, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results were retrospectively analyzed. The diagnostic accuracy of linear-array EUS and CT or MRI was compared. For the diagnosis of choledocholithiasis, the diagnostic accuracy of linear-array EUS was 97.5%, which was significantly higher than that of MRI (86.36%) and CT (89.74) (P < 0.001 and 0.006, respectively). The diagnostic accuracy of linear-array EUS for periampullary tumors was 93.75%, which was higher than MRI and CT with an accuracy of 82.73% and 80.34% (P = 0.004 and 0.001, respectively). Linear EUS was effective for the etiological diagnosis of distal CBD dilatation.

Objective The aim: Is to determine the optimum duration of percutaneous transhepatic cholangiodrainage depending on the duration of obstructive jaundice and the baseline total bilirubin level in patients with benign and malignant common bile duct diseases complicated by obstructive jaundice. Patients and methods Materials and methods: The experience of applying percutaneous transhepatic cholangiodrainage was combined for 88 patients with common bile duct diseases complicated by obstructive jaundice. The patients were divided into three groups: the Group 1 included 15 patients (17.1%) with benign common bile duct diseases, the Group 2 included 11 patients (12.5%) with resectable cholangiocarcinomas, and the Group 3 included 62 patients (70.4%) with unresectable cholangiocarcinomas. To determine optimal terms of biliary decompression using percutaneous transhepatic cholangiodrainage, the Poisson process was applied, and, to be more precise, the quasi-Poisson distribution. Results Results: It was found that the reduction of total bilirubin was the fastest in Group 3 patients. It took these patients an average of 7-8 days to reduce total bilirubin to 50 μmole/l. In Group 1 patients, the process is somewhat slower. The duration of biliary decompression in this category of patients averages 10-12 days. For Group 2 patients, biliary decompression requires at least 12 days. Conclusion Conclusions: Using the Poisson process, or, to be more precise, the quasi-Poisson distribution, we managed to determine the optimum duration of biliary decompression using percutaneous transhepatic cholangiodrainage depending on the obstructive jaundice duration and the baseline total serum bilirubin.

The name Abraham Vater is internationally associated with the confluence of the common bile duct and the pancreatic duct. Vater's writings were published 300 years ago along with the most important anatomical publications of that time. In his experiments, he examined in particular the merging of both ducts and their physiological significance. The major duodenal papilla is neither part of the experiments in this publication, nor does Vater describe it in detail. Rather, Abraham Vater collects and discusses the knowledge of this anatomical region in his writing.Der Name Abraham Vater ist international mit der Mündung des Ductus choledochus und des Ductus pancreaticus assoziiert. Vor 300 Jahren wurden Vaters Schriften zusammen mit den wichtigsten anatomischen Publikationen dieser Zeit veröffentlicht. In seinen Experimenten untersuchte er insbesondere die Vereinigung beider Gänge und deren physiologische Bedeutung. Die Papilla duodeni major ist in dieser Publikation weder Bestandteil der Experimente, noch beschreibt Vater sie detailliert. Abraham Vater trägt in seiner Schrift vielmehr das damalige Wissen über diese anatomische Region zusammen und diskutiert dieses.

The review is withdrawn as it has not been maintained since its first publication in 2001 (searches date back to the year 2000). Since then, new trials have been published that may or may not change the conclusions of the review. A new team of authors overtook the review on 26.10.2020, and the new review is expected to be published by the beginning of 2022. The review will be prepared based on most recent Cochrane methods. Readers may still find the outdated review on the CDSR (the Cochrane Library).

Research conclusions differ on the impact of periampullary diverticulum (PAD) on endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). An up-to-date meta-analysis evaluated the role of PAD in ERCP, especially in terms of cannulation failure and early complications. A comprehensive literature search was performed. All statistical analyses were carried out with the Review Manager 5.3 software. Horizontal lines represented a 95% confidence interval (CI) and the area of each square in forest plots. Twenty-six studies including 23 826 patients with or without PAD who underwent ERCP were evaluated. PAD was associated with an increase in the overall cannulation failure rate (RR=1.46, 95% CI: 1.27-1.67; p

Spontaneous perforation of the common bile duct is rare. The cause is usually unknown, although it is sometimes related to the malformation of the bile duct.Female of 1 year, with abdominal distention, hyporexia and fever, tomography with ascites, surgical findings included retroperitoneal bilioma, peritonitis and perforation of common bile duct. Block resection and primary hepato-duodenal anastomosis were performed.Spontaneous perforation of the common bile duct tend to evolve insidiously and delay in diagnosis is frequent. Surgical management is decisive, and there are different techniques described.A high index of suspicion is important, treatment must be individualized according to each patient.La perforación espontánea del colédoco es rara. La causa generalmente se desconoce, aunque en ocasiones guarda relación con una malformación de la vía biliar.Niña de 1 año, con distensión abdominal, hiporexia y fiebre, tomografía con ascitis, se interviene y se encuentra bilioma retroperitoneal, peritonitis y perforación de colédoco. Se realiza resección en bloque y anastomosis hepatoduodenal primaria.La perforación espontánea del colédoco tiende a evolucionar insidiosamente y el retraso en el diagnóstico es frecuente. El manejo quirúrgico es resolutivo; existen distintas técnicas descritas.Es importante un alto índice de sospecha. El tratamiento se debe individualizar en cada paciente.

A 63-year-old patient was admitted to intensive treatment unit with biliary sepsis due to a small distal common bile duct stone. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography was initially attempted for insertion of a biliary stent but failed due to the presence of a periampullary diverticulum. Referral to interventional radiology for percutaneous drainage was considered the next alternative even though there was no dilatation of intrahepatic ducts. Due to complete absence of intrahepatic duct dilatation, the traditional percutaneous transhepatic route was considered rather challenging. An alternative percutaneous approach via the gallbladder and subsequent catheterisation of the duodenum via the distal common bile duct was successfully performed instead without complication. We would like to describe this technique as an alternative option for drainage of the non-dilated biliary system in patients with sepsis.

Heterotopic tissue in the bile duct is a very rare condition. There are a few case reports of heterotopic tissue including gastric and pancreatic cells. However, we could not find any data regarding heterotopic chondroid tissue obstructing the common bile duct in the literature. A 56-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with complaints of progressive jaundice and pruritus. Laboratory test results were within the normal limits except bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase which were 10.8 mg/dL and 256 IU/L, respectively. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERCP) and computed tomography (CT) revealed a biliary stricture confined to the upper part of the common bile duct. The patient was operated as soon as the bilirubin level dropped below 5 mg/dL by percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography. Despite the lack of a precise confirmation, the patient was prepared for operation considering the possibility of a malignant biliary tumor since the radiographic mass findings together with hyperbilirubinemia were highly suggestive of malignancy. The patient underwent total extrahepatic bile duct resection and Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy, and was discharged without any postoperative complications. Histologic examination of the bile duct and the nodule revealed the presence of a well-demarcated chondroid tissue within the subepithelial connective tissue. Herein, we presented the first case, to our knowledge, of heterotopic chondroid tissue of the common bile duct in the literature. It is a benign condition that should be considered in the differential diagnosis of stricture and mass-forming lesions of the bile duct.

TREATMENT OF COMMON BILE DUCT DISEASES COMPLICATED BY OBSTRUCTIVE JAUNDICE (review)Sochneva A.L.The article presents the up-to-date data concerning the treatment of common bile duct diseases complicated by obstructive jaundice. Nowadays, specialized clinics widely use mini-invasive interventions to treat this complicated pathology. Biliary tree decompression is the main objective of operative treatment. It is reasonable to perform antegrade and retrograde endobiliary interventions as preparatory and final stages of surgical treatment and in order to improve the patients’ life quality and avoid hepatic impairment progression. Reconstructive-reparative operations following prior biliary decompression yield significantly better results as compared to surgical interventions without it.Key words: common bile duct diseases, obstructive jaundice, antegrade interventions, retrograde interventions, reconstructive-reparative operations. ЛІКУВАННЯ ЗАХВОРЮВАНЬ ГЕПАТИКОХОЛЕДОХА, УСКЛАДНЕНИХ МЕХАНІЧНОЮ ЖОВТЯНИЦЕЮ (огляд літератури)Сочнева А.Л.У статті висвітлені сучасні дані по лікуванню захворювань гепатикохоледоха, ускладнених механічною жовтяницею. В даний час в спеціалізованих клініках широко застосовуються мініінвазивні втручання в лікуванні такої складної патології. Декомпресія біліарного дерева є основною метою при виконанні оперативних втручань. Антеградний і ретроградні ендобіліарні втручання доцільно застосовувати в якості як підготовчого, так і завершального етапів хірургічного лікування, а також поліпшити якість життя хворих і уникнути прогресування печінкової недостатності. Виконання реконструктивно-відновлювальні операцій після попередньої біліарної декомпресії демонструє значно кращі результати в порівнянні з оперативними втручаннями, виконаними без неї.Ключові слова: захворювання гепатикохоледоха, механічна жовтяниця, антеградний втручання, ретроградні втручання, реконструктивно-відновлювальні операції. Лечение заболеваний гепатикохоледоха, осложненных механической желтухой: обзор литературы ЛЕЧЕНИЕ ЗАБОЛЕВАНИЙ ГЕПАТИКОХОЛЕДОХА, ОСЛОЖНЕННЫХ МЕХАНИЧЕСКОЙ ЖЕЛТУХОЙ (обзор литературы)Сочнева А.Л.В статье освещены современные данные по лечению заболеваний гепатикохоледоха, осложненных механической желтухой. В настоящее время в специализированных клиниках широко применяются миниинвазивные вмешательства в лечении столь сложной патологии. Декомпрессия билиарного дерева является основной целью при выполнении оперативных вмешательств. Антеградные и ретроградные эндобилиарные вмешательства целесообразно применять в качестве как подготовительного, так и завершающего этапов хирургического лечения, а также улучшить качество жизни больных и избежать прогрессирования печеночной недостаточности. Выполнение реконструктивно-восстановительные операций после предварительной билиарной декомпрессии демонстрирует значительно лучшие результаты в сравнении с оперативными вмешательствами, выполненными без нее.Ключевые слова: заболевания гепатикохоледоха, механическая желтуха, антеградные вмешательства, ретроградные вмешательства, реконструктивно-восстановительные операции.

During laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (LPD), dissecting uncinate process from the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) will determine one of the important surgical margins (retroperitoneal margin) for predicting oncological outcomes and the quality of LPD. However, clear identification of the division line for retroperitoneal margin is not easy as the uncinate process of the pancreas is anatomically very close to SMA and intermingled with the nerve plexus and soft tissues around SMA. In this study, we present data regarding the potential usefulness of indocyanine green (ICG)-enhanced approach in obtaining retroperitoneal margin during LPD. From January to September 2017, medical records of patients who underwent LPD for periampullary pathological conditions were retrospectively reviewed. ICG (5 mg/2 cm3) was prepared and intravenously injected when dissecting uncinate process of the pancreas. Perioperative outcomes, including gender, age, diagnosis, body mass index, operation time, estimated blood loss, transfusion, presence of postoperative pancreatic fistulas (POPFs), and length of hospital stay, were evaluated. During the study period, a total of 37 patients underwent LPD for periampullary pathological lesions. Among them, ICG-enhanced dissection of uncinate process of the pancreas was applied in 10 patients (27%). All patients were able to obtain margin-negative resection. There were no significant differences between the perioperative outcomes of patients who did and did not undergo ICG-enhanced approach. ICG perfusion-based laparoscopic dissection of retroperitoneal margin is feasible and safe in LPD. This intraoperative visual difference can provide the surgeon with very helpful real-time visual information. Further study is mandatory.

BACKGROUND: - Conventional esophagogastroduodenoscopy is the best method for evaluation of the upper gastrointestinal tract, but it has limitations for the identification of the major duodenal papilla, even after the use of the straightening maneuver. Side-viewing duodenoscope is recommended for optimal examination of major duodenal papilla in patients at high risk for lesions in this region. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of the biopsy forceps during conventional esophagogastroduodenoscopy as an additional tool to the straightening maneuver, in the evaluation of the major duodenal papilla. METHODS: A total of 671 patients were studied between 2013 and 2015, with active major duodenal papilla search in three endoscope steps: not straightened, straightened and use of the biopsy forceps after straightening. In all of them it was recorded whether: major duodenal papilla was fully visualized (position A), partially visualized (position B) or not visualized (position C). If major duodenal papilla was not fully visualized, patients continued to the next step. RESULTS: A total of 341 were female (50.8%) with mean age of 49 years. Of the 671 patients, 324 (48.3%) major duodenal papilla was identified in position A, 112 (16.7%) in position B and 235 (35%) in position C. In the 347 patients who underwent the straightening maneuver, position A was found in 186 (53.6%), position B in 51 (14.7%) and position C in 110 (31.7%). Of the 161 remaining patients and after biopsy forceps use, position A was seen in 94 (58.4%), position B in 14 (8.7%) and position C in 53 (32.9%). The overall rate of complete visualization of major duodenal papilla was 90%. CONCLUSION: The use of the biopsy forceps significantly increased the total major duodenal papilla visualization rate by 14%, reaching 604/671 (90%) of the patients (P

INTRODUCTION: Dual hypothermic oxygenated machine perfusion (DHOPE) of the liver has been advocated as a method to reduce ischemia-reperfusion injury. This study aimed to determine whether DHOPE reduces IR injury of the bile ducts in DCD liver transplantation.MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a recently performed phase 1-trial, ten DCD livers were preserved with DHOPE after static cold storage (SCS) (www.trialregister.nl NTR4493). Bile duct biopsies were obtained at the end of SCS (before DHOPE; baseline) and after graft reperfusion in the recipient. Histological severity of biliary injury was graded according to an established semi-quantitative grading system. Twenty liver transplantations using DCD livers not preserved with DHOPE served as control.RESULTS: Baseline characteristics and the degree of bile duct injury at baseline (end of SCS) were similar between both groups. In controls, degree of stroma necrosis (P=0.002) and injury of the deep peribiliary glands (P=0.02) increased after reperfusion, compared to baseline. In contrast, in DHOPE preserved livers the degree of bile duct injury did not increase after reperfusion. Moreover, there was less injury of deep peribiliary glands (P=0.04) after reperfusion in the DHOPE group, compared to controls.CONCLUSION: This study suggests that DHOPE reduces ischemia-reperfusion injury of bile ducts after DCD liver transplantation. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Introduction Both benign and malignant diseases of common bile ducts (CBD) become the reason of obstruction. The aim of the study was to determine the optimal duration of percutaneous transhepatic cholangiodrainage (PTCD) depending on the duration of obstructive jaundice (OJ) and the initial level of total serum bilirubin. Methods The experience of using PTCD in 88 patients with diseases of CBD complicated by OJ for the period 2011-2017 were divided into three groups: the first (1) - 15 (17.1%) patients with benign diseases of CBD, the second (2) - 11 (12.5%) patients with resectable cholangiocarcinomas, and the third (3) - 62, 4%) patients with unresectable cholangiocarcinomas. Causes of OJ: choledocholithiasis in 6 (6.8%), strictures of CBD in 2 (2.3%) and cholangiocarcinomas of different localization in 73 (82.9%) patients. The optimal timing of biliary decompression was determined by PTCD, the Poisson process (poisson) was used, and more precisely as the quasipoisson distribution (quasipoisson), which reflects the process of reducing total serum bilirubin. Results It was determined that the fastest decrease in total bilirubin occurs in patients of group 3, enough 7-8 days to reduce total bilirubin to 50 μmol/L. In patients of group 1, the duration of biliary decompression is 10-12 days. For patients in group 2, biliary decompression requires at least 12. Conclusions Using the Poisson process (poisson), or more precisely the quasi-Poisson distribution (quasipoisson), it was possible to determine the optimal duration of biliary decompression by PTCD depending on the duration of OJ and the initial level of total serum bilirubin.

We present a case of a 76-year-old man with right upper quadrant abdominal pain and weight loss, who was found to have an intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct (IPNB) of the pancreaticobiliary subtype, deemed curatively resectable. The patient declined surgery and opted for endoscopic therapy. He underwent two sessions of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA). Ten months later, no evidence of recurrence was identified on repeat ERCP. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of successful use of RFA as a primary treatment modality for resectable IPNB.