Modern imaging of cholangitis

Cholangitis refers to inflammation of the bile ducts with or without accompanying infection. When intermittent or persistent inflammation lasts six months or more, the condition is classified as chronic cholangitis. Otherwise, it is considered an acute cholangitis. Cholangitis can also be classified according to the inciting agent, e.g., complete mechanical obstruction, which is the leading cause of acute cholangitis, longstanding partial mechanical blockage, or immune-mediated bile duct obliteration damage that results in chronic cholangitis. The work-up for cholangitis is based upon medical history, clinical presentation, and initial laboratory tests. Whereas ultrasound is the first-line imaging modality used to identify bile duct dilatation in patients with colicky abdominal pain, cross-sectional imaging is preferable when symptoms cannot be primarily localized to the hepatobiliary system. Computed tomography (CT) is very useful in oncologic, trauma, or postoperative patients. Otherwise, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) is the method of choice to diagnose acute and chronic biliary disorders, providing an excellent anatomic overview and, if gadoxetic acid is injected, simultaneously delivering morphological and functional information about the hepatobiliary system. If brush cytology, biopsy, assessment of the prepapillary common bile duct (CBD), stricture dilatation, or stenting is necessary, then endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and/or retrograde cholangiography (ERC) are performed. Finally, when the pathologic duct is inaccessible from the duodenum or stomach, percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC) is an option. The pace of the work-up depends upon the severity of cholestasis on presentation. Whereas sepsis, hypotension, and/or Charcot’s triad warrant immediate investigation and management, chronic cholestasis can be electively evaluated. This overview article will cover the common cholangitides, emphasizing our clinical experience with the chronic cholestatic liver diseases.

Extreme hyperbilirubinaemia associated with choledocholithiasis without ascending cholangitis

Introduction: Charcot’s triad was traditionally used to diagnose ascending cholangitis. However it is already proven that only minority of patients with ascending cholangitis who fulfill the triad of fever, jaundice and right hypochondriac pain. Aim: We would like to highlight the rarity of severe hyperbilirubinaemia secondary to benign cause as most of the incidence raised more suspicion for primary liver disease or malignancy. Case study: We presented a case report of a 58-year-old male patient with no comorbid who presented to us with right hypochondriac pain and obstructive jaundice with severe hyperbilirubinaemia (total bilirubin 1025 µmol/L), without fever or leukocytosis. Results and discussion: We presented a case report of a 58-year-old male patient with no comorbid who presented to us with right hypochondriac pain and obstructive jaundice with severe hyperbilirubinaemia (total bilirubin 1025 µmol/L), without fever or leukocytosis. Conclusions: Benign conditions such as common bile duct stones still can lead to severe hyperbilirubinaemia even though it is very rare. The usage of appropriate imaging is needed to exclude malignant causes.

The Risk Factors for Perioperative Serum Albumin Variation in Pediatric Patients Undergoing Major Gastroenterology Surgery

Background: The albumin, a negative acute-phase protein, is important for perioperative morbidity, even in patients with normal preoperative levels. This study intend to determine the perioperative factors related with the postoperative reduction in serum albumin (ΔALB) and its influence on perioperative outcome in a pediatric general surgical cohort.Methods: This single-center retrospective review included 939 pediatric patients who underwent major gastroenterology surgery from August 2010 to August 2019. The patients were dichotomized into a high ΔALB group (≥14.6%) and a low ΔALB group (<14.6%) based on the mean value of ΔALB (14.6%). the independent risk factors for ΔALB, were explored using the propensity score matching to minimize potential selection bias and subjected to method multivariable logistic regression model. Furthermore, in 366 matched patients, the influences of operating time on perioperative outcomes were analyzed.Results: Among the 996 patients reviewed, 939 patient records were enrolled in the final analysis. Controlling for other factors, multivariable analysis showed that a high CRP on POD 3 or 4 [odds ratio (OR) = 2.36 (95% CI, 1.51–3.86); p = 0.007], a longer operating time [OR = 1.18 (95% CI, 1.00–1.53); p = 0.014), and the presence of Charcot's triad [OR = 1.73 (95% CI, 1.05–2.83); p = 0.031] were factors that predicted a high ΔALB level. A high ΔALB level was also related with gastrointestinal functional recovery delay, reflected by the postoperative defecation (p = 0.013) and bowel movement (p = 0.019) delay and the high occurrence of postoperative complications (16.1 vs. 10.9%, OR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.02–2.41, P = 0.0026).Conclusions: The high ΔALB level was correlated with postoperative outcome. To obtain a safe recovery and discharge after a major abdominal operation, the above risk factors for ΔALB could be addressed in the perioperative period.

Factors affecting perioperative serum albumin variation and short-term complications in pediatric patients undergoing major gastroenterology surgery

Background: Albumin is considered a negative acute-phase protein because its concentration decreases during injury and sepsis. The decrease in serum albumin may be important for perioperative morbidity, even in patients with normal preoperative levels in the pediatric population. Here, we intend to determine the perioperative factors associated with the reduction in serum albumin within 2 postoperative days compared with the preoperative level (∆ALB) and its influence on perioperative outcome in a pediatric general surgical cohort.Methods: This single-center retrospective review included 939 patients who underwent Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy between August 2010 and August 2019. Based on the mean value of ∆ALB (14.6%), patients were separated into two groups, a high ∆ALB group (≥14.6%) and a low ∆ALB group (<14.6%). Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the independent risk factors for a reduction in serum albumin. Propensity score matching was performed to adjust for any potential selection bias for the two groups. In 366 matched patients, the influences of operating time on perioperative outcomes, including postoperative recovery, complications measurement, and length of hospital stay between the two groups were analyzed.Results: Among the 996 patients reviewed, 939 patient records were enrolled in the final analysis. Controlling for other factors, multivariable analysis showed that a high CRP on POD 3 or 4 (odds ratio [OR] =2.36 [95% CI, 1.51-3.86]; p =0.007), the presence of Charcot's triad (OR=1.73 [95% CI, 1.05-2.83]; p = 0.031), and a longer operating time (OR=1.18 [95% CI, 1.00 -1.53]; p=0.014) were factors that predicted a high ∆ALB level. A high ∆ALB level was associated with postoperative gastrointestinal functional recovery, reflected by the first defecation (p= 0.013) and first bowel movement (p=0.019) and the high occurrence of postoperative complications (16.1% vs 10.9%, OR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.02-2.41, P=0.0026). The mean length of postoperative stay of patients in the high ∆ALB group was longer than that of patients in the ∆ALB < 14.0% group, although no statistically significant difference was observed (p=0.057). Conclusions: We showed that a change in albumin level was associated with postoperative outcome. The risk factors for ∆ALB could be addressed in the perioperative period to permit patients to obtain a safe recovery and discharge after a major abdominal operation.

Factors affecting perioperative serum albumin variation and short term complications in pediatric patients undergoing major gastroenterology surgery

Background: Albumin is considered a negative acute-phase protein because its concentration decreases during injury and sepsis. The decrease in serum albumin might be important for perioperative morbidity, even in patients with normal preoperative levels in pediatric population. We here intend to determine the perioperative factors associated with the reduction in serum albumin within 2 postoperative days compared with the preoperative level (∆ALB) and its influence on the perioperative outcome in a pediatric general surgical cohort. Methods: This single-center retrospective review included 939 patients who underwent Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy between August 2010 and Aug 2019. Based on the mean valure of ∆ALB (14.6%), patients were separated into two groups, including a high ∆ALB group (≥14.6%) and a low ∆ALB group (<14.6%). Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the independent risk factors for the reduction in serum albumin. Propensity score matching was performed to adjust for any potential selection bios for the two groups. In 366 matched patients, influences of operating time on perioperative outcomes, including postoperative recovery, complications measurement, and length of hospital stay between the two groups were analyzed. Results: For all 996 patients reviewed, 939 patient records were enrolled into the final analysis. Controlling for other factors, multivariate analysis showed that the high CRP on POD 3 or 4 (odds ratio[OR] =2.36 [95% CI, 1.51-3.86]; p =0.007), presence of Charcot's triad (OR=1.73[95% CI, 1.05-2.83]; p = 0.031), the longer operating time (OR=1.18[95% CI, 1.00 -1.53]; p=0.014) were factors that predicted the high ∆ALB level. The high ∆ALB level was associated with postoperative gastrointestinal functional recovery, reflected by the first defecation (p= 0.013) and first bowel movement (p=0.019) and the high occurrence of postoperative complications (16.1% vs 10.9%, OR, 1.57; 95 %CI, 1.02-2.41, P=0.0026). The mean length of postoperative stay was longer than that of patients with ∆ALB < 14.0% group, although no statistic significant was stained (p=0.057). Conclusions: We showed that change in albumins was associated with postoperative outcomes. The risk factors for ∆ALB could be intervened in the perioperative period to permit patients gain a safe recovery and discharge after major abdominal operations.

Factors affecting perioperative ∆ALB and short term complications in pediatric patients undergoing major gastroenterology surgery

Background: Albumin is considered a negative acute-phase protein because its concentration decreases during injury and sepsis. The decrease in serum albumin might be important for perioperative morbidity, even in patients with normal preoperative levels in pediatric population. We here intend to determine the perioperative factors associated with the reduction in serum albumin within 2 postoperative days compared with the preoperative level (∆ALB) and its influence on the perioperative outcome in a pediatric general surgical cohort. Methods: This single-center retrospective review included 939 patients who underwent Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy between August 2010 and Aug 2019. Based on the median ∆ALB (14.6%), patients were separated into two groups, including a high ∆ALB group (≥14.6%) and a low ∆ALB group (<14.6%). Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the independent risk factors for the reduction in serum albumin. Propensity score matching was performed to adjust for any potential selection bios for the two groups. In 366 matched patients, influences of operating time on perioperative outcomes, including postoperative recovery, complications measurement, length of hospital stay between the two groups were analyzed. Results: For all 996 patients reviewed, 939 patient records were enrolled into the final analysis. Controlling for other factors, multivariate analysis showed that the high CRP on POD 3 or 4 (OR =2.36 [95% CI, 1.51-3.86]; p =0.007), presence of Charcot's triad (OR=1.73[95% CI, 1.05-2.83]; p = 0.031), the longer operating time (OR=1.18[95% CI, 1.00 -1.53]; p=0.014) were factors that predicted the high ∆ALB level. The high ∆ALB level was associated with postoperative gastrointestinal functional recovery, reflected by the first defecation (p= 0.013) and first bowel movement (p=0.019) and the high occurrence of postoperative complications (16.1% vs 10.9%, RR, 1.57; 95 %CI, 1.02-2.41, P=0.0026). The mean length of postoperative stay was longer than that of patients with ∆ALB < 14.0% group, although no statistic significant was stained (p=0.057). Conclusions: We showed that change in albumins was associated with postoperative outcomes. The risk factors for ∆ALB could be intervened in the perioperative period to permit patients gain a safe recovery and discharge after major abdominal operations

Diagnostic system of determination of an acute cholangitis

Objecive. To elaborate a diagnostic system, permitting to confirm or exclude the diagnosis of an acute cholangitis in patients, suffering biliary ducts obstruction. Materials and methods. The wok is based on analysis of clinical, laboratory and instrumental indices in 174 patients, suffering the biliary ducts obstruction (in 18 - with an acute cholangitis). Results. The diagnostic system was constructed, taking into account informativity of such indices, as ratio of the segmented and stab neutrophils quantity, quantity of stab neutrophils, bilirubin, a gallbladder wall thickness, quantity of monocytes, leukocytes, the Charcot’s triad presence, the body temperature, level of amylase, the duodenal papilla magna size, quantity of lymphocytes, presence of excluded gallbladder, presence of cholecystectomy in anamnesis, the immobile calculus of duodenal papilla magna, tumor, the eosinophils quantity, as well as the presence of any choledocholithiasis and age. Conclusion. The elaborated diagnostic scheme for determination of an acute cholangitis in patients, suffering biliary ducts obstruction, owes high security (≥ 95%), because the part of failed diagnosis did not exceeded 5% and have constituted 2.8%.

Identifying and Treating Ascending Cholangitis: A case report and review of literature.

Acute cholangitis is an infection of the biliary system that typically results from obstruction. Common causes include choledocholithiasis, strictures, foreign bodies (such as biliary stents) parasitic worms (e.g. ascarids) and compression from an external structure. Obstruction allows for higher bacterial concentrations and bacterial proliferation. With biliary stasis and increases in intraductal pressure, bacteria migrate into the venous and lymphatic systems with subsequent bacteremia. The rate of gallstone development is 3-4 % annually in those >60 years old with up to a 15% overall prevalence in the US. In the US, 85% of ascending cholangitis cases are a consequence of choledocholithiasis. The gram-negative bacteria E coli, Klebsiella, Pseudomonas and Enterobacter are the most commonly identified pathogens. Anaerobes are less common.Ascending cholangitis is classically diagnosed by the presence of Charcot’s triad – fever, right upper quadrant pain and jaundice. Though very specific, the presence of Charcot’s triad is only 26% sensitive and thus its absence does not rule out the diagnosis. All patients with suspected ascending cholangitis should undergo appropriate fluid resuscitation, be given broad spectrum antibiotics to cover the likely enteric pathogens, and closely monitored for worsening in their clinical condition.Once initial assessment is complete and resuscitative efforts begun, imaging is often helpful in confirming the diagnosis of ascending cholangitis. After the diagnosis has been confirmed, ERCP and biliary drainage is indicated.

Identifying and Treating Ascending Cholangitis. A case report and review of literature.

Acute cholangitis is an infection of the biliary system that typically results from obstruction. Common causes include choledocholithiasis, strictures, foreign bodies (such as biliary stents) parasitic worms (e.g. ascarids) and compression from an external structure. Obstruction allows for higher bacterial concentrations and bacterial proliferation. With biliary stasis and increases in intraductal pressure, bacteria migrate into the venous and lymphatic systems with subsequent bacteremia. The rate of gallstone development is 3-4 % annually in those >60 years old with up to a 15% overall prevalence in the US. In the US, 85% of ascending cholangitis cases are a consequence of choledocholithiasis. The gram-negative bacteria E coli, Klebsiella, Pseudomonas and Enterobacter are the most commonly identified pathogens. Anaerobes are less common.Ascending cholangitis is classically diagnosed by the presence of Charcot’s triad – fever, right upper quadrant pain and jaundice. Though very specific, the presence of Charcot’s triad is only 26% sensitive and thus its absence does not rule out the diagnosis. All patients with suspected ascending cholangitis should undergo appropriate fluid resuscitation, be given broad spectrum antibiotics to cover the likely enteric pathogens, and closely monitored for worsening in their clinical condition.Once initial assessment is complete and resuscitative efforts begun, imaging is often helpful in confirming the diagnosis of ascending cholangitis. After the diagnosis has been confirmed, ERCP and biliary drainage is indicated.