Management of Obstructive Jaundice Dr. Al - Mumtin , Ahmed
Introduction Definition of Jaundice. Jaundice vs Hyperbilirubinaemia. Systemic Approach. Based on Billirubin metabolism classification.
Pre-hepatic, hepatic and post-hepatic. Differentials. Conjugated, and Unconjugated Hyperbilirubinaemia.
Obstructive Jaundice Intrahepatic. Extrahepatic.
Principally Conjugated hyperbilirubinaemia due to : Impaired bile formation (hepatocytes) Impaired bile flow (bile ducts/ductules)
Intrahepatic Cholestasis Viral Hepatitis: Fibrosing cholestatic hepatitis. Hep. B &C Hep.A, EBV, CMV Alcoholic Hepatitis Drug toxicity Pure cholestasis- Anabolic & contraceptive steroids Cholestatic hepatitis- chlorpromazine, erythromycin, Amoxiclav Chronic cholestasis- chlorpromazine & prochloperazine Primary Biliary cirrhosis Primary Sclerosing cholangitis Vanishing Bile duct Syndrome Chronic rejection of liver transplant Sarcoidosis Drugs Non hepatobiliary Sepsis Benign post-operative cholestasis Para neoplastic Syndrome Veno-occlusive disease GVHD Inherited Progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis Benign recurrent cholestasis Cholestasis of pregnancy Total Parenteral Nutrition Infiltrative diseases TB Lymphoma Amyloidosis Infections Malaria Leptospirosis
Extrahepatic
Benjamin Classification of Obstructive Jaundice 1983 Type 1: complete obstruction. Tumours. Ligation/clipping of CBD Cholangiocarcinoma type 2: Intermittant obstruction. Choledocholithiasis periampullary carcinoma duodenal diverticulae papillomas of bile duct choledochal cyst. Type 3: chronic incomplete obstruction. Strictures (congenital, iatrogenic, sclerosing, post-radiotherapy) stenosed biliary-enteric anastomosis chronic pancreatitis CF Stenosis of sphincter of oddi. Type 4: segmental Obstruction. Traumatic or iatrogenic sclerosing cholangitis cholangiocarcinoma
Clinically - Pruritus, Fatigue, Xanthomas, Hepatic Osteodystrophy: back pain from osteoporosis, Pale stools, or steatorrhea Evidence of fat-soluble vitamin deficiency. Enlarged liver with a firm smooth non-tender edge. Histologically - Bile plugs (bilirubinostasis), Feathery degeneration of hepatocytes (cholate stasis), Small-bile-duct destruction, Peri cholangitis, Portal edema, Bile lakes and infarcts (typically with extrahepatic obstruction), Finally , biliary cirrhosis.
Choledocholithiasis
Choledocholithiasis Definition. 5 to 20 percent of patients have choledocholithiasis at the time of cholecystectomy. Primary vs secondary cholidocholithiasis.
Laboratory Tests ALT, AST elevation, 64% sensitive. Increased Bilirubin; 69% sensitive, 88% specific. ALP is 57% sensitive, 86% specific. GGT elevation 84% sensitive. Predictors of common bile duct stones prior to cholecystectomy: a meta-analysis. AU Abboud PA, Malet PF, Berlin JA, Staroscik R, Cabana MD, Clarke JR, Shea JA, Schwartz JS, Williams SV SO Gastrointest Endosc. 1996;44(4):450.
Complicated cholidocholithiasis. Two major complications: Pancreatitis. Nausea, vomiting, high levels of amylase and lipase. Acute Cholangitis Charcot’s triad, Renauld’s pentad. Long standing complications
Imaging Transabdominal U/S. Sensitivity is 20-90%. Dilated CBD is suggestive of choledocholithiasis. A “Cutoff” 6 mm may miss cases. A transverse ultrasound in the region of the porta hepatis shows multiple shadowing stones (arrows) within a dilated distal common bile duct.
Imaging EUS and MRCP EUS vs ERCP MRCP vs ERCP MRCP vs EUS. EUS for stones < 6 mm and sludge not detected by MRCP.
Imaging EUS and MRCP
Imaging Intraoperative cholangiogram: 59-100 % sensitive, 93-100% Operator dependant. Proponents and Opponents. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography versus intraoperative cholangiography for diagnosis of common bile duct stones. AU Gurusamy KS, Giljaca V, Takwoingi Y, Higgie D, Poropat G,Štimac D, Davidson BR SO Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015;2:CD010339.
ERCP Diagnostic and therapeutic. High sensitivity and specificity. Invasive. Technical expertise is needed. Prone to complications
Sclerosing cholangitis Multiple CBD Stones Ascariasis in CBD
Bile duct obstruction from chronic pancreatitis Biliary stricture, secondary to Cholangiocarcinoma
PTC Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography. Abnormal anatomy not accessible to ERCP Failed ERCP Diagnostic and therapeutic.
Risk stratification Barkun AN, Barkun JS, Fried GM, et al. Useful predictors of bile duct stones in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Ann Surg 1994;220:32-9
Diagnosis Tse F, Barkun JS, Barkun AN. The elective evaluation of patients with suspected choledocholithiasis undergoing laparoscopic cholecystec- tomy. Gastrointest Endosc 2004;60:437-48.
Next In management The mainstay; Remove the stones. Early identifications of complications. Approach begins by the times choledocholithiasis is identified. Before or After cholecystectomy, ERCP. Intraoperatively; intra-op ERCP or CBD exploration (laparoscopic or open), or post-op ERCP.
Hospital stay was significantly shorter in the LERV group; median 4 (2-19) days versus 5.5 (3-22) days, P = 0.0004 No difference in morbidity and success of CBD clearance between the 2 groups Post-ERCP amylase value was found significantly lower in the LERV group: median 65 (16-1159) versus 91 (30-1846), P = 0.02 Interim analysis of the results suggests the superiority of the LERV technique in terms of hospital stay and post-ERCP hyperamylasemia.
CBD Exploration Traditionally; Diagnosed by intraoperative cholangiography and treated by open CBD exploration. Advances in pre-op imaging and development of less invasive measures improved earlier diagnosis, and treatment. Potantial existence of CBD stones should be considered for all patients with symptomatic cholelithiasis.
Indication of CBD exploration Should be performed in all patients with confirmed CBD stones who are surgical candidates and have failed, or are not candidates for endoscopic therapy. PTC, electrohydraulic lithotripsy, and laser lithotripsy maybe useful in a small number of selected patients who are not candidates for surgery or endoscopic therapy.
Surgical Approach If identified on IOC: Laparoscopic exploration. Open exploration. Post-op ERCP.
Open vs Endoscopic Exploration SEARCH METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Hepato-Biliary Group Controlled Trials Register, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL, Issue 7 of 12, 2013) in The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE (1946 to August 2013), EMBASE (1974 to August 2013), and Science Citation Index Expanded (1900 to August 2013). Conclusion : Open bile duct surgery seems superior to ERCP in achieving common bile duct stone clearance based on the evidence available from the early endoscopy era. No significant difference in the mortality and morbidity between laparoscopic bile duct clearance and the endoscopic options. No significant reduction in the number of retained stones and failure rates in the laparoscopy groups compared with the pre-operative and intra-operative ERCP groups. TI Surgical versus endoscopic treatment of bile duct stones. AU Dasari BV, Tan CJ, Gurusamy KS, Martin DJ, Kirk G, McKie L, Diamond T, Taylor MA SO Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;9:CD003327
Laparoscopic Exploration Laparoscopic transcystic exploration The preferred technique for Laparoscopic exploration. Provided: CBD diameter <6 mm Stone location distal to the cystic duct/CBD junction Cystic duct diameter >4 mm Fewer than 6 to 8 stones within the CBD Stones smaller than 10 mm
Laparoscopic Exploration Laparoscopic choledochotomy: More difficult technically. Indication: Failed laparoscopic transcystic exploration or for patients who are not candidates for the transcystic approach. Indications: Failed laparoscopic transcystic exploration or preoperative endoscopic stone extraction Narrow/tortuous cystic duct Dilated CBD (6 to 10 mm) Large stones (>10 mm) Multiple stones Stone location proximal to the cystic duct/CBD junction.
Primary closure of the choledochotomy with interrupted fine monofilament absorbable suture is safer than closure around a T-tube. Decreased operating time, Decreased postoperative and biliary complications, shorter time until return to work Decreased hospital costs. TI Primary closure versus T-tube drainage after laparoscopic common bile duct stone exploration. AU Gurusamy KS, Samraj K SO Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007;
When to do the Cholecystectomy?
Take Home Obstructive jaundice is a huge spectrum of differentials. Cause directed management is the key. Choledocholithiasis is the major entity in the surgical jaundice. Endoscopy and gastrointestinal specialised personnel is the cornerstone in management. Narrow window of surgery in the management.
Controversy Still Exists Shall we still admit patients with Choledocholithiasis in Surgical wards under Surgical specialties?
References Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine, 19th edition. Goldman-Cecil Medicine, 24th edition UpToDate (R) Schwartz principles of surgery Everhart JE, Khare M, Hill M, Maurer KR. Prevalence and ethnic differences in gallbladder disease in the United States. Gastroenterology 1999; 117:632. Collins C, Maguire D, Ireland A, et al. A prospective study of common bile duct calculi in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy: natural history of choledocholithiasis revisited. Ann Surg 2004; 239:28. Hunter JG. Laparoscopic transcystic common bile duct exploration. Am J Surg 1992; 163:53. Petelin JB. Laparoscopic common bile duct exploration. Surg Endosc 2003; 17:1705. Neuhaus H, Feussner H, Ungeheuer A, et al. Prospective evaluation of the use of endoscopic retrograde cholangiography prior to laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Endoscopy 1992; 24:745. Houdart R, Perniceni T, Darne B, et al. Predicting common bile duct lithiasis: determination and prospective validation of a model predicting low risk. Am J Surg 1995; 170:38. O'Neill CJ, Gillies DM, Gani JS. Choledocholithiasis: overdiagnosed endoscopically and undertreated laparoscopically. ANZ J Surg 2008; 78:487.
References Prat F, Meduri B, Ducot B, et al. Prediction of common bile duct stones by noninvasive tests. Ann Surg 1999; 229:362. Fitzgerald JE, White MJ, Lobo DN. Courvoisier's gallbladder: law or sign? World J Surg 2009; 33:886. Abboud PA, Malet PF, Berlin JA, et al. Predictors of common bile duct stones prior to cholecystectomy: a meta-analysis. Gastrointest Endosc 1996; 44:450. 11 Yang MH, Chen TH, Wang SE, et al. Biochemical predictors for absence of common bile duct stones in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Surg Endosc 2008; 22:1620. Sox HC, Blatt MA, Higgins, MC, et al. Medical decision making, Butterworths, Boston 1988. p.67. ASGE Standards of Practice Committee, Maple JT, Ben-Menachem T, et al. The role of endoscopy in the evaluation of suspected choledocholithiasis. Gastrointest Endosc 2010; 71:1. Iranmanesh P, Frossard JL, Mugnier-Konrad B, et al. Initial cholecystectomy vs sequential common duct endoscopic assessment and subsequent cholecystectomy for suspected gallstone migration: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA 2014; 312:137. Tse F, Yuan Y. Early routine endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography strategy versus early conservative management strategy in acute gallstone pancreatitis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2012; 5:CD009779. Freeman ML. Pancreatic stents for prevention of post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2007; 5:1354.