This work was supported by grants from the Medical Scientific Research Foundation of Guangdong Province (No. A2021091), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (No. 21622312), the Basic and Applied Basic Research Project of Guangzhou Basic Research Program (No. 2023A04J01111), the Flagship Specialty Construction Project-General Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital of the Jinan University (No. 711003), and the Special Foundation for Scientific Research Development of the Affiliated Shunde Hospital of Jinan University (No. 202101004).

A total of 177 patients with a history of biliary tract surgery who underwent LCBDE between September 2010 and December 2021 were included. This study was approved by the institutional review board in The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University. All patients provided written informed consent.
1. Inclusion criteria
<ol>
	<li>Include patients with more than two stones in the common bile duct (CBD).</li>
	<li>Include patients with CBD stones that have a total diameter of &#8805;20 mm.</li>
	<li>Include patients with a CBD diameter of &#8805;10 mm.</li>
</ol>
2. Exclusion criteria
<ol>
	<li>Exclude patients with hepatolithiasis.</li>
	<li>Exclude patients with acute obstructive suppurative cholangitis.</li>
	<li>Exclude patients with a Child-Pugh liver function of class B or class C.</li>
	<li>Exclude patients with scheduled simultaneous biliary anastomosis.</li>
	<li>Exclude patients with an intolerance to general anesthesia due to a poor general condition.</li>
</ol>
3. Preoperative preparation
<ol>
	<li>Administer preoperative blood tests including a complete blood count, liver and renal function test, and coagulation function test.</li>
	<li>Administer preoperative hepatobiliary color Doppler ultrasound, upper abdominal computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP).</li>
</ol>
4. Establishment of pneumoperitoneum and trocar placement under general anesthesia with tracheal intubation
<ol>
	<li>Use a Veress needle to establish pneumoperitoneum routinely (Veress method)11.
	<ol>
		<li>Make a 10 mm long incision on the skin below the umbilicus, then clamp and lift up the skin on both sides of the incision. Insert the Veress needle into the abdominal cavity through the incision. Then, inject carbon dioxide gas and maintain a pneumoperitoneum pressure of 12 mmHg.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>If the Veress method fails, change to the open method (Hasson method)11.
	<ol>
		<li>Using the conventional laparotomy method, incise the abdominal wall layer by layer to the depth along the skin incision made by the Veress method to reach the abdominal cavity. Place the observation port into the abdominal cavity through this incision. Inject carbon dioxide gas and maintain a pneumoperitoneum pressure of 12 mmHg.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Place the observation port (the first trocar) around the umbilicus as far as possible to fully explore the abdominal cavity. At the same time, keep the first trocar at least 5 cm away from the previous open incision, or at least 2 cm away from the previous laparoscopic incision, to avoid damage to the intestine adhered to the abdominal wall.</li>
	<li>According to the adhesion situation observed in abdominal cavity exploration, arrange the trocars typically in a triangular shape with the surgical area as the target. At the same time, take the separation of adhesions, choledochoscopic lithotomy, and T-tube and drainage tube indwelling into consideration.</li>
</ol>
5. Surgical approaches
<ol>
	<li>Hepatic round ligament approach: Separate and release the abdominal adhesions along the hepatic round ligament to the inferior liver margin, and then to the hepatic hilum in order to expose the CBD.</li>
	<li>Anterior hepatoduodenal ligament approach: Separate the duodenum from the hepatic hilum downward to expose the CBD anterior to the hepatoduodenal ligament.</li>
	<li>Right hepatoduodenal ligament approach: Separate the hepatic flexure of the colon, adhered to the hepatic hilum, from the hepatic hilum, starting from the right lateral side of the hepatoduodenal ligament downward to expose the area between the right subhepatic space and the omental foramen, thereby determining the position of the CBD.</li>
	<li>Hybrid approach: Combine two or three of the above approaches. 
	NOTE: This mainly depends on the location of adhesion.
	<ol>
		<li>If there is adhesion in the middle of the anterior abdominal wall, use the hepatic round ligament approach.</li>
		<li>If there is adhesion in the front and on both sides of the CBD, use the anterior hepatoduodenal ligament approach.</li>
		<li>If there is adhesion in the right upper abdomen, use the right hepatoduodenal ligament approach.</li>
		<li>If there is extensive adhesion in the abdominal cavity, use the hybrid approach. The hybrid approach is the most commonly used method in this study.</li>
		<li>Use the above three approaches flexibly and alternately, and start the separation from near to far, from simple to complex, and from loose tissues to adhered and dense tissues.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>
6. Adhesion separation and CBD exposure based on anatomical landmarks
<ol>
	<li>Parietal peritoneum and gastrointestinal serosa: Use noninvasive grasping forceps to clamp and pull the gastrointestinal tract adhering to the abdominal wall with appropriate traction tension, and separate and release the adhesions close to the parietal peritoneum and away from the gastrointestinal serosa.
	<ol>
		<li>Separate the loose adhesions with a blunt dissection or ultrasonic scalpel, and release the dense adhesions or adhesions involving intestines with scissors to avoid thermal damage (Figure 1).</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Hepatic round ligament: In patients with a history of biliary tract surgery, there are often mutual adhesions between the gastric antrum, duodenum, liver, and abdominal wall. Find the inferior liver margin by separating the adhesions upward along the hepatic round ligament, and expose the gastric antrum and the duodenum (Figure 2 and Figure 5).</li>
	<li>Inferior liver margin: After exposing the inferior liver margin through the hepatic round ligament, separate the adhesions downward along the visceral surface of the liver, and further expose the gastric antrum and the duodenum. Separate the adhesions at this location close to the liver, under the principle of injuring the liver rather than the gastrointestinal tract if injury is unavoidable (Figure 3, Figure 4, and Figure 5).</li>
	<li>Gastric antrum and duodenum: The gastric antrum and the first and second segments of the duodenum tend to move up and seal the first hepatic hilar region through adhesions. Separate the adhesions downward along the visceral surface of the liver from the inferior liver margin and expose the gastric antrum and duodenum. Then, lower the gastric antrum and duodenum to further expose the CBD (Figure 4, Figure 5, and Figure 6).</li>
	<li>Hepatic flexure of the colon: Separate the adhesions between the omentum, intestine, and abdominal wall of the right upper abdomen, and find the hepatic flexure of the colon. Separate and lower the hepatic flexure of the colon from the right inferior liver margin. Expose the CBD by separating the adhesions from the right subhepatic space to the omental foramen (Figure 3).</li>
</ol>
7. Sequential lithotomy
<ol>
	<li>Laparoscopic lithotomy with forceps: Push the lower segment of the CBD using noninvasive grasping forceps, and squeeze the large stones toward the incision of the CBD. Take out the stones directly using forceps.</li>
	<li>Laparoscopic lithotomy via blind basket extraction: Insert the stone basket into the CBD and open it. Then, pull the basket up and down repeatedly without choledochoscopic assistance. Take out the stones that cannot be squeezed toward the CBD incision via blind basket extraction, which substantially shortens the time of choledochoscopic lithotomy.</li>
	<li>Stone removal by flushing the CBD with saline: Insert a silicone tube into the CBD. Use a 50 mL syringe to inject saline into the CBD through the silicone tube and flush out the small stones.</li>
	<li>Choledochoscopic lithotomy: Insert the choledochoscope into the CBD, and continuously inject saline through the choledochoscope flushing channel. Put the stone extraction basket into the CBD through the instrument channel of the choledochoscope and open it, then take out the stones under the direct vision of the choledochoscope.</li>
	<li>Lithotripsy: According to the diameter of the CBD, insert the sheath of the nephroscope of appropriate size into the CBD through the abdominal puncture port. Then, insert the nephroscope into the common bile duct through the sheath, and continuously inject saline.
	<ol>
		<li>Perform pneumatic ballistic lithotripsy or holmium laser lithotripsy under the direct vision of the nephroscope.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>
8. T-tube indwelling or CBD primary suture
<ol>
	<li>Primary suture the CBD for patients with a definite effect after lithotomy, a CBD diameter of &#8805;10 mm, and no evident stenosis of the lower segment of the CBD.</li>
</ol>

<ol>
	<li>Kim, Y. J., Chung, W. C., Jo, I. H., Kim, J., Kim, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Efficacy+of+endoscopic+ultrasound+after+removal+of+common+bile+duct+stone.">Efficacy of endoscopic ultrasound after removal of common bile duct stone.</a> Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology. 54 (9), 1160-1165 (2019).</li><li>Poh, B. R., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Randomized+clinical+trial+of+intraoperative+endoscopic+retrograde+cholangiopancreatography+versus+laparoscopic+bile+duct+exploration+in+patients+with+choledocholithiasis.">Randomized clinical trial of intraoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography versus laparoscopic bile duct exploration in patients with choledocholithiasis.</a> The British Journal of Surgery. 103 (9), 1117-1124 (2016).</li><li>Bansal, V. K., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Single-stage+laparoscopic+common+bile+duct+exploration+and+cholecystectomy+versus+two-stage+endoscopic+stone+extraction+followed+by+laparoscopic+cholecystectomy+for+patients+with+concomitant+gallbladder+stones+and+common+bile+duct+stones:+a+randomized+controlled+trial.">Single-stage laparoscopic common bile duct exploration and cholecystectomy versus two-stage endoscopic stone extraction followed by laparoscopic cholecystectomy for patients with concomitant gallbladder stones and common bile duct stones: a randomized controlled trial.</a> Surgical Endoscopy. 28 (3), 875-885 (2014).</li><li>Wang, Y., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Laparoscopic+surgery+for+choledocholithiasis+concomitant+with+calculus+of+the+left+intrahepatic+duct+or+abdominal+adhesions.">Laparoscopic surgery for choledocholithiasis concomitant with calculus of the left intrahepatic duct or abdominal adhesions.</a> Surgical Endoscopy. 31 (11), 4780-4789 (2017).</li><li>Aawsaj, Y., Light, D., Horgan, L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Laparoscopic+common+bile+duct+exploration:+15-year+experience+in+a+district+general+hospital.">Laparoscopic common bile duct exploration: 15-year experience in a district general hospital.</a> Surgical Endoscopy. 30 (6), 2563-2566 (2016).</li><li>Li, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Laparoscopic+common+bile+duct+exploration+in+patients+with+previous+abdominal+biliary+tract+operations.">Laparoscopic common bile duct exploration in patients with previous abdominal biliary tract operations.</a> Surgical Endoscopy. 34 (4), 1551-1560 (2020).</li><li>Li, Q., Chen, L., Liu, S., Chen, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Comparison+of+laparoscopic+common+bile+duct+exploration+with+endoscopic+retrograde+cholangiopancreatography+for+common+bile+duct+stones+after+cholecystectomy.">Comparison of laparoscopic common bile duct exploration with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography for common bile duct stones after cholecystectomy.</a> Journal of Laparoendoscopic &amp; Advanced Surgical Techniques. Part A. 32 (9), 992-998 (2022).</li><li>Zhu, J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Laparoscopic+common+bile+duct+exploration+for+patients+with+a+history+of+prior+biliary+surgery:+a+comparative+study+with+an+open+approach.">Laparoscopic common bile duct exploration for patients with a history of prior biliary surgery: a comparative study with an open approach.</a> ANZ Journal of Surgery. 91 (3), E98-E103 (2021).</li><li>Singh, K., Ohri, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Anatomic+landmarks:+their+usefulness+in+safe+laparoscopic+cholecystectomy.">Anatomic landmarks: their usefulness in safe laparoscopic cholecystectomy.</a> Surgical Endoscopy. 20 (11), 1754-1758 (2006).</li><li>Liang, J., Ye, W., Li, J., Cao, M., Hu, Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Clinical+applied+anatomy+in+trans-areolar+endoscopic+thyroidectomy:+crucial+anatomical+landmarks.">Clinical applied anatomy in trans-areolar endoscopic thyroidectomy: crucial anatomical landmarks.</a> Journal of Laparoendoscopic &amp; Advanced Surgical Techniques. Part A. 30 (7), 803-809 (2020).</li><li>Jain, N., Srivastava, S., Bayya, S. L. P., Jain, V. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Jain+point+laparoscopic+entry+in+contraindications+of+Palmers+point.">Jain point laparoscopic entry in contraindications of Palmers point.</a> Frontiers in Surgery. 9, 928081 (2022).</li><li>Gui, L., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Laparoscopic+common+bile+duct+exploration+versus+open+approach+in+cirrhotic+patients+with+choledocholithiasis:+a+retrospective+study.">Laparoscopic common bile duct exploration versus open approach in cirrhotic patients with choledocholithiasis: a retrospective study.</a> Journal of Laparoendoscopic &amp; Advanced Surgical Techniques. Part A. 26 (12), 972-977 (2016).</li><li>Xia, H., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Surgical+strategy+for+recurrent+common+bile+duct+stones:+a+10-year+experience+of+a+single+center.">Surgical strategy for recurrent common bile duct stones: a 10-year experience of a single center.</a> Updates in Surgery. 73 (4), 1399-1406 (2021).</li><li>Phillips, E. H., Carroll, B. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=New+techniques+for+the+treatment+of+common+bile+duct+calculi+encountered+during+laparoscopic+cholecystectomy.">New techniques for the treatment of common bile duct calculi encountered during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.</a> Problems in General Surgery. 8 (3), 387-394 (1991).</li><li>Alkhamesi, N. A., Davies, W. T., Pinto, R. F., Schlachta, C. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Robot-assisted+common+bile+duct+exploration+as+an+option+for+complex+choledocholithiasis.">Robot-assisted common bile duct exploration as an option for complex choledocholithiasis.</a> Surgical Endoscopy. 27 (1), 263-266 (2013).</li><li>Ye, C., Zhou, W., Zhang, H., Miao, L., Lv, G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Alterations+of+the+bile+microbiome+in+recurrent+common+bile+duct+stone.">Alterations of the bile microbiome in recurrent common bile duct stone.</a> BioMed Research International. 2020, 4637560 (2020).</li><li>Goong, H. J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+role+of+endoscopic+biliary+drainage+without+sphincterotomy+in+gallstone+patients+with+cholangitis+and+suspected+common+bile+duct+stones+not+detected+by+cholangiogram+or+intraductal+ultrasonography.">The role of endoscopic biliary drainage without sphincterotomy in gallstone patients with cholangitis and suspected common bile duct stones not detected by cholangiogram or intraductal ultrasonography.</a> Gut and Liver. 11 (3), 434-439 (2017).</li><li>Zhen, W., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Primary+closure+versus+T-tube+drainage+following+laparoscopic+common+bile+duct+exploration+in+patients+with+previous+biliary+surgery.">Primary closure versus T-tube drainage following laparoscopic common bile duct exploration in patients with previous biliary surgery.</a> The American Surgeon. 87 (1), 50-55 (2021).</li><li>Zhang, K., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Primary+closure+following+laparoscopic+common+bile+duct+reexploration+for+the+patients+who+underwent+prior+biliary+operation.">Primary closure following laparoscopic common bile duct reexploration for the patients who underwent prior biliary operation.</a> The Indian Journal of Surgery. 78 (5), 364-370 (2016).</li><li>Wang, Y., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Efficacy+and+safety+of+laparoscopic+common+bile+duct+exploration+via+choledochotomy+with+primary+closure+for+the+management+of+acute+cholangitis+caused+by+common+bile+duct+stones.">Efficacy and safety of laparoscopic common bile duct exploration via choledochotomy with primary closure for the management of acute cholangitis caused by common bile duct stones.</a> Surgical Endoscopy. 36 (7), 4869-4877 (2022).</li><li>Zhu, T., Lin, H., Sun, J., Liu, C., Zhang, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Primary+duct+closure+versus+T-tube+drainage+after+laparoscopic+common+bile+duct+exploration:+a+meta-analysis.">Primary duct closure versus T-tube drainage after laparoscopic common bile duct exploration: a meta-analysis.</a> Journal of Zhejiang University. Science. B. 22 (12), 985-1001 (2021).</li></ol>

The authors have nothing to disclose.

The most common cause of choledocholithiasis is stones falling into the CBD through the gallbladder, while some CBD stones can origin from the CBD itself1. The incidence rate of choledocholithiasis in patients after cholecystectomy is 10%-18%, and 4%-24% of patients with choledocholithiasis have recurrence after the first lithotomy and often require repeated surgery(ies)12,13. Since the first application of LCBDE in 1991, it has been prove...

Choledocholithiasis is one of the most common biliary tract diseases, with a high recurrence rate1. Because recurrent choledocholithiasis often involves multiple stones, coupled with the fact that endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)/endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) may damage the function of Oddi&#39;s sphincter as well as cause repeated retrograde biliary tract infections, patients with recurrent choledocholithiasis often require two or more surgical operations2.
With the popularization of minimally invasive surgery and the advancement of laparoscopic techniques, laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LCBDE) has been widely used in clinical practice, thanks to such advantages as minimal trauma, rapid recovery, and preservation of the function of Oddi&#39;s sphincter3. Abdominal adhesions in patients with recurrent choledocholithiasis lead to changes in anatomical structure, so these patients are susceptible to a secondary injury in a subsequent bile duct exploration. Therefore, abdominal adhesions have been considered a contraindication of laparoscopic surgery4,5. With further technological development, LCBDE has been preliminarily confirmed to be feasible in patients with a history of biliary tract surgery6,7,8.
However, relevant studies have been limited, and more in-depth research into this surgical technique is still needed. Programmed operations for LCBDE are often lacking, especially for patients with extensive abdominal adhesions. Based on this situation, the present study aims to develop a programmed procedure by investigating the surgical approaches and anatomical landmarks of LCBDE in patients with a history of biliary tract surgery. A programmed operation based on surgical approaches and anatomical landmarks can help to shorten the operation, reduce complications, and improve surgical safety9,10.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Electronic choledochoscope</td>
			<td>Olympus</td>
			<td>CHF-V</td>
			<td>/</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Harmonic scalpel</td>
			<td>Ethcion</td>
			<td>HAR36</td>
			<td>/</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Stone basket</td>
			<td>Cook</td>
			<td>NTSE-045065-UDH</td>
			<td>/</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

laparoscopic common bile duct exploration in patients with a previous history of biliary tract surgery

For recurrent choledocholithiasis, abdominal adhesions in previous surgeries lead to changes in anatomical structures, and a secondary injury occurs easily when performing another operation for laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LCBDE), which was once considered a relative contraindication. In view of the limitations of the current surgical technique, this study summarized the surgical approaches and crucial anatomical landmarks for reoperation for LCBDE. Four general surgical approaches were proposed to expose the common bile duct, including the ligamentum teres hepatis approach, the anterior hepatic duodenal ligament approach, the right hepatic duodenal ligament approach, and the hybrid approach. Additionally, this study highlighted seven crucial anatomical landmarks: the parietal peritoneum, the gastrointestinal serosa, the ligamentum teres hepatis, the inferior margin of the liver, the gastric antrum, the duodenum, and the hepatic flexure of the colon, which were helpful to safely separate abdominal adhesions and expose the common bile duct. Moreover, to shorten the time of choledocholithotomy, a sequential method was innovatively applied for the removal of the stones in common bile duct. Mastering the above surgical approaches, including identifying crucial anatomical landmarks and adopting the sequential method will improve the safety of reoperation for LCBDE, shorten the operation time, promote the fast recovery of patients, reduce postoperative complications, and contribute to the popularization and application of this technique.

This study included 177 patients (mean age: 61.74 &#177; 5.97 years), including 79 males and 98 females. A total of 69 patients had a history of open cholecystectomy (OC); 36 patients had a history of OC and open common bile duct exploration (OCBDE); eight patients had a history of OC, OCBDE, and left lobe hepatectomy (LLH); three patients had a history of OC, OCBDE, and choledochojejunostomy; 42 patients had a history of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC); seven patients had a history of LC and LCBDE; and 12 patients had...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Laparoscopic Common Bile Duct Exploration in Patients with a Previous History of Biliary Tract Surgery at JoVE.com

Laparoscopic Common Bile Duct Exploration in Patients with a Previous History of Biliary Tract Surgery

Programmed surgery based on surgical methods and anatomical markers helps shorten the operation time, reduce complications, and improve the safety of the surgery. This study investigated and summarized the surgical methods and anatomic markers of laparoscopic common bile duct exploration in patients with a history of biliary tract surgery.

For recurrent choledocholithiasis, abdominal adhesions in previous surgeries lead to changes in anatomical structures, and a secondary injury occurs ...

laparoscopic-common-bile-duct-exploration-patients-with-previous

Research

JoVE Journal

Medicine

1.6K Views.  Jinan University. Programmed surgery based on surgical methods and anatomical markers helps shorten the operation time, reduce complications, and improve the safety of the surgery. This study investigated and summarized the surgical methods and anatomic markers of laparoscopic common bile duct exploration in patients with a history of biliary tract surgery.

Video: Laparoscopic Common Bile Duct Exploration in Patients with a Previous History of Biliary Tract Surgery

Sequencing of Bacterial Microflora in Peripheral Blood: our Experience with HIV-infected Patients

The healthy gastrointestinal tract is physiologically colonized by a large variety of commensal microbes that influence the development 
	of the humoral and cellular mucosal immune system1,2. 
 Microbiota is shielded from the immune system via a strong mucosal barrier. Infections and antibiotics are known to alter both the normal 
	gastrointestinal tract barrier and the composition of resident bacteria, which may result in possible immune abnormalities3.
HIV causes a breach in the gastrointestinal barrier with progressive failure of mucosal immunity and leakage into the systemic circulation of bacterial bioproducts, such as lipopolysaccharide and 
	bacterial DNA fragments, which contribute to systemic immune activation4-7. Microbial translocation is implicated in HIV/AIDS immunopathogenesis and response to therapy 4,8.
We aimed to characterise the composition of bacteria translocating in peripheral blood of HIV-infected patients. To pursue our aim we set up a PCR reaction for the panbacteric 16S ribosomial gene 
	followed by a sequencing analysis.
Briefly, whole blood from both HIV-infected and healthy subjects is used. Given that healthy individuals present normal intestinal homeostasis no translocation of microflora is expected in 
	these patients. Following whole blood collection by venipuncture and plasma separation, DNA is extracted from plasma and used to perform a broad range PCR reaction for the panbacteric 
	16S ribosomial gene9. Following PCR product purification, cloning and sequencing analyses are performed.

Our experiment will show how to perform a sequencing analysis of bacterial species translocating in peripheral blood of HIV positive patients.

The healthy gastrointestinal tract is physiologically colonized by a large variety of commensal microbes that influence the development 
	of the humoral ...

Training a Sophisticated Microsurgical Technique: Interposition of External Jugular Vein Graft in the Common Carotid Artery in Rats

Neointimal hyperplasia is one the primary causes of stenosis in arterialized veins that are of great importance in arterial coronary bypass surgery, in peripheral arterial bypass surgery as well as in arteriovenous fistulas.1-5 The experimental procedure of vein graft interposition in the common carotid artery by using the cuff-technique has been applied in several research projects to examine the aetiology of neointimal hyperplasia and therapeutic options to address it. 6-8 The cuff prevents vessel anastomotic remodeling and induces turbulence within the graft and thereby the development of neointimal hyperplasia.
Using the superior caval vein graft is an established small-animal model for venous arterialization experiment.9-11 This current protocol refers to an established jugular vein graft interposition technique first described by Zou et al., 9 as well as others.12-14 Nevertheless, these cited small animal protocols are complicated.
To simplify the procedure and to minimize the number of experimental animals needed, a detailed operation protocol by video training is presented. This video should help the novice surgeon to learn both the cuff-technique and the vein graft interposition. Hereby, the right external jugular vein was grafted in cuff-technique in the common carotid artery of 21 female Sprague Dawley rats categorized in three equal groups that were sacrificed on day 21, 42 and 84, respectively. Notably, no donor animals were needed, because auto-transplantations were performed. The survival rate was 100 % at the time point of sacrifice. In addition, the graft patency rate was 60 % for the first 10 operated animals and 82 % for the remaining 11 animals. The blood flow at the time of sacrifice was 8&plusmn;3 ml/min. In conclusion, this surgical protocol considerably simplifies, optimizes and standardizes this complicated procedure. It gives novice surgeons easy, step-by-step instruction, explaining possible pitfalls, thereby helping them to gain expertise fast and avoid useless sacrifice of experimental animals.

Neointimal hyperplasia is the primary cause of stenosis in arterialized veins. We propose a new protocol whereby the right external jugular vein is grafted using the cuff technique in the common carotid artery of Sprague Dawley rats. The survival rate was 100 % at the time point of sacrifice.

Neointimal hyperplasia is one the primary causes of stenosis in arterialized veins that are of great importance in arterial coronary bypass surgery, in ...

3-Dimensional Resin Casting and Imaging of Mouse Portal Vein or Intrahepatic Bile Duct System

In organs, the correct architecture of vascular and ductal structures is indispensable for proper physiological function, and the formation and maintenance of these structures is a highly regulated process. The analysis of these complex, 3-dimensional structures has greatly depended on either 2-dimensional examination in section or on dye injection studies. These techniques, however, are not able to provide a complete and quantifiable representation of the ductal or vascular structures they are intended to elucidate. Alternatively, the nature of 3-dimensional plastic resin casts generates a permanent snapshot of the system and is a novel and widely useful technique for visualizing and quantifying 3-dimensional structures and networks.
A crucial advantage of the resin casting system is the ability to determine the intact and connected, or communicating, structure of a blood vessel or duct. The structure of vascular and ductal networks are crucial for organ function, and this technique has the potential to aid study of vascular and ductal networks in several ways. Resin casting may be used to analyze normal morphology and functional architecture of a luminal structure, identify developmental morphogenetic changes, and uncover morphological differences in tissue architecture between normal and disease states. Previous work has utilized resin casting to study, for example, architectural and functional defects within the mouse intrahepatic bile duct system that were not reflected in 2-dimensional analysis of the structure1,2, alterations in brain vasculature of a Alzheimer's disease mouse model3, portal vein abnormalities in portal hypertensive and cirrhotic mice4, developmental steps in rat lymphatic maturation between immature and adult lungs5, immediate microvascular changes in the rat liver, pancreas, and kidney in response in to chemical injury6.
Here we present a method of generating a 3-dimensional resin cast of a mouse vascular or ductal network, focusing specifically on the portal vein and intrahepatic bile duct. These casts can be visualized by clearing or macerating the tissue and can then be analyzed. This technique can be applied to virtually any vascular or ductal system and would be directly applicable to any study inquiring into the development, function, maintenance, or injury of a 3-dimensional ductal or vascular structure.

A method of visualizing and quantifying the 3-dimensional structure of mouse hepatic portal vein or intrahepatic bile duct is described. This resin cast technique can also be applied to other ductal or vascular systems and allows for in situ visualization or quantification of a system's intact communicating architecture.

In  organs, the correct architecture of vascular and ductal structures is  indispensable for proper physiological function, and the formation and  ...

Surgical Procedures for a Rat Model of Partial Orthotopic Liver Transplantation with Hepatic Arterial Reconstruction

Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) in rats using a whole or partial graft is an indispensable experimental model for transplantation research, such as studies on graft preservation and ischemia-reperfusion injury 1,2, immunological responses 3,4, hemodynamics 5,6, and small-for-size syndrome 7. The rat OLT is among the most difficult animal models in experimental surgery and demands advanced microsurgical skills that take a long time to learn. Consequently, the use of this model has been limited. Since the reliability and reproducibility of results are key components of the experiments in which such complex animal models are used, it is essential for surgeons who are involved in rat OLT to be trained in well-standardized and sophisticated procedures for this model.
While various techniques and modifications of OLT in rats have been reported 8 since the first model was described by Lee et al. 9 in 1973, the elimination of the hepatic arterial reconstruction 10 and the introduction of the cuff anastomosis technique by Kamada et al. 11 were a major advancement in this model, because they simplified the reconstruction procedures to a great degree. In the model by Kamada et al., the hepatic rearterialization was also eliminated. Since rats could survive without hepatic arterial flow after liver transplantation, there was considerable controversy over the value of hepatic arterialization. However, the physiological superiority of the arterialized model has been increasingly acknowledged, especially in terms of preserving the bile duct system 8,12 and the liver integrity 8,13,14.
In this article, we present detailed surgical procedures for a rat model of OLT with hepatic arterial reconstruction using a 50% partial graft after ex vivo liver resection. The reconstruction procedures for each vessel and the bile duct are performed by the following methods: a 7-0 polypropylene continuous suture for the supra- and infrahepatic vena cava; a cuff technique for the portal vein; and a stent technique for the hepatic artery and the bile duct.

Orthotopic liver transplantation in rats is an indispensable experimental model for biomedical research. Here we present our surgical procedures for orthotopic rat liver transplantation with hepatic arterial reconstruction using a 50% partial graft.

Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) in rats using a whole or partial graft is an indispensable experimental model for transplantation research, such as ...

Computerized Dynamic Posturography for Postural Control Assessment in Patients with Intermittent Claudication

Computerized dynamic posturography with the EquiTest is an objective technique for measuring postural strategies under challenging static and dynamic conditions. As part of a diagnostic assessment, the early detection of postural deficits is important so that appropriate and targeted interventions can be prescribed. The Sensory Organization Test (SOT) on the EquiTest determines an individual&#39;s use of the sensory systems (somatosensory, visual, and vestibular) that are responsible for postural control. Somatosensory and visual input are altered by the calibrated sway-referenced support surface and visual surround, which move in the anterior-posterior direction in response to the individual&#39;s postural sway. This creates a conflicting sensory experience. The Motor Control Test (MCT) challenges postural control by creating unexpected postural disturbances in the form of backwards and forwards translations. The translations are graded in magnitude and the time to recover from the perturbation is computed.
Intermittent claudication, the most common symptom of peripheral arterial disease, is characterized by a cramping pain in the lower limbs and caused by muscle ischemia secondary to reduced blood flow to working muscles during physical exertion. Claudicants often display poor balance, making them susceptible to falls and activity avoidance. The Ankle Brachial Pressure Index (ABPI) is a noninvasive method for indicating the presence of peripheral arterial disease and intermittent claudication, a common symptom in the lower extremities. ABPI is measured as the highest systolic pressure from either the dorsalis pedis or posterior tibial artery divided by the highest brachial artery systolic pressure from either arm. This paper will focus on the use of computerized dynamic posturography in the assessment of balance in claudicants.

Individuals with intermittent claudication exhibit poor balance compared to healthy controls. Computerized dynamic posturography is an objective method for measuring an individual's postural responses to balance disturbances. This provides an objective reflection of the person&#x2019;s ability to respond to situations under which sensory stimuli are altered and unexpected perturbations occur.

Computerized dynamic posturography with the EquiTest is an objective technique for measuring postural strategies under challenging static and dynamic ...

Bile Duct Ligation in Mice: Induction of Inflammatory Liver Injury and Fibrosis by Obstructive Cholestasis

In most vertebrates, the liver produces bile that is necessary to emulsify absorbed fats and enable the digestion of lipids in the small intestine as well as to excrete bilirubin and other metabolic products. In the liver, the experimental obstruction of the extrahepatic biliary system initiates a complex cascade of pathological events that leads to cholestasis and inflammation resulting in a strong fibrotic reaction originating from the periportal fields. Therefore, surgical ligation of the common bile duct has become the most commonly used model to induce obstructive cholestatic injury in rodents and to study the molecular and cellular events that underlie these pathophysiological mechanisms induced by inappropriate bile flow. In recent years, different surgical techniques have been described that either allow reconnection or reanastomosis after bile duct ligation (BDL), e.g., partial BDL, or other microsurgical methods for specific research questions. However, the most frequently used model is the complete obstruction of the common bile duct that induces a strong fibrotic response after 21 to 28 days. The mortality rate can be high due to infectious complications or technical inaccuracies. Here we provide a detailed surgical procedure for the BDL model in mice that induce a highly reproducible fibrotic response in accordance to the 3R rule for animal welfare postulated by Russel and Burch in 1959.

Disruption of bile flow results in severe inflammatory cholestatic liver injury with a characteristic time-dependent sequence of morphological alterations. Here we present a protocol for the surgical ligation of the common bile duct in mice that allows to induce a strong fibrotic response after 21 to 28 days.

In most vertebrates, the liver produces bile that is necessary to emulsify absorbed fats and enable the digestion of lipids in the small intestine as well ...

Intraoperative Gastroscopy for Tumor Localization in Laparoscopic Surgery for Gastric Adenocarcinoma

Determining resection margins for gastric cancer, which are not exposed to the serosal surface of the stomach, is the most important procedure during totally laparoscopic gastrectomy (TLG). The aim of this protocol is to introduce a procedure for intraoperative gastroscopy, in order to directly mark tumors during TLG for gastric cancer in the middle third of the stomach. Patients who were diagnosed with adenocarcinoma in the middle third of the stomach were enrolled in this case series. Before surgery, additional gastroscopy for tumor localization is not performed. Under general anesthesia, laparoscopic mobilization of the stomach is performed first. After the first portion of the duodenum is mobilized from the pancreas and clamped, the surgeon moves to the other side for the gastroscopic procedure. On the insertion of a gastroscope through the oral cavity into the stomach, 2 - 3 cc of indigo carmine is administered via an endoscopic injector into the gastric muscle layer at the proximal margin of the stomach. The location of stained serosa in the laparoscopic view is used to guide distal subtotal gastrectomy, however, total gastrectomy is performed if the tumor is too close to the esophagogastric junction. A specimen is sampled after distal gastrectomy to confirm sufficient length from resection margin to tumor before reconstruction. In our case series, all patients had tumor-free margins and required no additional resection. There was no morbidity related to the gastroscopic procedure, and the time required for the procedure has gradually decreased to about five minutes. Intraoperative gastroscopy for tumor localization is an accurate and tolerated method for gastric cancer patients undergoing totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy.

In early gastric cancer, the aim of surgery is to precisely remove the distal stomach including the primary tumor. To do this, accurate localization of the tumor is crucial, especially in totally laparoscopic surgery. This protocol describes a procedure for intraoperative gastroscopy in totally laparoscopic subtotal gastrectomy.

Determining resection margins for gastric cancer, which are not exposed to the serosal surface of the stomach, is the most important procedure during ...

A Quantitative Sensory Testing Paradigm to Obtain Measures of Pain Processing in Patients Undergoing Breast Cancer Surgery

Chronic pain following surgery, persistent postsurgical pain, is an important highly prevalent condition contributing to significant symptom burden and lower quality of life. Persistent postsurgical pain is relatively refractory to treatment hence generating a high need for preventive strategies and treatments. Therefore, the identification of patients at risk of developing persistent pain is an area of active ongoing research. Recently it was demonstrated that peri-operative disruptions in central pain processing may be able to predict persistent postsurgical pain at long term follow-up in breast cancer patients. The aim of the current report is to present a short protocol to obtain pain thresholds to different stimuli at multiple sites and a measure of endogenous analgesia in breast cancer patients. We have used this method successfully in a clinical context and detail some representative results from a clinical study.

Persistent postsurgical pain may be related to changes in pain processing. By assessing pain in response to standardized stimuli, changes in pain processing can be elucidated. We present methods to obtain pain thresholds to different stimuli and a measure of endogenous analgesia in patients undergoing breast cancer surgery.

Chronic pain following surgery, persistent postsurgical pain, is an important highly prevalent condition contributing to significant symptom burden and ...

A Mouse Model for Chronic Pancreatitis via Bile Duct TNBS Infusion

Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a complex disease involving pancreatic inflammation and fibrosis, glandular atrophy, abdominal pain and other symptoms. Several rodent models have been developed to study CP, of which the bile duct 2,4,6 -trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) infusion model replicates the features of neuropathic pain seen in CP. However, bile duct drug infusion in mice is technically challenging. This protocol demonstrates the procedure of bile duct TNBS infusion for generation of a CP mouse model. TNBS was infused into the pancreas through the ampulla of Vater in the duodenum. This protocol optimized drug volume, surgical techniques, and drug handling during the procedure. TNBS-treated mice showed features of CP as reflected by bodyweight and pancreas weight reductions, changes in pain-associated behaviors, and abnormal pancreatic morphology. With these improvements, mortality associated with TNBS injection was minimal. This procedure is not only critical in generating pancreatic disease models but is also useful in local pancreatic drug delivery.

Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a disease characterized by inflammation and fibrosis of the pancreas, often associated with intractable abdominal pain. This article focuses on refining the technique to generate a mouse model of CP via bile duct infusion with 2,4,6 -trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS).

Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a complex disease involving pancreatic inflammation and fibrosis, glandular atrophy, abdominal pain and other symptoms. ...

Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Biliary Drainage: Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Hepaticogastrostomy in Malignant Biliary Obstruction

Patients with unresectable malignant biliary obstruction often require biliary drainage to decompress the biliary system. Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is the primary biliary drainage method whenever possible. Percutaneous Transhepatic Biliary Drainage (PTBD) is used as a salvage method if ERCP fails. Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Biliary Drainage (EUS-BD) provides a feasible alternative biliary drainage method where one of the methods is EUS guided Hepaticogastrostomy (EUS-HGS). Here we describe the EUS-HGS technique in a case of unresectable malignant hilar biliary obstruction to achieve biliary drainage.
Presented here is the case of a 71-year-old female with painless jaundice and weight loss for 2 weeks. Computed Tomography (CT) imaging showed a 4 x 5 cm hilar tumor with lymphadenopathy and liver metastasis. EUS fine needle biopsy (FNB) of the lesion was consistent with cholangiocarcinoma. Her bilirubin levels were 212 &#181;mol/L (&lt;15) during presentation.
A linear echoendoscope was used to locate the left dilated intrahepatic ducts (IHD) of the liver. The segment 3 dilated IHD was identified and punctured using a 19 G needle. Contrast was used to opacify the IHDs under fluoroscopic guidance. The IHD was cannulated using a 0.025-inch guidewire. This was followed by the dilation of the fistula tract using a 6 Fr electrocautery dilator along with a 4 mm biliary balloon dilator. A partially covered metallic stent of 10 cm in length was deployed under fluoroscopic guidance. The distal part opens in the IHD and the proximal part was deployed within the working channel of the echoendoscope that subsequently released into the stomach. The patient was discharged three days after the procedure. Follow up performed in the second and fourth weeks showed that the bilirubin levels were 30 &#181;mol/L and 14 &#181;mol/L, respectively. This indicates that EUS-HGS is a safe method for biliary drainage in unresectable malignant biliary obstruction.

Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Biliary Drainage (EUS-BD) is an alternative method of biliary decompression in malignant biliary obstruction. Here we describe the technique of EUS guided-Hepaticogastrostomy (EUS-HGS) in a case of unresectable malignant hilar biliary obstruction.