Innovative modification of the hepatic portoenterostomy. Our experience of treating biliary atresia

We modified conventional hepatic portoenterostomy by pulling the remnant fibrous mass caudally and placing 5 or 6 numbered and individually clamped absorbable 5-0 double-needle sutures horizontally in the liver surface of the posterior side of the remnant fibrous mass before excision and apposing the posterior and anterior margins of the hepatic portoenterostomy to resemble a flattened isosceles triangle. Our technique was used to treat 14 cases of biliary atresia. Good postoperative biliary excretion (serum total bilirubin, <2 mg/dL) was achieved in 13 (92.9%) of 14 patients.     

The ileocecal segment: an anti-reflux conduit for hepatic portoenterostomy.

This paper describes an approach to prevent reflux and ascending cholangitis after hepatic portoenterostomy for biliary atresia. The method utilizes the terminal ileum and right colon as the conduit and a Nisson-type plication to the area of the ileocecal valve. It was used in one patient.     

The Kasai operation (hepatic portoenterostomy) for biliary atresia--experience with 20 cases

Twenty infants have undergone hepatic portoenterostomy at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. Sigificant bile flow was obtained in six babies. No correlation was found between the size of the ducts in excised portal tissue and postoperative bile flow. Ascending cholangitis has not been a major problem. Progressive cirrhosis leading to portal hypertension is the main late problem in those patients who have had bile flow successfully reestablished.     

Anti-refluxing Roux-en-Y biliary drainage valve for hepatic portoenterostomy: animal experiments and clinical experience

In five dogs, we have created an anti-refluxing Roux en-Y jejunal anastomosis by removing the antimesenteric half of the seromusculature from five cm of the biliary limb proximal to the anastomosis prior to coating the gastric and biliary limbs. In the presence of increasing intraluminal pressure in the gastric and vertical limbs of the Y, the wall of the biliary limb collapses and occludes the lumen, acting as a nonrefluxing one-way valve. All three limbs of the Y were then exteriorized as enterostomies. Saline was instilled into either the gastric or distal limb with the other clamped. There was never reflux from the biliary limb despite intraluminal pressures of 200 mm Hg. We have used the anti-refluxing valve in seven infants. Three are alive at 17, 7, and 2 months postoperatively, one of which had a brief episode of fever without leukocytosis or increasing jaundice. Three have died of unresolved obstruction and one has been lost to follow-up.     

Robot-assisted minimally invasive Kasai portoenterostomy: a survival porcine study

Background Major enhancements offered by robotic surgery for minimally invasive procedure include tremor filtration, motion scaling, and the addition of a wrist to the instrument. Minor enhancements include indexing as well as safe and rapid instrument exchange. A benefit associated with any endoscopic procedure is magnification. It was hypothesized that these enhancements would allow the performance of complex gastrointestinal surgery.Methods Eight survival pigs (weight, 2.5–8 kg) underwent a robotically assisted minimally invasive portoenterostomy. The procedure was analogous to the Kasai portoenterostomy for biliary atresia usually performed for human patients at the age of 4 to 12 weeks.Results Five of the eight animals survived for more than 1 month after the operation, returning to normal eating and bowel habits in 2 to 3 days. None were jaundiced. All laboratory values were normal. At 1 month, the animals were killed. There was no anastomotic stenosis at either the end-to-side enteroenterostomy or the portoenterostomy. Histologically, the anastomoses were well healed.Conclusion Computer-assisted robot-enhanced technology allows complex gastrointestinal surgery to be performed using minimally invasive techniques.     

Stimulation of bile output by gastrointestinal hormones following portoenterostomy for biliary atresia

For biliary atresia portoenterostomy with externally draining conduit provides a model for quantitation of hepatic excretory function and for assessment of the physiologic response of the intrahepatic biliary system to gastrointestinal hormones in a human hepatopathologic condition. Four patients with biliary atresia were serially evaluated from 2 weeks to 43 months following total bile diverting portoenterostomy. A fifth patient with no bile flow provided a control for these studies. The pattern of Rose Bengal excretion for three patients with a satisfactory clinical course was different from that of a fourth patient with highly variable flow and persistent cholestasis. Marked volume and bicarbonate concentration increases in bile were noted 30 to 45 minutes after secretin infusion but only in the four patients with bile flow. The volume response to glucagon was more diffuse. Bilirubin and bile acid concentrations decreased in the stimulated bile flow periods and hourly outputs of these cholephils were not increased above basal. During two intervals of low bile output, secretin markedly increased bile flow in the patient with persistent cholestasis establishing the patency of the hepatoenteric anastomosis (functional obstruction) in contrast to the lack of secretin response in the control (structural obstruction).     

Evidence for segmental bile drainage by hepatic portoenterostomy for biliary atresia: Cholangiographic, hepatic venographic, and histologic evaluation of the liver taken at liver transplantation

Background

The result of hepatic portoenterostomy for biliary atresia (BA) has improved, but there are some patients who experience worsened liver function in the long term after one decrease in jaundice owing to portoenterostomy. However, the cause of the liver dysfunction in the long term has not been clearly ascertained.

Methods

Five patients (5 to 28 years of age) with BA underwent liver transplantation (LT) because of liver dysfunction after successful portoenterostomy. To clarify the cause of liver dysfunction occurring in the long term, the authors performed a cholangiogram, hepatic venogram, and macroscopic/microscopic examination of the liver just after LT.

Results

(1) Macroscopically, the liver could be divided into 3 areas, the hypertrophic, atrophic, and intermediate, with findings between those of the hypertrophic and atrophic areas. (2) The divided areas clearly corresponded to the liver segments. Segment IV was the hypertrophic area in all patients, but segments VI and VII were the atrophic areas in 4 of the 5 patients. (3) Based on the cholangiographic and microscopic findings, the hypertrophic area had near-normal structure with bile ducts. The atrophic area had severe fibrosis and contained only a few bile ducts in the intralobular spaces of liver.

Conclusions

It seems that segmental bile drainage must have been established by hepatic portoenterostomy in some patients and that some postoperative patients might have worsened liver function in the long-term follow-up period accompanied with progression of fibrosis and impaired bile drainage. These pathologic changes occur in each liver segment.     

Kasai portoenterostomy: 12-year experience with a novel adjuvant therapy regimen

Aim

The role of adjuvant therapy with corticosteroids and choleretics after Kasai portoenterostomy for biliary atresia (BA) remains uncertain. Experience with a novel postoperative adjuvant therapy regimen is reported.

Methods

Between 1994 and 2006, 71 infants with BA were referred. Four died from uncorrectable congenital heart disease/cardiorespiratory failure without undergoing portoenterostomy, 7 underwent primary liver transplantation (3 referred ≥19 weeks of age), and 60 underwent portoenterostomy at a median of 51 (10-104) days. Of these, 55 (92%) had type 3 BA and 6 had the BA splenic malformation syndrome. Fifty (83%) received the following adjuvant therapy beginning on postoperative day 5: oral dexamethasone 0.3 mg/kg bd for 5 days, 0.2 mg/kg bd for 5 days, and 0.1 mg/kg bd for 5 days together with oral ursodeoxycholic acid 5 mg/kg bd and phenobarbitone 5 mg/kg nocte, both of which were continued for 1 year. All infants received routine perioperative prophylactic antibiotics.

Results

Overall, 42 of 60 (70%) infants cleared their jaundice (bilirubin <20 μmol/L): 38 of 50 (76%) with the dexamethasone/ursodeoxycholic acid regimen compared with 4 of 10 (40%) not receiving this adjuvant treatment. There were 4 late deaths after portoenterostomy: 2 from associated congenital disorders and 2 after liver transplantation. Of the remaining 56 children, 39 (70%) are currently alive with their native liver at a median follow-up of 3.3 years and 17 are alive after liver transplantation. Surgical complications occurred in 3 after portoenterostomy: adhesive bowel obstruction (2) and an anastomotic leak. One infant had gastrointestinal bleeding that may have been related to dexamethasone, but this resolved with ranitidine. There were no perioperative septic complications.

Conclusion

In this series, adjuvant postoperative treatment with a short course of oral dexamethasone and longer-term ursodeoxycholic acid significantly improved the outcome after Kasai portoenterostomy.     

Effect of corticosteroid therapy on outcomes in biliary atresia after Kasai portoenterostomy

Purpose

This study tests the hypothesis that steroid administration improves the outcome of biliary atresia (BA) by evaluating the efficacy of postoperative steroid use on surgical outcomes in infants with BA.

Methods

Steroid use and outcomes in patients with BA were retrospectively analyzed at a tertiary pediatric hospital. Institutional review board approval was obtained.

Results

Kasai portoenterostomy (PE) was performed in 43 patients with BA treated from 1992 to 2004 (16 boys and 27 girls). Twenty-one PE patients received steroids and 22 did not. Portoenterostomy was successful in 24 patients (55.8%) with consistent serum bilirubin less than 2 mg/dL. Sixteen (66%) received postoperative steroids. A normal postoperative bilirubin was achieved at 6 months in 16 (76%) of 21 patients with steroids compared with 8 (37%) of 22 in untreated controls (Fisher's Exact test, P = .01). Of the 43 patients, 19 (44%) required liver transplantation, including 7 (37%) of 19 with steroids vs 12 (63%) of 19 without (P = .2). Twenty-eight infants developed cholangitis (fever with and without changes in hepatic function): 25 after PE and 3 after transplant. Of the 25, 12 (48%) received steroids. Seven died (16%) (range, 7 months to 4 years): 2 while awaiting transplantation (received steroids) and 5 after transplantation (1 received steroids and 4 were untreated). Survival was 86% (18/21) in patients with steroids and 82% (18/22) in those without. Transplant survival (74%) was comparable to previously reported historical controls (82%).

Conclusions

The Kasai PE continues to be the procedure of choice in infants with BA younger than 3 months. A significantly improved clearance of postoperative jaundice and lower serum bilirubin levels were observed in patients receiving steroids. However, steroids had no effect on the incidence of cholangitis, need for liver transplantation, and overall survival. A prospective study with standardized dose and length of steroid administration and longer period of follow-up is necessary to more accurately assess the effectiveness of steroids after PE.     

The Kasai portoenterostomy for biliary atresia: A review of a 27-year experience with 81 patients

Purpose

The aim of this study was to utilize clinical outcome methodology through multivariable analysis of perioperative factors to predict a successful Kasai-portoenterostomy (PE).

Methods

Records of 81 patients treated for biliary atresia (BA) were reviewed. Outcome was defined as successful if the patient was alive and had no liver transplant (LT). To predict future successful or failed PE, patients were categorized at 6 months post-PE into 2 groups: Success: direct bilirubin (DB) less than 2.0 mg/dL; Failure: DB greater than 2 mg/dL, or the patient was listed/had undergone LT, or had died. Groups were analyzed for positive or negative predictive values (PPV, NPV) at 2 and 5 years after PE. Cox regression was used to determine risk factors for PE.

Results

PE was successful in 38% and failed in 62%. PPV of future success was 96% at 2 years post-PE and 95% at 5 years post-PE, NPV of failure was 76% and 74%, respectively. Bridging liver fibrosis at the time of PE and postoperative cholangitic episodes were interdependent risk factors for a failed PE (P < .05). Other covariates showed no significant relationship for PE outcome.

Conclusion

Classifying of patients 6 months postoperatively allowed us to determine a successful PE outcome. Bridging liver fibrosis at the time of the Kasai, and the increased number of postoperative cholangitic episodes were predictive of a poor PE outcome.     

Hepatobiliary scintigraphy after hepatic portoenterostomy

Hepatobiliary scintigraphy with 99mTc-E-HIDA was carried out in 10 patients who had undergone hepatic portoenterostomy for "non-correctable" biliary atresia. In all the patients there was an active bile flow and disappearance of jaundice, post-operatively. Elimination of 99mTc-E-HIDA from the liver was slow during the first 3 post-operative months despite active bile flow and disappearance of jaundice. The elimination rate of the radioactive agent from the liver in most long-term survivors was comparable with findings in controls.     

Peri-Kasai portoenterostomy sutures anchoring the jejunal loop to Glisson capsule: A novel modification to reduce the incidence of cholangitis

BackgroundKasai portoenterostomy (KPE) is the standard surgical management for biliary atresia (BA). To improve the outcome these infants were operated on within the first two months of life. The success of the procedure is reflected by clearance of jaundice and either absence or occurrence of fewer attacks of cholangitis. The failure of the procedure indicates liver transplantation (LT).Objectiveto reduce the incidence of the recurrent attacks of cholangitis by peri-KPE sutures anchoring the jejunal loop to the Glisson capsule.MethodsIt is a retrospective study that included 45 infants diagnosed with BA and who were operated on at an age younger than 60 days. They were categorized into two groups, Group A (n = 23) included infants treated with the classic KPE, and Group B (n = 22) included infants treated in the same way plus peri KPE sutures anchoring the jejunal loop to the Glisson capsule.ResultsThe mean operative time in Group A was 149.3 min versus 164.8 min in Group B (p-value 0.039). The mean level of bilirubin was 2.2 versus 2.1 in Group A and Group B respectively at two years follow up. The total attacks of cholangitis per patient were significantly lower in Group B than in Group A (cutoff value = 3), which was reflected by the significant reduction of the incidence of LT in Group B.Conclusionperi KPE sutures anchoring the jejunal loop to the Glisson capsule significantly reduced the incidence of recurrent attacks of cholangitis and subsequently decreased the requirement of LT on the short-term follow-up.     

Biliary lipid excretion after hepatic portoenterostomy.

Since 1974, 16 consecutive infants with biliary atresia have been treated by hepatic portoenterostomy employing an exteriorized Roux-en-Y intestinal segment (Miluliez). Simultaneous, sequential analyses of bile pigments and lipids in serum and biliary drainage were performed. In the 11 patients with sustained bile drainage, progressive increases in bile volume, bilirubin and biliary lipid concentrations correlated well with their subsequent return toward normal in the serum. Despite relief of biliary obstruction, four patients have had progressive liver cirrhosis. The other 7 have residual liver damage which has been stable, or in two instances, improved, at late biopsy. The clinical and biochemical results suggest that both obstructive and parenchymal factors are operative in infants with biliary atresia.     

肝卵圆细胞分化过程中SDF-1／CXCR4生物轴的作用研究

目的探讨肝卵圆细胞的激活、增殖和分化过程中基质细胞衍生因子（stromal cell—deftvedfactor-1，SDF-1）及其受体（CXCR4）生物轴的作用机制。方法在三个对照组（2／3肝部分切除组；2/3肝部分切除组及AMD3100预处理组、2/3部分肝切除与二乙酰氨基芴和AMD3100预处理组）的参照下。用光镜与透射电镜观察观察雄性Wistar大鼠经2／3部分肝切除十二乙酰氨基芴预处理后不同时间（术后3，5，7，10，14，21d）肝卵圆细胞的数量、形态和分布变化，采用sP免疫组化法检测卵圆细胞CK18、CK19、AFP、CXCR4和SDF-1的表达，用RT-PCR方法测定SDF-1和CXCR4 mRNA表达水平。结果2-AAF／PH组术后3～10d，CK18、CK19、AFP、ADF-1和CXCR4表达阳性的细胞数量逐渐增加，CXCR4和SDF-1阳性表达见于汇管区附近肝小叶内增生的终末小胆管上皮细胞，以及与增生的胆管／终末小胆管在位置上相延续且形态相类似的卵圆细胞；术后10～14d，CKl8、CK19、AFP、ADF-1和CXCR4阳性细胞数达到最高值；之后，开始下降，至21d则下降至最低水平。自术后3dR，SDF-1和CXCR4mRNA表达水平同步升高，10d升高至峰值，较术后3，5，7d差异均有统计学意义（P均〈0．01），之后开始下降，至21d则下降到最低水平。结论SDF-1／CXCR4生物轴可能有刺激肝干细胞的活化和促进肝卵圆细胞的增殖作用，趋化因子SDF-1及其受体CXCR4可能是肝卵圆细胞的重要标志物。     

Hepatolithiasis after hepatic portoenterostomy for biliary atresia

Background

Hepatolithiasis after hepatic portoenterostomy for biliary atresia has been paid little attention, with only 22 reported cases.

Patients and Methods

Fifteen patients underwent living-related liver transplantation for biliary atresia after hepatic portoenterostomy in our hospital between 1998 and 2004. The resected livers were examined for the existence and location of hepatolithiasis, composition of the calculi, and bacterial infection of bile. The relation between a history of cholangitis and the presence of hepatolithiasis was analyzed.

Results

Intrahepatic calculi were found in 8 (53%) of 15 patients. The calculi consisted of almost 100% calcium bilirubinate. Calculi were found in bile lakes in 8 patients. Bacteria were present in the bile in 8 (53%) of the 15 patients. Of the 8 patients, 7 (88%) had a history of ascending cholangitis.

Conclusions

Hepatolithiasis occurs after hepatic portoenterostomy for biliary atresia more frequently than previously thought. Bile stasis and possibly bile infection are the main causes of calculi formation.     

Kasai portoenterostomy--new insights from hepatic morphology

Background/Purpose

The aim of this paper was to investigate the mechanism of long-term biliary drainage after Kasai portoenterostomy by clinicopathologic study of hepatic morphology in explanted livers.

Methods

Explanted livers from 13 consecutive children undergoing transplantation for biliary atresia were examined in detail using a standardized protocol. Group 1 (n = 6) had no Kasai procedure before transplantation at a median age of 8 m. Group 2 (n = 4) were transplanted at a median age of 10 m after a failed Kasai portoenterostomy. Group 3 (n = 3) had a successful Kasai but required transplantation for complications of chronic liver disease at 12-14 years. Pathology findings were correlated with hepatic morphology determined by pretransplant magnetic resonance imaging.

Results

Large perihilar regenerative nodules (8-14 cm diameter) were observed in 2 patients after successful Kasai portoenterostomy, less well-defined perihilar nodules in group 2 patients, and no regenerative nodules in group 1. Microscopically, group 1 had diffuse biliary cirrhosis with evidence of progressive ductopenia during infancy. In group 2, perihilar regenerative nodules showed variable portal fibrosis but no cirrhosis and bile ducts were present with 68%-100% of hepatic arteries; in peripheral cirrhotic areas, bile ducts were absent in patients older than 9 m. The perihilar regenerative nodules in group 3 patients had a noncirrhotic architecture with preserved bile ducts, but the peripheral parenchyma was cirrhotic; one patient had diffuse macronodular cirrhosis. These morphologic findings correlated well with magnetic resonance images, highlighting the preservation of relatively normal perihilar liver architecture after successful Kasai portoenterostomy.

Conclusions

Unoperated biliary atresia is associated with progressive intrahepatic ductopenia leading to diffuse biliary cirrhosis. Kasai portoenterostomy can result in the growth of large perihilar regenerative nodules, probably as a consequence of surviving intrahepatic ducts in this region. In some patients, long-term success after Kasai portoenterostomy may depend on hyperplasia of the perihilar liver.     

肝星状细胞在肝脏疾病中的作用

肝星状细胞（HSC）是肝脏内重要的非实质细胞之一,可分泌、释放多种胶原纤维和细胞骨架蛋白参与肝脏疾病的病理生理过程。正常状态下,HSC通过调节细胞外基质蛋白的合成和降解维持肝脏正常的组织结构;肝脏损伤时,HSC被激活,活化的HSC导致细胞外基质的增加是肝纤维化形成并最终导致肝硬化、肝衰竭的主要原因。因此,深入研究HSC在肝脏疾病发生与发展中的作用和机制,并研究与HSC相关的治疗策略,对于提高患者生存率具有一定意义。