OBJECTIVES: Several advances in the diagnosis, therapy and palliation of patients affected by malignant biliary obstruction have occurred during the last decades. Unresectable malignant biliary obstruction has usually been treated by percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) versus metallic biliary drainage (MBD). The optimal management of complications after biliary drainage is still an unresolved problem. To compare the complications of malignant biliary obstruction after PTBD and MBD. METHODS: We enrolled 51 patients of malignant biliary obstruction after biliary drainage. The clinical characteristics and complications of each groups were assessed and compared. RESULTS: The complications after biliary drainage of MBD are lower than those of PTBD (59.1% vs 82.8%, P = 0.06, respectively). Patients with PTBD tended to have a shorter event of complication time compared to MBD patients (2.9 months vs 7.1 months, P < 0.01). Patients with older age in PTBD tended to have a longer event of complication time compared to younger patients (4.6 months vs 2.3 months, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The method of biliary drainage in malignant biliary obstruction have statistically significant impact on the complication time. The clinical efficacy of metallic stent in patients with malignant biliary obstruction is better than that of PTBD.
Dioxolanes ; Drainage ; Fluorocarbons ; Humans ; Radiography, Interventional ; Stents

PURPOSE: Laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LCBDE) has more advantages than conventional common bile duct surgery, but the use of this route for stone removal and biliary drainage remains controversial. The goal of this study was to investigate the usefulness of LCBDE in patients who had been failed in the endoscopic stone extraction. METHODS: From November 2005 to August 2008, 52 patients underwent LCBDE due to failure of endoscopic stone extraction in Chungnam National University Hospital. Clinical data were collected and analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Duodenal diverticulum (23 cases, 44.2%) was the most common cause in failure of endoscopic stone extraction and large common bile duct stone 12 cases (23.1%), previous upper gastrointestinal operation 10 cases (19.2%) were followed. Twenty four patients did not have preoperative biliary drainage, such as PTBD, ENBD, PTGBD. Forty-five patients (86.5%) of the 52 participating patients underwent LCBDE successfully, but 7 cases resulted in open surgery for the following reasons: 3 cases of severe intraabdominal adhesions, 3 cases of stone impaction in ampulla portion, and 1 case of a remnant stone. External biliary drainage was performed in 41 cases with T-tube (31 cases, 68.9%), PTBD (7 cases, 15.6%), ENBD (3 cases, 6.7%). The stone clearance of LCBDE was 95.6%. Remnant stone weredetected in 2 cases (4.4%) and removed with choledochoscope via external biliary drain. Postoperative complications happened in 5 cases (9.5%). Procedure related complications happened in 2 cases (3.8%). CONCLUSION: LCBDE is useful technique in patients with failed endoscopic stone extraction, and biliary drainage may be necessary for detection and removal of latent remnant CBD stones.
Common Bile Duct ; Dioxolanes ; Diverticulum ; Drainage ; Fluorocarbons ; Humans ; Postoperative Complications

PURPOSE: T-tube is a major procedure that prevents complication by biliary decompression, but which is accompanied by complications. Therefore, several procedures such as ENBD, PTBD, and antegrade biliary stent have been attempted, but with controversies as to which procedure is superior. Also, there are no standard procedures after laparoscopic CBD exploration. We performed this study to ascertain the most appropriate biliary drainage procedure after laparoscopic CBD exploration. METHODS: From March 2001 to December 2009, 121 patients who underwent Laparoscopic CBD exploration in Gunyang University were included for retrospective analysis. The patients were divided to 4 groups according to type of procedure, and we compared clinical parameters including age and gender, operation time, hospital stay, start of post-operative diet, and complications. RESULTS: There was no difference in age, gender, mean operation time, postoperative diet between the 4 groups. Hospital stay in the Stent group was shorter than T-tube group. There were 10 (7%) complications that occurred. Two 2 occurred in the T-tube, 3 in PTBD, and 5 in the Antegrade stent group. There were more complications in Stent group but no significant statistical difference. In 5 cases with remnant CBD stone, a total of 4 (3 PTBD, 1 Stent) was performed by endoscopic CBD stone removal. One T-tube case was removed easily by choledochoscopy through the T-tube. Three migrated and the impacted stents were removed by additional endoscopy. Perioperative biliary leakage (1) and peritonitis (1) post t-tube removal were resolved by conservative treatment. CONCLUSION: T-tube appears to be an appropriate method to patients who are suspected to have remnant CBD stones. Multiple procedures may be performed on a case by case basis such as performing PTBD first in a suspected cholangitis patient.
Bile ; Cholangitis ; Decompression ; Diet ; Dioxolanes ; Drainage ; Endoscopy ; Fluorocarbons ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Peritonitis ; Retrospective Studies ; Stents

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) has become the first-line therapy for bile duct drainage. In the hands of experienced endoscopists, conventional ERCP results in a failed cannulation rate of 3% to 5%. This failure can occur more commonly in the setting of altered anatomy or technically difficult cases due to either duodenal or biliary obstruction. In cases of ERCP failure, patients have traditionally been referred for either percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) or surgery. However, both PTBD and surgery have higher than desirable complication rates. Within the last decade, endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD) has become an attractive alternative to PTBD after failed ERCP. Many groups have reported on the feasibility, efficacy and safety of this technique. This article reviews the indications for ERCP and the currently practiced EUS-BD techniques, including EUS-guided rendezvous, EUS-guided choledochoduodenostomy and EUS-guided hepaticogastrostomy.
Bile Ducts ; Catheterization ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Choledochostomy ; Dioxolanes ; Drainage ; Fluorocarbons ; Hand ; Humans

Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) is an established procedure for biliary obstruction. However, duodenobiliary or jejunobiliary reflux of the intestinal contents through a PTBD catheter sometimes causes recurrent catheter obstruction or cholangitis. A 64-year-old female patient with a history of choledochojejunostomy was referred to our department with acute cholangitis due to choledochojejunal anastomotic obstruction. Emergent PTBD was performed, but frequent obstructions of the catheter due to the reflux of intestinal contents complicated the post-PTBD course. We therefore introduced a catheter with an antireflux mechanism to prevent jejunobiliary reflux. A commercially available catheter was modified; side holes were made at 1 cm and 5 to 10 cm (1 cm apart) from the tip of the catheter, and the catheter was ligated with a nylon thread just proximal to the first side hole. Using this novel "antireflux PTBD technique," jejunobiliary reflux was prevented successfully, resulting in a longer patency of the catheter.
Catheter Obstruction ; Catheters ; Cholangitis ; Choledochostomy ; Dioxolanes ; Drainage ; Female ; Fluorocarbons ; Gastrointestinal Contents ; Humans ; Nylons

Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) combines endoscopy and intraluminal ultrasonography, and allows imaging with a high-frequency transducer over a short distance to generate high-resolution ultrasonographic images. EUS is now a widely accepted modality for diagnosing pancreatobiliary diseases. EUS-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) using a curved linear-array echoendoscope was initially described more than 20 years ago, and since then many researchers have expanded its indications to sample diverse lesions and have also used it for various therapeutic purposes. EUS-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD) is one of the therapeutic procedures that has been developed using a curved linear-array echoendoscope. Technically, EUS-BD includes rendezvous techniques via transesophageal, transgastric, and transduodenal routes, EUS-guided choledochoduodenostomy (EUS-CDS), and EUS-guided hepaticogastrostomy (EUS-HGS). Published data have demonstrated a high success rate, albeit with a comparatively high rate of nonfatal complications for EUS-CDS and EUS-HGS, and a comparatively low success rate with a low complication rate for the rendezvous technique. At present, these procedures represent an alternative to surgery or percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) for patients with obstructive jaundice when endoscopic biliary drainage (EBD) has failed. However, these procedures should be performed in centers with extensive experience in linear EUS and therapeutic biliary ERCP. Large prospective studies are needed in the near future to establish standardized EUS-BD procedures as well as to perform controlled comparative trials between EUS-BD and PTBD, between rendezvous techniques and direct-access techniques (EUS-CDS and EUS-HGS), and between EBD and EUS-BD.
Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Choledochostomy ; Dioxolanes ; Drainage ; Endoscopy ; Endosonography ; Fluorocarbons ; Humans ; Jaundice, Obstructive ; Transducers

PURPOSE: To describe efficacy of percutaneous lithotripsy for removing difficult bile duct stones using endoscopy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 88 patients with difficulties for the removal of bile duct stones using endoscopy (an impacted stone, stone size >15 mm, intrahepatic duct (IHD) stone, stone size to bile duct diameter ratio >1.0), were enrolled in this study. A 12 Fr sheath was inserted through the percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) tract, and then nitrol stone baskets and a 0.035" snare wire were used to capture, fragment and remove the stones. The technical and clinical success rates were analyzed, together with an analysis of any complications. RESULTS: The overall technical success rate of stone removal was achieved in 79 of 88 patients (89.8%). In five of nine patients with failed stone removal, small residual IHD stones were noted on a cholangiogram. Even if stone removal failed in these cases, cholangitic symptoms were improved and the drainage catheter was successfully removed. Therefore, clinical success was achieved in 84 of 88 patients (95.5%). There were no significant procedure-related complications, except for sepsis in one case. CONCLUSION: Billiary stone removal using the stone basket and guide-wire snare technique through the PTBD tract is a safe and effective procedure that can be used as a primary method in patients with difficulties for the removal of bile duct stones using endoscopy.
Bile ; Bile Ducts ; Catheters ; Dioxolanes ; Drainage ; Endoscopy ; Fluorocarbons ; Humans ; Lithotripsy ; Nitroglycerin ; Sepsis ; SNARE Proteins

OBJECTIVETo investigate the safe use of 10% difenoconazole in planting Gentiana scabra.

METHODThe degradation dynamics of 10% ifenoconazole in the stems and leaves of G. scabra collecting in different time were determined by GC with ECD detection, and the half life of difenoconazole in the plant was calculated, and then the safe use method of 10% difenoconazole was formulated.

RESULTUnder the local climatic conditions, the half life of 10% difenoconazole was 6.84-6.90 days.

CONCLUSIONIn the good agricultural practice (GAP) of G. scabra, the maximal concentration of 10% difenoconazole is 400 g x ha(-1), the safety interval of using 10% difenoconazole is 40 days.

Agriculture ; methods ; Dioxolanes ; pharmacokinetics ; Gentiana ; metabolism ; Half-Life ; Plant Leaves ; metabolism ; Plant Stems ; metabolism ; Time Factors ; Triazoles ; pharmacokinetics

BACKGROUND: In cases of endoscopic intervention treatment for biliary stricture which fail, a percutaneous approach can be subsequently attempted. However, the quality of life is lower for those patients with percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) tubes than those with endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage tubes. In this study, we report the outcome of the application of percutaneous transhepatic biliary stenting (PTBS) for use in subsequent endoscopic treatment of biliary stricture after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). METHODS: Of 165 patients who underwent LDLT, 40 (24.2%) were diagnosed with anastomotic biliary strictures. Of these patients, seven agreed to treatment using PTBS using a plastic stent with endoscopic follow-up instead of treatment by insertion of a PTBD tube, and were enrolled in this study. RESULTS: In all seven patients, the use of this technique enabled effective advancement of a guide wire and successful placement of one or two plastic stents (7 or 10 Fr) into the PTBD tract. There were no PTBS-related complications associated with the procedure. The median duration for stent use was 40.3 weeks (range; 27.6~65.0). Upon final removal of all stents, the stricture had been resolved in four (57%) of the seven patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our study data suggested that, after failed use of ERCP in the treatment of biliary stricture after LDLT, the use of PTBS and ERCP may be an effective and safe treatment.
Bile Ducts ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Dioxolanes ; Drainage ; Fluorocarbons ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Liver ; Liver Transplantation ; Living Donors ; Plastics ; Quality of Life ; Stents

PURPOSE: One of the popular and widespread treatments for intra- & extra-hepatic duct (IEHD) stone associated gallbladder (GB) stone is laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) with stone removal through endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (below ERCP). Because LC with stone removal through percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (below PTBD) is well known for its safety and feasibility in removing IEHD stones, we did this study to see the significance (safety, feasibility, effectiveness etc) of PTBD and stone removal. METHODS: We compared the odds by collecting 71 retrospective cases, victims of IEHD stone associated GB stone from January, 2004 to December, 2007 in Chung-Ang University Hospital. Comparative analysis took place in 51 cases who underwent PTBD and 20 cases treated with ERCP. We excluded 6 patients who underwent PTBD for intra hepatic duct stone. Age, sex, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, pain, nausea, pre- and post- laboratory value, symptoms, size, location and number of stones, diameter of extra hepatic duct, recurrence and clearance rate, frequency of each procedure, complications, cost were investigated in this study. RESULTS: There were no statistical differences in each group in recurrence and clearance rate or frequency of procedure. However post-procedure pancreatitis and amylase level were significantly difference in each group. PTBD group experienced much longer hospital stay but was not significantly different. Although procedure cost is three times more expensive than that of PTBD group, there were no differences in total cost and patients' expenses between the two groups. CONCLUSION: PTBD would be an alternative solution in managing IEHD stone associated with GB stone for its lower rate of complication, higher clearance with minimal discomfort.
Amylases ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic ; Dioxolanes ; Drainage ; Fluorocarbons ; Gallbladder ; Hepatic Duct, Common ; Humans ; Hypogonadism ; Length of Stay ; Mitochondrial Diseases ; Nausea ; Ophthalmoplegia ; Pancreatitis ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies