ObjectiveTo investigate the feasibility and efficacy of using the hepatoduodenal ligament tension-reduced operation (tension-reduced operation in short) for iatrogenic bile duct injury where the bile duct was severely defective. MethodsBetween March 2006 and May 2009, the authors treated 6 patients with iatrogenic bile duct injury (Bismuth type Ⅱ : 5 patients and type Ⅲ : 1 patient). A no. 7 black silk thread was used to hold the hilar plate tissues and the seromuscular layer of the bulbous part of the duodenum closer together and knots were tied. This method brought the porta hepatis and the duodenal bulb closer together and the hepatoduodenal ligament was shortened. An end to end anastomosis could then be made between the two broken ends of the defective bile duct without tension. ResultsSix patients suffered from bile duct injury and they recovered fully after the tensionreduced operation. There was no complication on follow-up. ConclusionsThe tension-reduced operation was efficacious in the treatment of iatrogenic bile duct injury. This technique should be popularized and more widely used.

Objective:To investigate the clinical significance of intraoperative prepositioning of dual mediastinal drains in elderly patients developing anastomotic leakage(AL)after a total endoscopic Ivor-Lewis procedure.Methods:This retrospective case-control study analyzed the clinical data of 500 elderly patients who underwent total endoscopic Ivor-Lewis surgery for esophageal or cardia cancer from January 2020 to December 2022.In the control group, one mediastinal drainage tube was placed intraoperatively, while in the study group, two mediastinal drainage tubes were placed.Both groups had a chest tube placed conventionally.The study compared the incidence of anastomotic leak(AL)at 1 month postoperatively, inflammatory indexes in patients with AL, grading of AL, rate of nasal fistula placement, incision infection, anastomotic stenosis, and incidence of hoarseness.Additionally, it compared ICU occupancy, ventilator use, and ICU length of stay between the two groups.Results:The analysis included clinical data from 455 elderly patients.Among the patients who developed AL, the study group had significantly lower peak body temperature[(39.58±1.03)℃ vs.(38.05±0.56)℃, t=4.298, P<0.05], white blood cell count[(18.63±3.35)×10 9/L vs.(14.28±2.78)×10 9/L, t=3.450, P<0.05], and C-reactive protein(CRP)levels[(154.66±41.64)mg/L vs.(122.19±31.29)mg/L, t=2.131, P<0.05]. The study group also had a significantly lower grading of AL and rate of nasal fistula placement(82.4% vs.30.0%, P<0.05). In terms of ICU indicators, the study group had a significantly lower ICU admission rate(64.7% vs.10.0%, P<0.05), shorter period of ventilator use[(6.47±8.15)days vs.(0.90±2.23)days, t=2.62, P<0.05], and shorter ICU stay[(11.70±8.89)days vs.(4.70±6.27)days, t=2.184, P<0.05]. Conclusions:Double mediastinal drainage tubes, have been found to significantly alleviate inflammation, decrease the rate of nasal fistula placement and ICU admission, and shorten the length of ICU stay in elderly patients.Therefore, they are considered safe and deserving of clinical promotion.