External Drainage Catheter Research Articles

Intraluminal low-dose-rate 192Ir brachytherapy combined with external beam radiotherapy and biliary stenting for unresectable extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma

Purpose To evaluate the results of combined-modality therapy, including external beam radiotherapy, intraluminal 192Ir, and biliary stenting for extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma. Methods and materials Between 1988 and 1998, 93 patients with unresectable extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma underwent definitive radiotherapy. The dose of external beam radiotherapy was 50 Gy in 25 fractions. Low-dose-rate 192Ir was delivered at a dose of 27–50 Gy (mean 39.2) at 0.5 cm from the source. An expandable metallic endoprosthesis was used to establish an internal bile passage. Results The median survival was 12 months, with a 1-, 3-, and 5-year actuarial survival rate of 50%, 10%, and 4%, respectively. Tumor length, hepatic invasion, and distant metastasis significantly affected survival. Ninety-six percent of patients could successfully remove external drainage catheters. The actuarial biliary patency rate for these patients at 1, 3, and 5 years was 52%, 29%, and 18%, respectively. Tumor length, tumor diameter and T stage were significantly associated with the patency rate. Mild-to-severe gastroduodenal complications were observed in 32 patients and were significantly associated with the active length of 192Ir and linear source activity. Eight patients had treatment-related biliary fistula. Conclusion Our combined-modality therapy provided reasonable local control and improved the quality of life of patients with extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma. Because none of the treatment characteristics had any impact on survival or biliary patency, lower dose levels and/or a localized target volume are recommended to minimize morbidity.

Urethral Reconstruction In Spinal Cord Injury Patients

Bladder management programs for patients with spinal cord injury and neurological disease (SCIND) include intermittent catheterization and sphincterotomy with external catheter drainage. These programs depend on maintaining a patent urethra. Once urethral stricture, erosion, diverticulum or urethrocutaneous fistula occurs, the only treatments available are urethral reconstruction and urinary diversion. We evaluate the role of urethral reconstruction in this subset of patients. The charts of 18 patients with SCIND (spinal cord injury 16, cerebral palsy 1, meningomyelocele 1) were retrospectively analyzed. Different surgical procedures had been performed according to the presenting pathology and tissue availability. Urethral reconstruction was performed in 17 patients with a mean age of 42.2 years (range 27 to 60). Of the patients 13 are paraplegic and 4 are quadriplegic. Urethral defects included urethral stricture in 6 cases, urethral erosion in 4, urethrocutaneous fistula in 3, urethral diverticula in 1 and combined defects in 3. Mean followup is 3.7 years (range 1 to 13) and the mean number of reoperations was 1.4 (range 0 to 4). Of the 17 patients 11 (64.7%) who underwent urethral reconstruction eventually required urinary diversion for end stage urethral pathology (incontinent ileovesicostomy 5, right colon pouches 2, other procedures 4). The mean time from first urethral reconstruction to eventual urinary diversion was 3.3 years (range 0.7 to 7). Four patients maintain a patent urethra while 1 patient was lost to followup. Patients with SCIND in whom urethral reconstruction is considered should be advised that urethral surgery carries a high risk of reoperation and eventual need for urinary diversion. Clearly, many patients with neurological disease and severe urethral pathology are best treated with urinary diversion.

Biliary drainage for obstructive jaundice enhances hepatic energy status in humans: a 31-phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy study.

Biliary obstruction impairs liver function although the pathophysiological mechanism is incompletely understood. The aim of this study was to examine serial changes in liver metabolism in patients with obstructive jaundice using image guided in vivo 31-phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((31)P MRS). This technique allows repeated and non-invasive assay of organ energy metabolism and phospholipid biochemistry. We studied 10 patients presenting with obstructive jaundice secondary to extrahepatic localised malignancy. There were eight men and two women, median age 72 years (range 54-94), six with cholangiocarcinoma (all Bismuth type 1) and four with carcinoma of the head of the pancreas. Ten healthy volunteers (median age 24 years (range 21-26)) were studied for comparison. Hepatic metabolism in jaundiced patients was measured by (31)P MRS at presentation and again after a one week period of biliary drainage. Conventional liver function tests were also recorded. Compared with controls, liver spectra from jaundiced patients contained an excess of phosphomonoester (PME) metabolites (PME/total phosphate median 10.3% (interquartile range 8.7-11.5) in controls, 15.4% (13.1-17.7) in jaundiced cases; p<0.01). Biliary decompression was achieved in all patients (five with internal stents and five by external drainage catheters), and plasma biochemistry improved predictably (bilirubin 176 micromol/l (158-351) at presentation, 110 micromol/l (42-241) after drainage for one week; p<0.01). Enhancement of hepatic energy status, measured by the ratio of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to inorganic phosphate (Pi), was observed in all cases after relief of biliary obstruction (ATP/Pi 1.4 (1.17-1.69) at presentation, 1.97 (1.4-2.48) after drainage; p<0.01) and was independent of the route of bile drainage. Hepatic phosphodiester (PDE) content was decreased after relief of obstruction (PDE/total phosphate 25.2% (20.5-27.4) at presentation, 19.8% (16.6-24.5) after drainage; p<0.01). This change was probably due to a reduction in the contribution from bile contents to this resonance as a strong PDE signal was also detectable in spectra obtained from separate bile specimens. Obstructive jaundice produces alterations in liver phosphoester biochemistry, most likely reflecting disturbances in phospholipid metabolism. Relief of biliary obstruction is associated with a measurable increase in hepatic energy status. Bile may contribute to the phosphodiester signal of the 31-phosphorus liver spectrum and changes in these resonances must therefore be interpreted with caution and in relation to the clinical situation. Monitoring of liver metabolism by (31)P MRS may allow clinicians to refine the selection and timing of therapeutic options in jaundiced patients.

Ileovesicostomy as an alternative form of bladder management in tetraplegic patients

Objectives Bladder management in tetraplegic patients traditionally has been intermittent catheterization by a caretaker, placement of indwelling suprapubic or urethral catheters, sphincterotomy and external catheter drainage, or supravesical urinary diversion with an ileal conduit. The aim of this study was to examine the ileovesicostomy as an alternative form of bladder management in such patients. Methods We report our experience with ileovesicostomy as an incontinent cutaneous urinary diversion not requiring ureteral reimplantation. Six tetraplegic patients who had experienced significant morbidity with their preoperative form of bladder management were managed with an ileovesicostomy fashioned like a funnel from the bladder dome to the right lower quadrant. All patients underwent preoperative and postoperative fluoroscopic and urodynamic evaluations. Patients were evaluated preoperatively and followed postoperatively with serum chemistries, upper urinary tract imaging, and urine bacteriologic studies. Results There were no perioperative complications. Postoperative urodynamics demonstrated subjects to have a mean stomal leak-point pressure of 7.7 cm H 2O (range 5 to 10). Radiographically, patients carried low urinary residuals (less than 100 cc) and did not exhibit vesicoureteral reflux. In follow-up of 12 to 15 months, no patient has demonstrated calculus formation, hydronephrosis, autonomic dysreflexia, or worsening renal function. Conclusions This procedure successfully creates continuous urinary drainage without catheterization, while maintaining the native antireflux mechanism of the ureterovesical junction and avoiding indwelling foreign materials in the urinary tract. Longer follow-up with more cases will be necessary to confirm these findings and to support a recommendation of the incontinent ileovesicostomy as a standard method for managing the neurogenic bladder in tetraplegic patients.

Large solitary non paracytic cyst of liver: Management by external drainage

Ever since in 1856 when Michel reported the first case of hepatic cyst, much literature has been added on the solitary uncomplicated nonparacytic cystic disease of the liver. This distinct disease entity remains largely asymptomatic unless it presents by virtue of its size or complications. Intravenous pyelogram should be mandatory to rule out any associated renal pathology. Instead of resorting to surgery in all cases, placement of radiologically guided external dependent drainage catheter yields good results with excellent patient compliance as no general anesthesia or laparotomy is required. For cure, only a tube coming out of the abdomen is to be endured for 2-3 months.

Percutaneous cystogastrostomy with a new catheter for drainage of pancreatic pseudocysts and fluid collections.

We describe a new catheter for the initial percutaneous drainage of large symptomatic pancreatic fluid collections and abscesses using a transgastric approach to allow fluid drainage into the gastric lumen. A double-mushroom stent is placed secondarily for long-term internal drainage to the stomach, avoiding the need for an extended period of external catheter drainage. This technique, termed percutaneous cystogastrostomy (PCG), has been used in 19 consecutive patients with one recurrent symptomatic pseudocyst in the follow-up period fo 9-43 months. There was one death within 30 days of PCG and 1 patient proceeded to surgical necrosectomy. After evidence of resolution of the pseudocysts, the internal stent was retrieved in 17 patients by endoscopic snare.

Guided percutaneous drainage for posttraumatic empyema thoracis

Guided percutaneous drainage (GPD) is used in the management of posttraumatic empyema thoracis; however, its equivalence to decortication has not been evaluated. We retrospectively reviewed the records of 12 patients who underwent GPD and nine who were treated with decortication. No primarily GPD-managed empyemas necessitated a subsequent thoracotomy. The size and number of fibrinopurulent loculations treated by each technique were equivalent. Sterile purulent collections were found in 55.6% of decortication-treated patients and in 33% of patients who underwent GPD. Intrapleural analgesia was administered to 71.4% of decortication-treated patients and 28.6% of GPD-treated patients. Five patients undergoing decortication required intensive care unit monitoring after operation (average, 2.8 days), compared with no GPD-treated patients. The catheter was left in place at discharge in 41.6% of GPD-treated patients and was removed on an outpatient basis. The efficacy of GPD in handling loculated pleural space infections equals that of decortication. An intensive care unit stay is avoided. The ability to discharge patients with external drainage catheters and the decreased requirement of pain control should reduce the number of inpatient hospital days. GPD is an effective first-line approach for posttraumatic empyema thoracis.

The role of radiation treatment in management of extrahepatic biliary tract metastasis from gastric carcinoma

Purpose : To determine the proper role of radiation treatment in the management of patients with extrahepatic biliary tract metastasis due to recurrent gastric cancer. Methods and Materials : Twenty patients with malignant biliary obstruction due to recurrent gastric carcinoma after gastrectomy were treated with palliative intent at the Yonsei University College of Medicine from 1986 to 1990. Treatment consisted of external drainage alone in 11 patients (Group 1) and external drainage followed by radiation treatment in nine patients (Group II). Five of nine patients in Group 11 underwent external irradiation in combination with intraluminal brachytherapy using high dose rate Iridium-192 (Ir-192) sources within the expandable intrabiliary prosthesis, a Gianturco stent, inserted transhepatically at the site of obstruction. Results : An excellent local response was observed in five of nine patients in Group II, in whom biliary patency was restored following treatment so that the external drainage catheter could be removed. Prolongation of median survival was observed in Group II (9 months) as compared to Group I (2 months). There were no serious treatment-related complications with this approach. Conclusion : This treatment approach with external radiotherapy ± intraluminal brachytherapy could achieve effective palliation and improve the quality of life in selected patients with extrahepatic biliary metastasis from gastric carcinoma.

Pancreatic Pseudocyst

A pseudocyst of the pancreas in a 6-year-old girl persisted for 2 months despite bowel rest and nutritional support. Following percutaneous introduction of a catheter into the cyst under ultrasound guidance and external catheter drainage for 11 days, the pseudocyst resolved completely and permanently. Nonoperative percutaneous techniques for drainage of pancreatic pseudocysts in children may be an effective alternative to surgical intervention.

Pancreatic Pseudocyst

SummaryA pseudocyst of the pancreas in a 6‐year‐old girl persisted for 2 months despite bowel rest and nutritional support. Following percutaneous introduction of a catheter into the cyst under ultrasound guidance and external catheter drainage for 11 days, the pseudocyst resolved completely and permanently. Nonoperative percutaneous techniques for drainage of pancreatic pseudocysts in children may be an effective alternative to surgical intervention.

Expandable metallic biliary endoprostheses: preliminary clinical evaluation.

A biliary endoprosthesis constructed of self-expanding metallic "Z" stents was placed in 23 patients with obstructive jaundice. The biliary obstruction was due to a malignant neoplasm in 21 patients and a postoperative biliary stricture in two patients. The lesions affected the intrahepatic biliary ducts in 13 patients. Twelve patients had undergone radiation therapy before stent placement. The endoprostheses consisted of 196 expandable metallic biliary stents placed singly (n = 10) or in tandem (n = 186). As many as 18 stents were used to relieve an obstruction in one patient. A transhepatic approach was employed in all patients except one in whom stents were placed through a T-tube tract. Within 1 week after placement, all stents expanded to at least 90% of their original diameter. Three misplaced, two deformed, and two dislodged stents caused no obvious clinical problems. At follow-up, which ranged from 2 to 59 weeks, five patients experienced recurrent jaundice. Two patients with recurrent jaundice due to obstruction of the bile duct containing the stent were treated with external catheter drainage. The expandable biliary endoprosthesis is suggested as an effective treatment for benign and malignant biliary obstruction.

Biliary endoprosthesis dysfunction in patients with malignant hilar tumors: successful treatment by percutaneous replacement of the stent.

Symptoms caused by malignant hilar bile duct tumors are often palliated by the insertion of a percutaneous biliary endoprosthesis. However, these often occlude early and may be difficult to replace. We have reviewed our experience with percutaneous replacement of endoprostheses in 17 patients with 31 episodes of stent dysfunction. The stent was changed successfully in 30 of the 31 attempts. The average durations of initial and subsequent stent patencies were 28 and 20 weeks, respectively. Significant acute complications occurred in three patients, one of whom had a perihepatic abscess and two of whom had septicemia. Two patients died within 30 days of their last stent change. The one patient in whom attempted insertion of a new stent was unsuccessful had to remain on continuous external catheter drainage. The occluded or migrated endoprosthesis was successfully removed either percutaneously (55%) or endoscopically (26%) in 25 of the 31 cases. Successful removal of the stent and reinsertion after blockage or migration is possible in most patients. Our experience suggests that patients with malignant obstruction of the bile duct should not be refused an indwelling endoprosthesis just because of the frequent occurrence of early occlusion of the stent.

Radiologic approach to malignant biliary obstruction: Review and commentary

Access to the biliary tree for nonoperative intervention can be achieved endoscopically or by a direct transhepatic approach. If there is a surgical drainage tube in place this may also serve as a route for catheter insertion. Once within the ductal system, catheters can routinely be manipulated through obstructing lesions to provide biliary decompression and relieve jaundice and cholangitis. Permanent palliation can be achieved utilizing totally indwelling endoprosthesis to avoid the problems associated with external drainage catheters. The optimal management of patients with malignant biliary obstruction requires close cooperation between endoscopists and interventional radiologists.

Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Transhepatic Cholangiography and Drainage in Patients with Hilar Cholangiocarcinoma

The use of ultrasound-guided PTCD in 49 patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma was evaluated. In 11 patients PTCD was performed as a preoperative measure either to outline tumor extension or to treat cholangitis. Postoperatively, the catheters were used to stent bilioenteric anastomoses and served to guide iridium wires for radiotherapy in nine patients with nonresectable tumor or tumor residue after resection. In 20 inoperable patients with tumor diameter smaller than 3 cm and in whom at least one catheter could be manipulated through the tumor, PTCD was combined with internal and external radiotherapy. The remaining 18 patients were palliated with PTCD only. In 29 patients (59%) complete drainage of the biliary system was achieved. Twenty-seven of these had complete internal drainage using endoprostheses. Two had a combination of an endoprosthesis and external catheter drainage. Of the 20 patients (41%) with incomplete drainage, 12 had endoprostheses, four had a catheter and an endoprosthesis, and in the remaining four external catheter drainage was the optimum result. PTCD was successful in treating eight of ten patients with cholangitis and 12 of 16 patients with pruritus. Procedure-related complication occurred in 11 patients (22%). With the exception of one, all complications could be classified as minor, requiring only conservative measures. A major complication was seen in a patient with ascitic fluid and severe cholangitis. PTCD caused a bacterial peritonitis, of which the patient died. The median survival of patients treated with PTCD alone only was 4 months. A significant increase in survival was noted in patients treated with PTCD and radiotherapy (median survival 8 months).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Traumatic pancreatitis and pseudocyst in children: current management.

Twenty years ago, we reviewed the pediatric surgical experience with traumatic pancreatitis and pseudocysts at a large children's hospital. That series encompassed 13 years, during which time 23 cases were found. Six of these had pseudocysts, five of which were managed by external catheter drainage and one by excision. The present series spans 10 years and consists of nine cases of post-traumatic pediatric pancreatitis, seven of which progressed to pseudocysts. Four of these were externally drained, one was excised, and two resolved spontaneously. We have reviewed this recent experience in order to re-evaluate the efficacy of external drainage of pseudocysts in pediatric patients. We continue to believe that external drainage is the most effective method of therapy. Internal drainage is usually unnecessary unless the drainage from the ductal disruption does not resolve.

Percutaneous transhepatic endoprostheses for hilar cholangiocarcinoma

In patients with unresectable hilar cholangiocarcinoma, percutaneous transhepatic endoprosthesis insertion is one of the available methods of palliation. We reviewed our experience with it in 35 consecutive patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma who were judged on clinical or radiologic evidence to be unsuitable for resective or palliative surgery. The 30-day mortality rate was 14 percent (5 of 35 patients). Of the remaining 30 patients, endoprosthesis placement was successful in 28, with 2 patients discharged with a permanent external drainage catheter. Twenty-four patients survived a median of 3 months (range 1 to 17 months), and 2 were lost to follow-up. Good or fair palliation of symptoms was achieved in 50 percent of the discharged patients and in 66 percent of those living longer than 3 months. We believe that percutaneous transhepatic endoprostheses can provide useful palliation in patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma, even in the presence of advanced disease.

Intervention for Fetal Obstructive Uropathy: Has it Been Effective

The best management of fetal hydronephrosis is controversial. Despite the lack of experimental evidence that prenatal drainage of the obstructed urinary tract substantially improves ultimate renal function, various forms of percutaneous intervention on the fetal bladder and kidney have been used. To evaluate the efficacy of intervention for suspected fetal obstructive uropathy, all published reports of drainage of the fetal urinary tract up to December, 1985, were reviewed. In the 57 reported cases, the most common type of intervention was placement of a vesicoamniotic shunt (37%). Complications occurred in 25 cases (44%), including inadequate shunt drainage or migration (19%), onset of premature labour within 48 h (12%), urinary ascites (7%), and chorioamnionitis (5%). Of 28 fetuses with associated oligohydramnios, only 6 (21%) survived. 2 of these survivors had vesicoamniotic shunts, 2 single or multiple bladder aspirations, 1 an external renal drainage catheter, and 1 in-utero vesicostomy. Because of the high complication rate and lack of evidence of improved survival from in-utero drainage procedures, a prospective, randomised trial is needed to compare survival with and without vesicoamniotic shunt placement.

INTERVENTION FOR FETAL OBSTRUCTIVE UROPATHY: HAS IT BEEN EFFECTIVE?

The best management of fetal hydronephrosis is controversial. Despite the lack of experimental evidence that prenatal drainage of the obstructed urinary tract substantially improves ultimate renal function, various forms of percutaneous intervention on the fetal bladder and kidney have been used. To evaluate the efficacy of intervention for suspected fetal obstructive uropathy, all published reports of drainage of the fetal urinary tract up to December, 1985, were reviewed. In the 57 reported cases, the most common type of intervention was placement of a vesicoamniotic shunt (37%). Complications occurred in 25 cases (44%), including inadequate shunt drainage or migration (19%), onset of premature labour within 48 h (12%), urinary ascites (7%), and chorioamnionitis (5%). Of 28 fetuses with associated oligohydramnios, only 6 (21%) survived. 2 of these survivors had vesicoamniotic shunts, 2 single or multiple bladder aspirations, 1 an external renal drainage catheter, and 1 in-utero vesicostomy. Because of the high complication rate and lack of evidence of improved survival from in-utero drainage procedures, a prospective, randomised trial is needed to compare survival with and without vesicoamniotic shunt placement.

Finger-trap method of suturing biliary drainage catheters to the skin.

With an increasing number of interventional radiologic procedures, many radiologists are becoming involved with interventional catheter management. We have performed 42 percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage procedures for obstructive jaundice. In three cases the catheters were subsequently pulled out by the patient. Two of these catheters were external drainage catheters and one was internal. Once a biliary drainage catheter has been pulled out, it may be more difficult to regain access to the biliany system if the biliary tree has been decompressed [1 ]. We have developed a method of securing the catheters to the patient’s skin to avoid accidental removal.