Type Of Stricture Research Articles

P259 Clinical characteristics and long-term disease course in patients with Crohn’s disease diagnosed by video capsule endoscopy; A retrospective multicentre matched case-control study

Abstract Background Video capsule endoscopy (VCE) is a non-invasive and accurate diagnostic modality that allows for direct visualization of the small intestinal mucosa in Crohn’s disease (CD). In rare cases, lesions not detected by other diagnostic modalities in patients suspected to have CD are solely identified through VCE. We aim to evaluate the clinical characteristics and long-term outcomes of these rare cases. Methods A retrospective multicentre matched case-control analysis was conducted in patients with CD across three hospitals in Korea, from January 2007 to April 2023. To perform a matched case-control study, we defined cases (VCE group) as patients with normal findings at colonoscopy and cross-sectional imaging, ultimately diagnosed with CD by VCE; the controls were patients with CD diagnosed with specific findings at endoscopy or cross-sectional imaging (non-VCE group). Controls were matched to cases with a ratio of 3:1 for sex, calendar year of diagnosis, and age at diagnosis. Clinical characteristics and outcomes between the two groups were compared. Results Of the 3,137 patients diagnosed with CD during the study period, 24 were diagnosed solely by VCE. When compared to 72 matched patients with CD, the mean duration from symptom onset to diagnosis did not significantly differ (27.2 months [SD 10.2] vs. 25.3 months [SD 8.9], p=0.394). There was a significant difference in the proportion of Montreal behaviour (p<0.001). In the VCE group, non-stricturing and non-penetrating (B1) type and stricturing (B2) type accounted for 91.7 and 8.3%, respectively. However, there was no significant difference in the perianal fistula modifier (25% vs. 33.3%, p=0.446). Within the VCE group, 45.8% underwent the examination due to abdominal pain with diarrhoea, followed by 25.0% with perianal disease, and 20.8% with unexplained iron deficiency anaemia. Regarding capsule findings, the ileum was mostly involved (87.5%), while the jejunum and duodenum were affected in 70.8 and 16.7% of cases, respectively. Fifteen patients had two or three segments affected. The Median Lewis score was 838 [IQR 393–1803]. Concerning the cumulative incidence of clinical outcomes over 10 years, complicated behaviour, need for biologics, and CD-related hospitalization and surgery were all significantly lower in the VCE group than in the non-VCE group (p<0.005). Conclusion Patients diagnosed with CD solely by VCE are rare. In this study, they exhibited different clinical characteristics and a more favourable long-term disease course compared to the general population of patients with CD. This included a lower incidence of complicated behaviour, reduced need for biologics, and CD-related hospitalization and surgery.

Is a higher frequency of esophageal dilations more effective in treating benign esophageal strictures? Retrospective, multicenter study.

Background and study aims There is still a lack of evidence-based recommendations concerning endoscopic bougienage in benign esophageal strictures. Our study aimed to assess the relevance of the time interval between endoscopic dilation (ED) sessions with regard to endoscopic and clinical response. Patients and methods We performed a retrospective study including patients treated with endoscopic bougienage for a benign esophageal stricture in two German centers. Primary endpoint was the number of ED until freedom from dysphagia was achieved. Secondary endpoints were analyses on reaching a diameter of 15 mm and on achieving clinical freedom from symptoms. Results Between April 2014 and March 2020, bougienage was used as the primary treatment for benign esophageal strictures in 238 patients (194 patients in Center 1; 44 patients in Center 2). Both centers differed in their endoscopic bougienage regime: Center 1 was characterized by a higher frequency of interventions compared to Center 2 (median: 2 days [range 1-28] vs. 10 days [range 1-41]; P <0.001). Clinical response was achieved significantly earlier using the high-frequency regimen in all patients except for those with post-radiogen strictures, who clinically benefited from a low-frequency ED program. Accordingly, patients receiving higher-frequency ED reached a significantly larger post-dilation diameter and considerably larger diameter differences. Conclusions The results of our study demonstrate that a treatment concept consisting of higher-frequency bougienages seems to be more effective in treating most types of esophageal stricture. Radiogenic strictures were the only types of stenoses that benefited from a lower frequency ED program.

Risk factors for pulmonary atelectasis in adults with tracheobronchial tuberculosis

Objective: To investigate the risk factors for pulmonary atelectasis in adults with tracheobronchial tuberculosis(TBTB). Methods: Clinical data of adult patients (≥18 years old) with TBTB from February 2018 to December 2021 in Public Health Clinical Center of Chengdu were retrospectively analyzed. A total of 258 patients were included, with a male to female ratio of 1∶1.43. The median age was 31(24, 48) years. Clinical data including clinical characteristics, previous misdiagnoses/missed diagnoses before admission, pulmonary atelectasis, the time from symptom onset to atelectasis and bronchoscopy, bronchoscopy and interventional treatment were collected according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Patients were divided into two groups according to whether they had pulmonary atelectasis. Differences between the two groups were compared. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors for pulmonary atelectasis. Results: The prevalence of pulmonary atelectasis was 14.7%, which was most common in the left upper lobe (26.3%). The median time from symptom onset to atelectasis was 130.50(29.75,358.50)d, and the median time from atelectasis to bronchoscopy was 5(3,7)d. The median age, the proportion of misdiagnosis of TBTB before admission, and the time from symptom onset to bronchoscopy in the atelectasis group were higher than those without atelectasis, and the proportion of receiving bronchoscopy examination and interventional therapy previously, and the proportion of pulmonary cavities were lower than those without atelectasis (all P<0.05). The proportions of cicatrices stricture type and lumen occlusion type in the atelectasis group were higher than those without atelectasis, while the proportions of inflammatory infiltration type and ulceration necrosis type were lower than those without atelectasis (all P<0.05). Older age (OR=1.036, 95%CI: 1.012-1.061), previous misdiagnosis(OR=2.759, 95%CI: 1.100-6.922), longer time from symptom onset to bronchoscopy examination (OR=1.002, 95%CI: 1.000-1.005) and cicatrices stricture type (OR=2.989, 95%CI: 1.279-6.985) were independent risk factors for pulmonary atelectasis in adults with TBTB (all P<0.05). Of the patients with atelectasis who underwent bronchoscopy interventional therapy, 86.7% had lung reexpansion or partial reexpansion. Conclusions: The prevalence of pulmonary atelectasis is 14.7% in adult patients with TBTB. The most common site of atelectasis is left upper lobe. The TBTB type of lumen occlusion is complicated by pulmonary atelectasis in 100% of cases. Being older, misdiagnosed as other diseases, longer time from onset of symptoms to bronchoscopy examination, and being the cicatrices stricture type are factors for developing pulmonary atelectasis. Early diagnosis and treatment are needed to reduce the incidence of pulmonary atelectasis and increase the rate of pulmonary reexpansion.

Urethroplasty Methods for Stricture Repair After Gender Affirming Phalloplasty: High Failure Rates in a Hostile Surgical Field

To report our experience with 71 postphalloplasty urethral strictures in order to discuss the performance characteristics of different urethroplasty techniques in urethral stricture after phalloplasty. We conducted a retrospective chart review of 85 urethroplasties performed for stricture repair in 71 patients with phalloplasty for gender affirmation between August 2017 and May 2020. Stricture location, urethroplasty type, complication rate, and recurrence rate were recorded. The most common stricture type was distal anastomotic (40/71, 56%). The most common initial repair type was excision and primary anastomosis (EPA) (33/85, 39%), followed by first-stage Johanson urethroplasty (32/85, 38%). The stricture recurrence rate after initial repair of all types was 52% (44/85). The recurrence rate of stricture after EPA was 58% (19/33). The recurrence rate after staged urethroplasty was 25% (2/8) for patients who successfully completed a first and second stage. 30% (3/10) of patients who completed a first stage and opted out of a second stage required a revision to achieve successful lifetime voiding from the surgical urethrostomy. EPA after phalloplasty has a high failure rate. Nontransecting anastomotic urethroplasty has slightly lower failure rate, and staged Johanson-type surgeries have the highest success rates after phalloplasty.

Clinical characteristics and long-term prognosis of elderly onset Crohn's disease.

With the increase in aging population in China, elderly Crohn's disease (CD) patients need to receive more attention. This study aims to explore the clinical characteristics and disease process of elderly onset CD (EOCD) patients in a single center. From January 2002 to January 2022, a total of 221 patients with CD from the Seventh Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital were enrolled. According to the Montreal CD classification standard, the patients were further divided into 4 groups: an EOCD group (≥60 years old, n=25), a middle age onset CD (MOCD) group (40-59 years old, n=46), a young onset CD (YOCD) group (17-40 years old, n=131), and a childhood onset CD (COCD) group (6-16 years old, n=19). We compared the clinical characteristics and long-term prognosis among them. Females were predominant in the EOCD group (15/25, 60%). The number of people without smoking in the EOCD group (80%) was lower than that in COCD group (100%), higher than that in the YOCD group (70.2%) and the MOCD group (69.6%) (all P<0.05). Patients with perianal diseases at diagnosis were rare in the EOCD group (0%), lower than that in the COCD group (21.1%) and the YOVD group (19.8%) (all P<0.05). Stenosis was the most common disease behavior in the EOCD group (63.0%), significantly higher than that in the COCD group (15.8%), the YOCD group (36.6%) and the MOCD group (43.5%) (all P<0.05). The EOCD group was easier to be misdiagnosed as tumor (24%), higher than that in the COCD group (0%), the YOCD group (6.9%) and the MOCD group (19.6%) (all P<0.05). The EOCD group was prone to comorbidities (52%), and 20% of them were complicated with multiple comorbidities (P<0.05). During the follow-up, the all-cause mortality of EOCD was 12%, and the CD-related mortality was 8%, which was significantly higher than the other groups (all P<0.05). The use of immunosuppressants in the EOCD group (4.8%) was lower than that in the COCD group (12.8%), the YOCD group (16.8%) and the MOCD group (16.1%), but there was no statistical significance among the 4 groups (P=0.467). In addition, there was no significant difference in the rate of intestinal resection among the 4 groups (P=0.062). In EOCD patients, females were predominant, smoking was less common, and they were prone to comorbidity. At the initial stage of diagnosis, it is easy to be misdiagnosed as tumor, and the disease behavior mainly showed stricture type, less complicated with perianal diseases. During the follow-up, all-cause mortality and CD-related mortality of EOCD patients were significantly higher than those of the non-elderly onset CD patients.

Esophageal dilation with EsoFLIP is faster than CRE balloon dilation combined with EndoFLIP in children.

Controlled radial expansion (CRE) balloon dilators are traditionally used to dilate esophageal strictures during an esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). EndoFLIP is a diagnostic tool used during an EGD to measure important parameters of the gastrointestinal lumen, capable of assessing treatment before and after dilation. EsoFLIP is a related device that combines a balloon dilator with high-resolution impedance planimetry to provide some of the luminal parameters in real time during dilation. We sought to compare procedure time, fluoroscopy time, and safety profile of esophageal dilation using either CRE balloon dilation combined with EndoFLIP (E + CRE) versus EsoFLIP alone. A single-center retrospective review was performed to identify patients ≤ 21years of age who underwent an EGD with biopsy and esophageal stricture dilation using E + CRE or EsoFLIP between October 2017 and May 2022. Twenty-nine EGDs with esophageal stricture dilation were performed in 23 patients (19 E + CRE and 10 EsoFLIP). The two groups did not differ in age, gender, race, chief complaint, type of esophageal stricture, or history of prior gastrointestinal procedures (all p > 0.05). The most common medical history in the E + CRE and EsoFLIP groups were eosinophilic esophagitis and epidermolysis bullosa, respectively. Median procedures times were shorter in the EsoFLIP cohort compared to E + CRE balloon dilation (40.5min [IQR 23-57min] for the EsoFLIP group; 64min [IQR 51-77min] for the E + CRE group; p < 0.01). Median fluoroscopy times were also shorter for patients who underwent EsoFLIP (0.16min [IQR 0-0.30min] for EsoFLIP dilation; 0.30min [IQR 0.23-0.55] for the E + CRE group; p = 0.003). There were no complications or unplanned hospitalizations in either group. EsoFLIP dilation of esophageal strictures was faster and required less fluoroscopy than CRE balloon dilation combined with EndoFLIP in children, while being equally as safe. Prospective studies are needed to further compare the two modalities.

Multimodal Management for Refractory Biliary Stricture After Living Donor Liver Transplantation

Biliary stricture is a common complication of living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). Endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage (ERBD) is the primary treatment of biliary stricture, which is sometimes refractory. This study aimed to evaluate the risk factors for biliary stricture after LDLT and present successful management for refractory biliary stricture. Data from 26 patients who underwent LDLT were retrospectively analyzed. The relationship between the incidence of biliary strictures and clinical variables, including pre/intra/postoperative factors, was assessed. Univariate analysis showed that ABO incompatibility (P=.037) was a significant risk factor for biliary strictures. Case 1 was a 57-year-old woman who underwent LDLT using a left-lobe graft for primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) and developed a biliary stricture 1 month after surgery. Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiodrainage (PTCD) and embolization of the portal vein and hepatic artery were performed. Thereafter, ethanol was injected into the biliary duct, and the intervention was successfully completed. Case 2 was a 54-year-old woman who underwent LDLT using a right-lobe graft and duct-to-duct biliary reconstruction for PBC. Internal plastic stent insertion by ERBD was unsuccessful due to the significantly bending bile duct. After PTCD, the gun-site technique for the posterior branch and dual hepatic vascular embolization of the anterior branch was performed. The patient was followed up without an external fistula tube. ABO incompatibility was a risk factor for refractory biliary stricture. Appropriate procedures should be chosen based on stricture types.

Male Urethral Stricture in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome.

Urethral stricture is characterized by fibrosis that decreases urine flow. Metabolic syndrome is a complex disorder that causes fibrosis in many organs. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between metabolic syndrome and appearance of urethral stricture and effects of metabolic syndrome on the recurrence of urethral stricture in patients with primary urethral stricture who underwent direct visual internal urethrotomy. One hundred thirty-two male patients who underwent direct visual internal urethrotomy between 2014 and 2021 because of primary urethral stricture were included. Location, length, and type of urethral stricture, time from diagnosis to surgery, postoperative follow-up, time from surgery to recurrence, and postoperative follow-up duration with a urethral catheter were retrospectively analyzed and association with metabolic syndrome was evaluated. The mean age was 50.48 ± 17.94 years. Recurrence was found in 34.1% and metabolic syndrome in 27.3%. Postoperative follow-up duration was significantly longer in patients with recurrence than in those without (P=.033). There was no statistically significant difference in terms of metabolic syndrome and postoperative urethral catheterization between patients with and without recurrence (P=.126, P=.714, respectively). Postoperative clean intermittent self-catheterization use was found to be statistically higher in patients with recurrence than in patients without recurrence (P=.018). Postoperative urinary tract infection rate was found to be significantly higher in patients with metabolic syndrome compared to patients without metabolic syndrome (P=.001). Metabolic syndrome was not associated with recurrence. However, postoperative urinary tract infections were more common in patients with metabolic syndrome than in patients without. Clean intermittent self-catheterization used postoperatively may increase the risk of stricture.

Urethral strictures. Diagnosis and treatment

Urethral strictures represent the intrinsic and permanent narrowing of the urethral lumen with urodynamic effects and genitourinary complications resulting from obstruction in the path of urine and seminal fluid elimination. In men, urethral stricture refers to a narrowed segment of the anterior urethra caused by a process of fibrosis and scarring of the urethral mucosa and surrounding spongiosum tissue ("spongiofibrosis"). In the male posterior urethra, there is no spongiosum tissue, and the term stenosis is preferred in this location. The definition of meatal stenosis is accepted as a distal narrowing at the level of the meatus, without involving the navicular fossa. There is no universal definition of female urethral stricture. Female urethral stricture is defined by most authors as "a fixed anatomical narrowing" that leads to a reduction in urethral caliber. This reduced urethral caliber is defined as being between &lt;10 Fr and &lt;20 Fr, with most studies defining it as &lt;14 Fr, compared to the normal urethral caliber of 18-30 Fr. In transgender patients, the term stricture is used to define narrowing of the reconstructed urethra despite the absence of spongiosum tissue around it.[1] In men, a marked increase in incidence is observed after the age of 55, with a median age of 45.1 years. The estimated incidence is generally 229-627 cases per 100,000 men [2]. The anterior urethra is most commonly affected (92.2%), especially the bulbar urethra (46.9%) [3]. In women, 2-29% of patients with refractory lower urinary tract symptoms have obstructive flow at the level of the bladder, of which 4-20% will have urethral strictures [4]. There is a significantly increased incidence in women over 64 years of age. In children, most strictures are traumatic: iatrogenic causes account for 27.8-48% and external trauma for 34-72% of cases [1]. Congenital (13%), inflammatory (4%), or postinfectious (1%) strictures are less commonly observed. The bulbar urethra is the most frequently affected part of the urethra [1]. After hypospadias repair, meatal stenosis and urethral strictures are reported in 1.3-20% of cases, depending on the severity of hypospadias and the technique used [5]. There is a significantly higher incidence of this type of stricture in resource-rich countries due to a higher rate of surgical interventions. It has been reported that up to 18% of urethral strictures involving the meatus or navicular fossa are caused by surgical repair of hypospadias, lichen sclerosus, instrumental/traumatic causes, or idiopathic causes. Post-circumcision meatal stenosis has been reported in less than 0.2% of infants undergoing circumcision. In transgender patients ("trans men"), approximately 51% will suffer from a urethral stricture, while in "trans women" (male to female), the incidence is 14.4% [6].

Analysis of prognostic factors of failure in perineal urethrostomy.

To identify prognostic factors of failure in patients undergoing perineal urethrostomy (PU) with Blandy technique, with inverted U-shaped perineal flap. This is a retrospective study of PU of non-oncological causes (2001-2017). Data of age, BMI, history of diabetes mellitus, etiology of urethral stricture, type of stricture, previous surgeries, dilatation and suprapubic catheter were collected. Failure was defined as the need for any instrumentation after surgery. Variables were analyzed by Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier curves were used for survival analysis. A total of 115 PU were performed. Median age was 61years (IQR 53-68) and BMI 27.9 (IQR 25-30.9). The most frequent etiologies were: lichen sclerosus (30.4%), iatrogenic (27%), and idiopathic (25.7%). 62.6% had panurethral stricture. There were no complications in 73%. Clavien I complications occurred in 25.2%, Clavien II in 0.9% and Clavien IVa in 0.9%. The overall success rate was 51.3% with a median follow-up of 71months. In the last 8years, it was 75%. In the multivariate analysis, we found that age (p = 0.01), BMI (p = 0.01), date of surgery (p = 0.01), and suprapubic catheter (p = 0.003) were predictive variables. The voiding satisfaction rate was 88.7%. PU with Blandy technique is a surgery with low morbidity. During the entire study period, it had a failure rate of 48.7% but the failure rate decreased to 25% over the last 8years. Age, BMI, date of surgery and suprapubic catheter are the most important prognostic factor of failure.

Peroral Cholangioscopy in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Biliary Strictures

Objective: To determine the role of and indications for peroral cholangioscopy using the SpyGlass system in the differential diagnosis of biliary tract lesions and in case of biliary strictures, based on the literature data analysis and our own experience.Materials and methods: Peroral cholangioscopy is mainly used for the differential diagnosis of biliary tract lesions. During peroral cholangioscopy, we carefully consider gross signs of damage to the bile duct mucosa: abnormal capillary vascular pattern, granulation tissue and other types of proliferation, palpatory characteristics of the wall. Morphology should also be verified during image-guided intraductal forceps biopsy.Results: Peroral endoscopy of the biliary tract significantly increases the effectiveness of differential diagnosis between various types of biliary strictures.Direct examination of the bile duct mucosa with optical forceps biopsy and morphological verification increases the sensitivity and specificity of stricture type determination up to 83.3%–96% and 90.9%–99%, respectively. The diagnostic value of peroral cholangioscopy in the diagnosis of malignant and benign biliary tract lesions exceeds the effectiveness of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, even with fluoroscopy-guided verification of ducts.Conclusions: Peroral cholangioscopy with its enormous potential plays an important role in management of patients with various diseases of the bilio-pancreatoduodenal area, including biliary strictures. We formulated key indications for peroral cholangioscopy based on the literature data analysis and our own experience with this technique in patients with bile duct pathology, including nondifferentiated biliary strictures.

DOP12 Validation of radiomics features on MR enterography characterizing inflammation and fibrosis in stricturing Crohn’s disease

Abstract Background MR enterography (MRE) accurately detects Crohn’s disease (CD) strictures, yet its ability to differentiate inflammatory from fibrostenotic components within a CD stricture is limited. Artificial intelligence in cross sectional imaging, termed radiomics, is a quantitative image extraction analysis technology creating an opportunity to enhance characterization of strictures on routine MRE exams. We present a study on machine-reader evaluation of MRE to distinguish inflammation and fibrosis in CD strictures via quantitative radiomic features and compare radiomics performance to central radiologist scoring of MRE. Methods In this retrospective single center study 51 patients (n=34 for discovery; n=17 for validation) had confirmed stricturing CD (using CONSTRICT criteria) on MRE. Surgical histopathology scoring of specimens within 15 weeks of MRE exam (range 0-100, scores ≥70 =severe) was used as the reference standard for both inflammation and fibrosis. An expert abdominal radiologist blinded to clinical and histopathologic results provided a global visual analog scale (VAS, 0-100) assessment of stricture inflammation and fibrosis. 2164 3D radiomic features were extracted from the stricture regions on MRE, from which the most relevant feature subsets were identified via cross-validated machine learning analysis in the discovery cohort for differentiating between severe vs mild inflammation and fibrosis. Radiomic features and VAS scores were evaluated against pathology-defined inflammation and fibrosis in the validation cohort. Results Clinical variables including sex, age, Montreal classification and stricture type across discovery and validation groups can be found in Table 1. The median time from MRE to surgical resection was 7.1 90-15) weeks. 43% of strictures in the overall cohort were classified as severe for inflammation and 43% had severe fibrosis. Two distinct sets of radiomic features capturing textural heterogeneity (patterns, local entropy) within strictures were significantly associated with severe inflammation or severe fibrosis (p&amp;lt;0.01). For inflammation, AUC for discovery and validation were 0.69 and 0.67, respectively (Figure 1). For fibrosis, AUC for discovery and validation were 0.83 and 0.77, respectively (Figure 2). The radiologist VAS had an AUC of 0.71 for identifying inflammation and AUC 0.46 for identifying fibrosis. Combining radiomic features and radiologist VAS had no significant impact on predictor performance. Conclusion Radiomic analysis may support the identification of fibrosis, but not inflammation in stricturing CD compared to radiological visual assessment. This tool may offer a novel way to stratify patients for future anti-fibrotic therapies.

EVALUATION OF CLINICAL VARIABLES, RADIOLOGICAL VISUAL ANALOG SCORING, AND RADIOMICS FEATURES ON CT ENTEROGRAPHY FOR CHARACTERIZING SEVERE INFLAMMATION AND FIBROSIS IN STRICTURING CROHN’S DISEASE

Abstract PURPOSE 25% of patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) develop severe stricturing disease which is non-responsive to standard-of-care medication. Early and non-invasive determination of the extent of inflammation and fibrosis within the stricture via CT enterography (CTE) could facilitate the selection of targeted therapy or earlier surgical resection to improve patient outcomes; but currently there is no validated and reliable approach for this differentiation. We present initial results for machine-reader evaluation of severe inflammation and fibrosis in CD strictures via quantitative radiomic features and expert radiologist scoring on CTE. METHODS AND MATERIALS IRB approved, retrospective, single center study. 100 patients (n=66 for discovery; n=34 for hold-out validation) confirmed with stricturing CD on histopathology and CTE within 15 weeks of surgery. Histopathological Stenosis Therapy &amp; Research (STAR) scoring of specimens (range 0-100, scores &amp;gt; 50 =severe) used as reference standard for inflammation and fibrosis each. An expert radiologist annotated the resected strictures on CTE and provided a global assessment of inflammation and chronic non-inflammatory findings (fibrosis) using a 0-100 visual analog score (VAS). Radiomics features to capture severe inflammation and fibrosis were separately extracted from the annotated strictures. Radiomics models and VAS scores evaluated against pathology-defined severe inflammation and fibrosis, via ROC analysis. RESULTS Two distinct sets of radiomic features capturing textural heterogeneity (patterns, wavelets, local entropy) within strictures were significantly associated (p&amp;lt;0.01) with severe inflammation and severe fibrosis; across both discovery (AUC=0.69, 0.69) and hold-out validation (AUCs =0.72,0.67). Radiological VAS had an AUC=0.64 for identifying severe inflammation and AUC =0.62 for identifying severe fibrosis (Figure 1). Clinical variables including sex, age, Montreal classification and stricture type were not significantly associated with severe inflammation or fibrosis, across discovery and validation groups (Table 1). CONCLUSIONS Radiomic analysis shows improved performance in identifying severe inflammation and severe fibrosis in CD strictures on CTE compared to radiological visual assessment scoring. Supplementing radiological visual assessment with quantitative radiomics could enable more accurate phenotyping of CD strictures potentially improving outcomes by personalizing treatment pathways.

Post cholecystectomy benign biliary stricture-isolated hepatic duct stricture: a proposed modification of the BISMUTH classification.

Post-cholecystectomy, benign biliary strictures are challenging for both patients and surgeons. Bismuth classified benign biliary strictures into 5 types. This study aimed to review these isolated hepatic duct strictures which were not included in Bismuth classification. The case records of all patients who presented with post-cholecystectomy benign biliary strictures between January 2005 and December 2020 at our centre were reviewed. Data regarding demography, type of stricture, and treatment strategy were entered into the standard proforma. There were 242 patients [type I-3.7%, type II-41.7%, type III-38.0%, type IV-6.6%, and type V-7.8%]. Five (2.1%) patients did not fit the Bismuth classification and were the focus of this study. In each of these patients, an isolated hepatic duct stricture (first-or second-order hepatic duct) was present, with no involvement of the common hepatic duct or hilar confluence. The addition of isolated hepatic duct stricture [type VI] to the Bismuth classification will enhance the original classification, help in reporting and management of this sub-set of patients.

Clinical characteristics, risk factors and diagnostic outcomes of patients presented with indeterminate biliary stricture: A multicenter study.

Indeterminate biliary stricture (IBS) is a frequently encountered clinical problem. In this study, we aimed to highlight the clinical characteristics, risk factors and diagnostic outcomes of patients presented with indeterminate biliary stricture. A Retrospective multicenter study included all patients diagnosed with IBS in the participating centers between 2017 and 2021. Data regarding IBS such as presentations, patient characteristics, diagnostic and therapeutic modalities were collected from the patients' records and then were analyzed. Data of 315 patients with IBS were retrospectively collected from 7 medical centers with mean age: 62.6 ± 11 years, females: 40.3% and smokers: 44.8%. For diagnosing stricture; Magnetic resonance imaging/Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRI/MRCP) was the most frequently requested imaging modality in all patients, Contrast enhanced computerized tomography (CECT) in 85% and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) in 23.8%. Tissue diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma was achieved in 14% only. The used therapeutic modalities were endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)/stenting in 70.5%, percutaneous trans-hepatic biliary drainage (PTD): 17.8%, EUS guided drainage: 0.3%, and surgical resection in 8%. The most frequent type of strictures was distal stricture in 181 patients, perihilar in 128 and intrahepatic in 6. Distal strictures had significant male predominance, with higher role for EUS for diagnosis and higher role for ERCP/stenting for drainage, while in the perihilar strictures, there was higher role for CECT and MRI/MRCP for diagnosis and more frequent use of PTD for drainage. Indeterminate biliary stricture is a challenging clinical problem with lack of tissue diagnosis in most of cases mandates an urgent consensus diagnostic and treatment guidelines.

CHALLENGING THE DOGMAS: LAPAROSCOPIC COMMON BILE DUCT EXPLORATION THROUGH DIATHERMY, CHOLEDOCHOTOMY AND PRIMARY CLOSURE. LONG TERM OUTCOMES IN A REFERRAL CENTER

Abstract Introduction Choledocholithiasis is a frequent pathology, unfortunately when its endoscopic management fails there is no consensus on how it should be addressed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety, feasibility and long-term outcomes of laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LCDBE) using electrosurgery (coagulation) for choledochotomy followed by primary closure after endoscopic treatment failure. Methods A retrospective cohort of 168 patients who underwent LCDBE from 2013 to 2018 which was conducted all by choledochotomy. Clinical demographics, operative outcomes, recurrence rate of CBD stones, and long-term bile duct complications were analyzed. Results The male/female ratio was 90/78 and mean age was 73 years. Stone clearance was successful in 167 patients (99.4%). Nonlethal complications were noted in 3 patients during the surgery or in the immediate postoperative (1.79%) and managed with T-tube or endoscopically. No cases of surgery-related mortality were observed. There were no signs of any type of biliary injury or stricture observed in any of the patients during the 24-month follow-up period. Conclusions LCBDE through choledochotomy with diathermy and primary closure can be performed without increased risk of operative complications such as important and visual-impairment bleeding as well as long-term complications such as bile duct stricture or recurrent CBD stones. LCBDE with diathermy and primary closure is a safe and effective treatment option for choledocholithiasis for failed ERCP in terms of long-term outcome as well as short-term outcome.

Long-Term Outcomes of Laparoscopic Common Bile Duct Exploration Through Diathermy, Choledochotomy, and Primary Closure: A 6-Year Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background and Objective: Choledocholithiasis is a frequent pathology, unfortunately when its endoscopic management fails, there is no consensus of how it should be addressed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety, feasibility, and long-term outcomes of laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LCBDE) using electrosurgery (coagulation) for choledochotomy followed by primary closure after endoscopic treatment failure. Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent LCBDE from 2013 to 2018 was conducted in Bogotá, Colombia. Clinical demographics, operative outcomes, recurrence rate of common bile duct stones, and long-term bile duct complications were analyzed. A descriptive analysis was performed. Results: A total of 168 patients were analyzed. Most of the patients were males (53.37%) with a median age of 73 years with no comorbidities (65%). Stone clearance was successful in 167 patients (99.4%). Nonlethal complications were noted in 3 patients during the surgery or in the immediate postoperative (1.79%) and managed with T-tube or endoscopically. No cases of mortality surgery related were observed. There were no signs of any type of biliary injury or stricture observed in any of the patients during the 24-month follow-up period. Conclusions: LCBDE with diathermy and primary closure is a safe and effective treatment option for choledocholithiasis for failed endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in terms of long-term outcome as well as short-term outcome.

Results of Numerical Modeling of Blood Flow in the Internal Jugular Vein Exhibiting Different Types of Strictures.

The clinical relevance of nozzle-like strictures in upper parts of the internal jugular veins remains unclear. This study was aimed at understanding flow disturbances caused by such stenoses. Computational fluid dynamics software, COMSOL Multiphysics, was used. Two-dimensional computational domain involved stenosis at the beginning of modeled veins, and a flexible valve downstream. The material of the venous valve was considered to be hyperelastic. In the vein models with symmetric 2-leaflets valve without upstream stenosis or with minor 30% stenosis, the flow was undisturbed. In the case of major 60% and 75% upstream stenosis, centerline velocity was positioned asymmetrically, and areas of reverse flow and flow separation developed. In the 2-leaflet models with major stenosis, vortices evoking flow asymmetry were present for the entire course of the model, while the valve leaflets were distorted by asymmetric flow. Our computational fluid dynamics modeling suggests that an impaired outflow from the brain through the internal jugular veins is likely to be primarily caused by pathological strictures in their upper parts. In addition, the jugular valve pathology can be exacerbated by strictures located in the upper segments of these veins.

Cholangioscopic classification of post-living donor liver transplantation biliary strictures can predict their natural history and response to therapy.

The study aimed to assess the morphology of post-living donor liver transplant (LDLT) anastomotic biliary strictures using cholangioscopy and assess the impact of morphology on its prognosis. A single centre, prospective, observational study was conducted at a tertiary care teaching hospital from August 2014 to July 2016. Single operator cholangioscopy (SOC) was used to assess post-LDLT anastomotic biliary strictures at presentation in 24 patients. Analysis included demographic and biochemical characteristics, time to stricture development, endoscopic procedural details, time to remodelling and development of recurrence on follow-up. Two distinct patterns of strictures were identified, type I with minimal inflammatory changes and type II with severe inflammatory changes. Guidewire cannulation was successful in 23 out of 24 (95.8%) patients. There was no significant difference between the two types of strictures based on aetiology of liver disease, CTP and MELD scores, time taken for the development or laboratory parameters at presentation. However, type II strictures required more sessions of dilatation (4 vs. 2; P=0.002), longer duration for resolution (282.5 vs. 201.5 days, P=0.095) and more number of stents. Addition of cholangioscopy tends to improve stricture cannulation rates at ERCP. It offers a useful classification of post-LDLT strictures with prognostic and therapeutic significance. Type II strictures tend to require more sessions of endotherapy than type I strictures over a longer duration for remodelling.

Anatomical classification and clinical outcomes of biliary strictures in living donor liver transplantation using right liver grafts.

This study aimed to classify the anatomical types of biliary strictures, including intrahepatic biliary stricture (IHBS), after living donor liver transplantations (LDLTs) using right liver grafts and evaluate their prognosis. Among 692 adult patients who underwent right liver LDLT, 198 recipients with biliary strictures (28.6%) were retrospectively reviewed. Based on data obtained during the first cholangiography, the patients' biliary strictures were classified into the following three types according to the levels and number of branches involved: Types 1 (anastomosis), 2 (second-order branch [a, one; b, two or more; c, extended to the third-order branch]), and 3 (whole graft [a, multifocal strictures; b, diffuse necrosis]). IHBS was defined as a nonanastomotic stricture. Among the 198 recipients with biliary strictures, the IHBS incidence rates were 38.4% ( n = 76). The most common type of IHBS was 2c ( n = 43, 56.6%), whereas Type 3 ( n = 10, 13.2%) was uncommon. The intervention frequency per year significantly differed among the types (Type 1, 2.3; Type 2a, 2.3; Type 2b, 2.8; Type 2c, 4.3; and Type 3, 7.2; p < 0.001). The intervention-free period for more than 1 year, which was as follows, also differed among the types: Type 1, 84.4%; Type 2a, 87.5%; Type 2b, 86.7%; Type 2c, 72.1%; and Type 3, 50.0% ( p = 0.048). The graft survival rates of Type 3 (80.0%) were significantly lower than those of the other types ( p = 0.001). IHBSs are relatively common in right liver LDLTs. Although Type 3 IHBSs are rare, they require more intensive care and are associated with poorer graft survival rates than anastomosis strictures and Type 2 IHBS.