OBJECTIVE: Laparoscopic resection of choledochal cyst (CC) has become a popular approach. As the discussion about optimal treatment and technical strategies continues, we aimed to investigate perspectives of IPEG members.
METHODS: An online survey was conducted in 2023 on behalf of the IPEG Research Committee. IPEG members were asked to complete an anonymous questionnaire that included 36 items on the management of CC.
RESULTS: 148 members responded to the survey (North America:49/Asia:44/Europe:23/South America:21/Others:11) and 116 completed all questions. Most surgeons (92.5%) operate on less than 5 cases annually. Diagnostic tools of choice were Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI, 95.9%) and ultrasonography (US, 74.5%). Regarding fusiform-type CC, operative indications were cyst size greater than 10 mm (68.9%), typical symptoms (78.5%), or anomalous pancreatico-biliary junction (63.8%). In unilateral intrahepatic biliary cysts (type IVa) cases, 81.3% of respondents do not perform a simultaneous liver resection with the initial cyst resection. While 22.0% resect the CC at diagnosis, even if asymptomatic, a larger group of surgeons (41%; 49/118) wait until the infant reaches six months. Intraoperative cholangiography and choledochoscopy are performed routinely by 38.9% and 13.7%, respectively. The majority (52.5%) ligates the common bile duct stump just below the CC. Laparoscopic reconstructions are performed by retrocolic hepatico-jejunostomy (48.3%) or hepatico-duodenostomy (45.8%) at similar rates, but when done open, 71.2% of respondents prefer retrocolic hepatico-jejunostomy. For the laparoscopic anastomosis, interrupted sutures with intracorporeal knot tying were most often utilized (48.3%).
CONCLUSIONS: Inidividual pediatric surgeons treat a small number of patients with CC each year. Laparosopic and open reconstruction techniques vary, likely due to technical challenges.
METHODS: III.

Impact of timing of repair on outcomes of patients repaired with Hepp-Couinaud hepatico-jejunostomy (HC-HJ) after bile duct injury (BDI) during cholecystectomy remains debated. This is an observational retrospective study at a tertiary referral hepato-biliary center. HC-HJ was always performed in patients without sepsis or bile leak and with dilated bile ducts. Timing of repair was classified as: early (≤ 2 weeks), intermediate (> 2 weeks, ≤ 6 weeks), and delayed (> 6 weeks). 114 patients underwent HC-HJ between 1994 and 2022: 42.1% underwent previous attempts of repair at referring institutions (Group A) and 57.9% were referred without any attempt of repair before referral (Group B). Overall, a delayed HC-HJ was performed in 78% of patients; intermediate and early repair were performed in 17% and 6%, respectively. In Group B, 10.6% of patients underwent an early, 27.3% an intermediate, and 62.1% a delayed repair. Postoperative mortality was nil. Median follow-up was 106.7 months. Overall primary patency (PP) attainment rate was 94.7%, with a 5- and 10-year actuarial primary patency (APP) of 84.6% and 84%, respectively. Post-repair bile leak was associated with PP loss in the entire population (odds ratio [OR] 9.75, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.64-57.87, p = 0.012); no correlation of PP loss with timing of repair was noted. Treatment of anastomotic stricture (occurred in 15.3% of patients) was performed with percutaneous treatment, achieving absence of biliary symptoms in 93% and 91% of cases at 5 and 10 years, respectively. BDI can be successfully repaired by HC-HJ regardless of timing when surgery is performed in stable patients with dilated bile ducts and without bile leak.

Bilio-enteric diversion is the current surgical standard in patients after deceased donor liver transplantation (DDLT) with a biliary anastomotic stricture failing interventional treatment and requiring surgical repair. In contrast to this routine, the aim of this study was to show the feasibility and safety of a duct-to-duct biliary reconstruction.
Between 2012 and 2019, we performed a total of 308 DDLT in 292 adult patients. The overall biliary complication rate was 20.5%. Patients with non-anastomotic or combined strictures were excluded from this analysis. Out of 273 patients after a primary duct-to-duct reconstruction, 20 (7.3%) developed late isolated AS. Seven of these patients failed interventional biliary treatment and required a surgical repair.
Duct-to-duct reconstruction was feasible and successful in all patients. Liver function tests fully normalized and no patient required any form of biliary intervention after surgery. One patient with intraoperative cholangiosepsis was ICU bound for 5 days, and another patient with a subhepatic abscess required percutaneous drainage. There was no perioperative death. The median length of hospital stay was 8 (5-17) days. The median time of follow-up after relaparotomy was 1593 (434-2495) days.
Duct-to-duct reconstruction is a feasible and safe option in selected patients requiring surgical repair for isolated AS after DDLT. This approach preserves the biliary anatomy and avoids the potential side effects of a bilio-enteric diversion.

UNASSIGNED: Choledochal cyst is a congenital disease in which surgical treatment is preliminary because of the potential for malignancy. In recent years, increase in technological developments and laparoscopic experience have popularised the use of laparoscopy in adult choledochal cyst surgery. This study aimed to present the results of eight adult patients undergoing laparoscopic choledochal excision surgery.
UNASSIGNED: Patients who underwent laparoscopic choledochal cyst excision and hepatico-jejunostomy anastomoses between the years 2013 and 2018 were evaluated retrospectively. Demographic characteristics, preoperative and postoperative findings, pathological results and final condition of the patients were examined.
UNASSIGNED: Of the eight patients, three were males and five were females. Median age was 41.5 years (22-49). One of the patients had Type IVa and the rest had Type I choledochal cysts. Laparoscopic choledochal cyst excision, cholecystectomy, and hepatico-jejunostomy anastomoses were performed on all of the patients. One patient was converted to open surgery. Three patients had postoperative biliary leakage. Duration of the operations was determined as median 330 (240-480) minutes and blood loss was 50 (10-100) mL. Hospitalization of the patients was median 6 (4-23) days and follow-up time was median 20 (2-65) months. In the late period, cholangitis occured in a patient who was treated with medical therapy and there was no mortality in the follow-up period.
UNASSIGNED: We suggest that laparoscopic choledochal cyst excision in adults may be an alternative to open surgery due to the satisfactory results in the late period in spite of early problems like self-limiting bile leakage.

The authors report technical details of robotic bilioenteric reconstruction done for variable indications: choledochal cyst and biliary stricture. Robotic bilioenteric anastomosis as alternative to open reconstruction, offers advantages of minimal access surgery without compromising the precision of open surgery for hilar dissection and reconstruction. Both patients recovered uneventfully and remain symptom-free 18 and 15 months after surgery.

Cholecystectomy is one of the commonest operations performed throughout the world and bile duct injury is the worst complication of this procedure. In a prospective and retrospective study 25 patients were seen in a tertiary care hospital over a period of 10 years. 72% of patients were referred from other hospitals. 48% of patients presented within one month of injury. Pain was the commonest presentation (92%) followed by jaundice (80%). Liver functions were deranged in 70% of patients, USG revealed biliary dilatation in 69.6% of patients. ERCP was done in 16 patients and revealed cut off of the common hepatic duct in 43.8% of patients. Intraoperative findings revealed adhesions in 96% of patients. 48% of patients had bile duct stricture. Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy was the commonest procedure performed. All patients showed improvement in liver function after surgery. Wound infection was the commonest complication seen in 32% patients. 3 patients died in our series.