Summary. Aim. To study the condition of the phagocytic part of immunity in cholangitis. One of the main ways of elimination of bacterial contamination of the body is the work of the immune system, namely phagocytosis. This especially applies to acute and chronic cholangitis. Materials and methods. Depending on the magnitude of pathological changes in the biliary system, we have identified three groups of patients in whom cholangitis occurs in conditions that progress and worsen. Group I – cholangitis in conditions of choledocholithiasis, group II – cholangitis in conditions of iatrogenic strictures of the main bile ducts, and group III – cholangitis in conditions of already performed reconstruction of the duct system. The functional activity of phagocytic cells was studied. Results and their discussion. It was established that the functional capabilities of neutrophils are depleted in proportion to the severity of cholangitis and its duration. In case of chronic undulating cholangitis, there is an insufficiency of the phagocytic link, phagocytes work on the verge of exhausting their reserve capabilities. Adhesion forces and the potential of intracellular lysosomal enzymes are especially affected. Conclusions. The functional capacity of phagocytic cells in cholangitis is characterized by a deficiency, the degree of virulence is to lie down in the severity of inflammation and thrive. The greatest manifestations of changes were revealed in acid-independent mechanisms of phagocytosis, which were characterized by impaired adhesion and the release of intracellular lysosomal enzymes.

Introduction. The problems of the pathogenesis of cholangitis have not been finally clarified to date. Aim: to investigate the dynamics of microbial contamination of the biliary tract in obstructive jaundice before and after decompression. Materials and methods. To determine the significance of the infectious factor in the development of acute cholangitis, bile from the common bile duct was examined in 40 patients with the biliary tract obstruction, which were divided into three groups according to the clinical course of the disease. Results. The quantitative infection indicators of the common bile duct were studied in asymptomatic choledocholithiasis, in obstructive jaundice without clinical manifestations of cholangitis and in a developed clinic of cholangitis. It has been proven that endoscopic decompression of the biliary tree allows to obtain an almost instant therapeutic effect, the number of colony-forming units of the pathogen decreases by almost three orders of magnitude within 3 days. However, in phlegmonous inflammation of the bile duct wall patients, this period was significantly lengthened, and the course of the disease, according to the Tokyo Guidelines (2013), was assessed as severe. Conclusion. In the study of quantitative infection indicators in patients with a bright clinic of cholangitis, a significant decrease in the number of colony-forming units was observed already on the third day after endoscopic papilosphincterotomy due to an adequate drainage effect. When a stone is driven into the large papilla of the duodenum, the common bile duct turns into an analogue of an abscess. Opening the papilla not only frees the mouth of the duct from the stone, but also provides free passage of the contents of the common bile duct (pus) into the duodenum. This provides an almost instant healing effect. When comparing the severity of cholangitis with the histological picture of the wall of the bile ducts (common bile duct, intrahepatic ducts), data were obtained that it is in patients with a severe form of the disease that phlegmonous inflammation of the wall of the duct system takes place. When comparing the severity of cholangitis with the histological picture of the wall of the bile ducts (common bile duct, intrahepatic ducts), data were obtained that phlegmonous inflammation of the wall of the duct system is observed precisely in patients with a severe form of the disease. Keywords: cholangitis, endoscopic decompression

Objective. To determine the possible triggering mechanism for the development and manifestation of acute suppurative cholangitis based on the study of the rheological, physical and chemical properties of bile. Methods. The bile of choledoch was studied inpatients (n=41) with calculous obstruction of the biliary tract, 25 of them had clinical picture of cholangitis. For comparison, 32 patients with asymptomatic choledocholithiasis were examined. Bile sampling was performed in each patient twice: the first bile intake was obtained during duodenoscopy and cannulation of the major papilla of the duodenum and endoscopic papillosphincterotomy and the second portion - during a follow-up examination three days after the endoscopic papillotomy. The biliary pH, viscosity, the amount of solids in it, the concentration of primary bile acids, microbial contamination and the intraductal pressure were studied. Results. For the first time, it has been hypothesized that a reduced concentration of bile acids in the bile causes a subsequent chain of triggering and manifestation of acute cholangitis. In the first bile intake the concentration of bile acids is three fold decreased in patients with acute cholangitis in comparison with the patients of control group, and in the second case it reliable increased but was lower than in the control group. It was a small amount of bile acids caused sedimentation of a colloidal bile solution, increased its viscosity and amount of dry sediment, caused precipitation and sludge. This chain process caused the instantaneous inclusion of concretion in sludge and acute obstruction of the choledoch. As a result of bacterial contamination, the microbial dissemination of bile increases by 10³-10⁴ times, the choledoch becomes like an abscess. Endoscopic papillosphincterotomy breaks this chain and surgical management is the definitive mode of treatment for decompression and biliary track sanitation. Conclusion. A decrease of bile acids in the content of the bile causes a chain process of sedimentation, the formation of sludge and a complete block of the choledoch, which is the primary trigger for cholangitis. What this paper adds Scientific and theoretical principles which in their essencedetermine the possible mechanism of the development of cholangitis due to choledocholithiasis have been developed. The physicochemical properties of bile play a decisive role in the triggering mechanism of cholangitis. Reduction of the synthesis of bile acids in the liver or their resorption in the intestine starts an avalanche-like process of sedimentation in the micellar solution of bile in the choledoch, sludge with the stones appears, the pH decreases, intraductal pressure rises, as a result of bacterial infection microbial contamination the microbal dissemination increases by 10³-10⁴ fold.

Objective. Complex estimation of state of the immune system tumoral chain in patients, suffering purulent cholangitis was done to determine diagnostic and prognostic immunological markers in different course of the disease. Materials and methods. Depending on pathological changes in biliary system of the investigated patients, they were distributed into three groups: I –cholangitis, caused by choledocholithiasis, ІІ – cholangitis in environment of cicatricial strictures, ІІІ – cholangitis in environment of performed reconstruction of ductal system. The levels of immunoglobulins A, M, G, and cytotoxical tumoral factors were investigated. Results. In acute course of inflammation the changes in immunoreactivity were determined, showing high levels of immunoglobulins of early immune response. In chronic cholangitis the enhanced raising of the blood serum cytotoxicity was noted, and its level connection with the disease clinical severity. Statistically significant high level of the middle molecular mass polypeptides have constituted the result of accumulation of secondary endogenic toxins with their insufficient elimination. Conclusion. The summarized amplitude in the immunoreactivity changes was maximally pronounced in patients with an acute course of cholangitis, demonstrating high levels of the early immune response immunoglobulins. In chronic course the signs of the immune response exhaustion dominated.

Objective. To evaluate the effect of neodymium laser application for successful decannulation in infants with a congenital and acquired tracheal stenosis and tracheostomy. Methods. 6 children were being treated in the 1^st City Clinical Hospital of Minsk in 2011-2014. All children underwent tracheostomy with a prolonged tracheal intubation and subsequent development of tracheostenosis. The children were examined using X-ray, esophagogastroscopy (PentaxEG-16K10), and bronchoscopy (Olympus MAF TYPE GM). Tracheal stenosis was treated using a medical multifunctional laser complex Multiline (“Linline Medical systems” Ltd, Belarus) equipped with a high-energy neodymium laser emitter. Children with excessive growth of granulations in thelumenof thetrachea underwent vaporization of granulations by means of a bulbous probe with a neodymium laser emitter (wavelength of 1340 nm, power: 15 W, 2 sec. exposure). In cicatricial tracheal stenosis, incisions were made with a laser scalpel (the wavelength of 1064 nm, power of 20 W). Results. Effective decannulation was observed in 5 children, including 4 children who underwent3-5 treatment sessions. In 1 child with the congenital subglottic larynx stenosis, to perform the decannulation became possible after 2 years and 24 sessions of laser recanalizationofstenosis and ablation of granulations. One child, after 9 treatment sessions, dropped out of observation, the result has not been defined. Conclusion. Tracheostomy in children promotes the formation of granulations in the tracheal lumen with the formation of stenosis, which subsequently hinders a successful decannulation. The neodymium laser application with the endoscopic access provides the visual direct approach to the focus of impact with the aim of laser-induced vaporization of soft tissues and recanalization of the trachealmass in children with short tracheal stenosis leads to successful decannulation. What this paper adds Firstly the neodymium laser for the treatment of congenital and acquired tracheal stenosis in children after tracheotomy has been used. The method has been developed for restoring the tracheal lumen by laser-inducedvaporization of excessive tracheal granulation and making scalpel incisions in the scar area. It is shown the neodymium laser application with the endoscopic access provides the visual direct approach to the focus of impact. Laser-induced vaporization of soft tissues and recanalization of the tracheal lumen in children with short tracheal stenosis leads to successful decannulation.