Trans-abdominal ligation of the thoracic duct in patients with chylothorax after esophagectomy is technically easy and safe. It may be preferred over the trans-thoracic approach, especially after an initial trans-hiatal esophagectomy.

Objective The aim of the study was to evaluate the long-term functional outcome (exocrine and endocrine) and morphological changes in remnant pancreas after pancreatoduodenectomy and its clinical impact. Methods Periampullary carcinoma patients with minimum follow-up of 2 years and without recurrence were included (N = 102). Exocrine insufficiency includes clinical steatorrhea and fecal elastase-1 (FE-1) levels; endocrine insufficiency, glucose levels and glycated hemoglobin; and morphological changes, main pancreatic duct (MPD) diameter and thickness of remnant pancreas. Results The mean (standard deviation) follow-up period was 59 (26) months. Of the 102 patients, 81 (80%) had severely deficient FE-1 (0–100 μg/g). The preoperative MPD was significantly more and thickness of remnant pancreas was significantly less in patients with severely deficient FE-1. Overall, 15.6% (16/102) developed steatorrhea and improved on enzyme replacement therapy. The presence of MPD stricture (P = 0.008) and weight loss (P = 0.001) were significantly associated with steatorrhea. New-onset diabetes was seen in 17% (15/90) patients, of whom 3 of 5 developed it after 4 years (range, 4–7 years). The blood glucose was controlled on oral hypoglycemics in 2 (10/15) of 3 patients. Conclusions The assessment by FE-1 indicates loss of exocrine function in more than 90%, whereas only 1 of 6 developed steatorrhea and new-onset diabetes. Morphological changes especially MPD stricture affect the functional status of remnant pancreas.

Aim: Presence of portal hypertension (PH) adversely affects perioperative and long-term outcome in patients with postcholecystectomy benign biliary stricture (PCBBS). Identification of factors related to the development of PH will help to prevent this complication.Methods: From September 2010 to December 2012 patients with PCBBS were studied prospectively for correlation of portal pressure (PP) with injury repair interval (IRI), biliary pressure (BP), severity of hepatic fibrosis (FS), severity of hepatic inflammation (IS) and obstructive biliary pathology score (OBPS). Appropriate statistical methods employed and P 2 0.05 (two-sided) was considered statistically significant. Spearman's rank correlation coefficients (P-value) of FS with IS and OBPS were 0.561 (0.003) and 0.371 (0.04), respectively. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient of serum bilirubin with OBPS was 0.550 (P = 0.001). Incidence of PH was 33.3% and mean fall of PP following biliary repair was 6.2 1 1.98 mmHg (P < 0.0001).Conclusion: PP in patients with PCBBS has a good correlation with IS, and a fair correlation with both FS and IRI whereas PP was not directly related to BP and OBPS; further prospective trials are mandatory to confirm this correlation, and to evaluate mechanism of fall in PP following biliary decompression.