Eight cases of major haemobilia have been seen by the Surgical Hepatobiliary service at Westmead Hospital between 1979 and 1984. Two occurred following blunt abdominal trauma, three after percutaneous biliary drainage or liver biopsy, two in association with postoperative haemorrhagic pancreatitis and one because of an abscess complicating hepatic hydatid disease. Coeliac and superior mesenteric angiography were carried out in all patients, and false aneurysms were demonstrated in seven of the eight. A marked coagulopathy was present in the remaining patient, in whom bleeding stopped without intervention when the coagulopathy was reversed. Those with false aneurysms were treated by radiologically controlled transarterial embolization with gelfoam, acrylate or Gianturco coils, and bleeding was controlled in all. There was one death from overwhelming sepsis in the patient with the hepatic abscess. It is concluded that percutaneous radiologically controlled embolization is the treatment of choice for most cases of haemobilia, except when there is major hepatic sepsis.

Despite improvements in surgical techniques, some complex bile duct strictures continue to present difficult management problems. Strictures recurring after previous biliary-enteric bypass, those associated with established biliary cirrhosis or coexistent malignancy, and those that follow hepatic resection may pose almost insuperable technical and physiological problems. Percutaneous transhepatic balloon dilatation will not solve all problems, but can help in some instances. Six patients are presented in whom this technique has been used in attempts to overcome particular problems. The strengths and weaknesses of the method are discussed.Key words: traumatic stricture of bile duct, percutaneous dilatation. (1985) Endoscopic balloon dilatation of biliary strictures. Med.

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) was attempted on 70 occasions in 63 consecutive patients presenting with advanced ischacmia. The procedure was technically succcssful in 64 (91%) with hacmodynamic improvement in 39 (56%) and clinical improvement maintained at 6 months in 51 (73%). Follow‐up ranged from 6 months to 4 years and life‐table analysis showed 60% succcss at 1 year and 58% success at 2 years. Overall limbsalvage was 76%. Complications occurred in 6 (9%) and in one case this lead to amputation. The relationship of a number of associated factors to outcome was assessed. The presence of cardiac disease requiring treatment for failure or angina was a highly significant adverse factor (P < 0.001). Decreasing age and greater extent of disease were also significant adverse factors (P < 0.05). Therefore, because of its low morbidity and cost. PTA can be seen as a useful procedure in patients presenting with advanced peripheral vascular discase

Pre-operative imaging of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) is important in determining suitability for operation and operative approach. Ultrasound imaging is an excellent screening modality but is relatively poor at identifying renal arteries and the extent of iliac involvement. Computed tomography scanning with intravenous contrast and arteriography are invasive modalities that are associated with a small risk. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers the potential of accurate anatomical definition without use of contrast agents and passage of an intra-arterial catheter. Eight patients who had their AAA evaluated with MRI are reported. All had renal arteries accurately defined, intra-aneurysmal thrombosis was well delineated, and iliac extension was correctly identified in four cases. The initial experience has been most encouraging and the authors consider that MRI may become the investigation of choice for pre-operative AAA assessment.

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