Delayed bilhemia complicating percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage: Successful treatment with primary coil embolization

Bilhemia is very rare and serious complication of percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PBD). Bile leakage occurs into the bloodstream through a fistula between the biliary tree and the hepatic venous system. We report a case of a 45-year-old woman with bilhemia complicated by PBD. She was successfully treated with primary coil embolization of biliovenous fistula tract. In the follow-up, bilirubin values dramatically regressed and returned to its normal limits. Rapid increase in total and direct bilirubin values after PBD without biliary tree dilatation almost always suggest biliovenous fistula. It is more likely that biliovenous fistulas will develop in catheters that are removed before the time of the tract maturation. Symptomatic bilhemia should be treated as soon as possible to prevent major complications like bile pulmonary embolism and biliary sepsis. Keywords: Bilhemia, Hemobilia, Hyperbilirubinemia, Embolizatio

SARS-CoV-2 vaccination modelling for safe surgery to save lives: data from an international prospective cohort study

Background Preoperative SARS-CoV-2 vaccination could support safer elective surgery. Vaccine numbers are limited so this study aimed to inform their prioritization by modelling. Methods The primary outcome was the number needed to vaccinate (NNV) to prevent one COVID-19-related death in 1 year. NNVs were based on postoperative SARS-CoV-2 rates and mortality in an international cohort study (surgical patients), and community SARS-CoV-2 incidence and case fatality data (general population). NNV estimates were stratified by age (18-49, 50-69, 70 or more years) and type of surgery. Best- and worst-case scenarios were used to describe uncertainty. Results NNVs were more favourable in surgical patients than the general population. The most favourable NNVs were in patients aged 70 years or more needing cancer surgery (351; best case 196, worst case 816) or non-cancer surgery (733; best case 407, worst case 1664). Both exceeded the NNV in the general population (1840; best case 1196, worst case 3066). NNVs for surgical patients remained favourable at a range of SARS-CoV-2 incidence rates in sensitivity analysis modelling. Globally, prioritizing preoperative vaccination of patients needing elective surgery ahead of the general population could prevent an additional 58 687 (best case 115 007, worst case 20 177) COVID-19-related deaths in 1 year. Conclusion As global roll out of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination proceeds, patients needing elective surgery should be prioritized ahead of the general population.The aim of this study was to inform vaccination prioritization by modelling the impact of vaccination on elective inpatient surgery. The study found that patients aged at least 70 years needing elective surgery should be prioritized alongside other high-risk groups during early vaccination programmes. Once vaccines are rolled out to younger populations, prioritizing surgical patients is advantageous