title: Treatment of hepatolithiasis: improvement of result by a systematic approach.
abstract: In previous decades the result of treatment of hepatolithiasis has been unsatisfactory. The incidence of residual stones after surgery might reach 77%. In the past 6 years we adopted a systematic approach comprised of accurate delineation of disease in the liver and biliary tract by direct cholangiography, ultrasonography, and computed tomography; tailored surgical treatment according to the extent of involvement of the liver and biliary tract; access to the intrahepatic ducts through the left duct or round ligament approach when there was difficulty with common bile duct exposure; routine use of flexible choledochoscopy; and application of electrohydraulic lithotripsy for large and impacted stones. Complete stone clearance was achieved in 114 of 127 patients (89.8%). Of those patients who had incomplete stone clearance, only six cases (4.7%) were related to technical failure of postoperative choledochoscopy. The incidence of stone recurrence was 15.8%, the lowest rate so far reported. It was the same regardless of whether a biliary drainage procedure had been performed, but the treatment for recurrent stones was facilitated by previous hepaticocutaneous jejunostomy. Overall the surgical treatment required for stone recurrence was of a lesser magnitude than that in the past.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital.
authors.forename: S T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: T K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.forename: F P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Mok
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wong
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001653:Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004630:Emergencies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies