Outcome of gallbladder preservation in surgical management of primary bile duct stones.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the methods and outcome of gallbladder preservation in surgical treatment of primary bile duct stones.


METHODS
Thirty-five patients with primary bile duct stones and intact gallbladders received stone extraction by two operative approaches, 23 done through the intrahepatic duct stump (RBD-IDS, the RBD-IDS group) after partial hepatectomy and 12 through the hepatic parenchyma by retrograde puncture (RBD-RP, the RBD-RP group). The gallbladders were preserved and the common bile duct (CBD) incisions were primarily closed. The patients were examined postoperatively by direct cholangiography and followed up by ultrasonography once every six months.


RESULTS
In the RBD-IDS group, residual bile duct stones were found in three patients, which were cleared by a combination of fibrocholedochoscopic extraction and lithotripsy through the drainage tracts. The tubes were removed on postoperative day 22 (range: 16-42 days). In the RBD-RP group, one patient developed hemobilia and was cured by conservative therapy. The tubes were removed on postoperative day 8 (range: 7-11 days). Postoperative cholangiography showed that all the gallbladders were well opacified, contractile and smooth. During 54 (range: 6-120 months) months of follow-up, six patients had mildly thickened cholecystic walls without related symptoms and further changes, two underwent laparotomies because of adhesive intestinal obstruction and gastric cancer respectively, three died of cardiopulmonary diseases. No stones were found in all the preserved gallbladders.


CONCLUSIONS
The intact gallbladders preserved after surgical extraction of primary bile duct stones will not develop gallstones. Retrograde biliary drainage is an optimal approach for gallbladder preservation.
Tian
Ming-Guo
MG
Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical College, Jining City 272129, Shandong Province, China. tian88@hotmail.com
Shi
Wei-Jin
WJ
Wen
Xin-Yuan
XY
Yu
Hai-Wen
HW
Huo
Jing-Shan
JS
Zhou
Dong-Feng
DF
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002758:Cholangiography; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D005704:Gallbladder; D042882:Gallstones / Q000601:surgery*; D006498:Hepatectomy / Q000379:methods; D006500:Hepatic Duct, Common / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged