title: Laparoscopic left hemihepatectomy for left intrahepatic duct stones.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The feasibility of laparoscopic left hemihepatectomy for the management of intrahepatic duct (IHD) stones was evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  The clinical data of 26 consecutive patients who underwent total laparoscopic left hemihepatectomy for IHD stones at Gyeongsang National University Hospital between January 2009 and June 2011 were reviewed retrospectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean operation time was 312.1 ± 63.4 minutes and the mean postoperative hospital stay was 11.8 ± 5.0 days. There were 2 cases of postoperative bile leakage and 3 cases of intra-abdominal fluid collection, which were successfully managed conservatively. Remnant stones were detected in 2 patients. The initial success rate of stone clearance was 92.3% (24 of 26). The remnant stones were located in the common bile duct in both cases and were removed by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and endoscopic sphincterotomy. Therefore, the final success rate of stone clearance was 100% (26 of 26). During a mean follow-up of 22 months (range, 7 to 36 months), there was no patient with recurrent stone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laparoscopic surgery could be an effective treatment modality for the management of IHD stones in select patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Korea.
authors.forename: Chi-Young
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Ka-Jeong
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Soon-Chan
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Sang-Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Young-Tae
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Ju
authors.forename: Young-Joon
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sang-Kyung
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Woo-Song
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Ha
authors.forename: Soon-Tae
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Eun-Jung
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Jung