title: Hepatic resection for bilateral hepatolithiasis: a 20-year experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is increasing evidence showing that hepatic resection is probably the best definitive treatment for unilateral hepatolithiasis. However, the role of hepatic resection for bilateral hepatolithiasis is rarely mentioned in the literature.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed 197 patients who underwent hepatic resection for hepatolithiasis in Changhua Christian Hospital from December 1987 to December 2007. A total of 156 patients with unilateral hepatolithiasis were defined as the UNI group (control group), and 41 patients with bilateral hepatolithiasis were defined as the BI group (study group). The short- and long-term outcomes were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The BI group had longer operating time (200 min versus 173 min, P = 0.006), lower immediate stone clearance rate (56.1% versus 91.7%, P < 0.001), lower final stone clearance rate (75.6% versus 94.9%, P = 0.001), higher rate of stone recurrence (22.6% versus 6.1%, P = 0.009) and higher disease-related mortality (19.5% versus 5.1%, P = 0.006). Thirty patients with bilateral peripheral stones were indicated for bilateral hepatectomy, but only 20 (66.7%) of them actually underwent the proposed procedure. Of the patients who did not achieve immediate stone clearance, bilateral peripheral stones represented 88.9% (P = 0.044). Of the patients who had stone recurrence, patients less than 35 years old represented 42.9% (P = 0.007).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bilateral hepatolithiasis has worse outcomes than unilateral hepatolithiasis after being treated with hepatic resection. Regarding bilateral peripheral stones, there is often a discrepancy between the extent of stone-affected parenchyma and that of final liver resection, resulting in a lower immediate stone clearance rate. A higher stone recurrence rate was observed among younger population.
authors.affiliation: Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chia-Cheng
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Ping-Yi
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Chih-Jan
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: Yao-Li
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Shou-Tung
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Shou-Jen
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kuo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006498:Hepatectomy; D006801:Humans; D020347:Lithiasis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult