Preventive Saline Irrigation of the Bile Duct After the Endoscopic Removal of Common Bile Duct Stones

Background

Small stone fragments after an endoscopic stone extraction for choledocholithiasis may act as the nidus for recurrent choledocholithiasis. Therefore, efforts to eliminate the nidus might reduce the recurrence of choledocholithiasis and cholangitis related to choledocholithiasis.

Aims

The purpose of this study was to determine whether an additional preventive saline irrigation of the bile duct after the endoscopic removal of common bile duct stones would decrease residual stones and the recurrence of cholangitis.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was performed for the consecutively collected data about the patients who underwent the complete endoscopic treatment for common bile duct stone.

Results

Among 99 patients, 45 patients underwent saline irrigation. Residual stones were detected in 18 patients (18.2 %). The incidences of residual stones were 8.9 % (4 of 45 patients) in the irrigation group and 25.9 % (14 of 54 patients) in the non-irrigation group (P = 0.037). In multivariate analysis, preventive saline irrigation was found to be the only significant factor for the decrease of residual stones (HR = 0.258, P = 0.039). When analyzing the occurrence of recurrent cholangitis and the procedure related to complications, there were no significant differences according to the performance of preventive saline irrigation of the bile duct.

Conclusions

Preventive saline irrigation could reduce the residual common bile duct stones without complications.     

Laparoscopic management of common bile duct stones: transcystic approach and choledochotomy

The purpose of this study was to review our experience with laparoscopic common bile duct (CBD) exploration by the transcystic approach and choledochotomy. We selected the transcystic approach for patients whose CBD stones were less than five in number and smaller than 9mm in diameter, and whose CBD was less than 15mm in diameter on cholangiograms. Among 217 patients with CBD stones treated laparoscopically, the transcystic approach was performed successfully in 91 of 104 patients in whom it was attempted (87.5%). The other 126 patients underwent laparoscopic choledochotomy, followed by ductal closure with transcystic drainage in 59, T‐tube drainage in 46, primary ductal closure in 19, and choledochoduodenostomy in 1. Choledochotomy was converted to open surgery in only 1 patient. The transcystic approach was associated with shorter hospital stay and less morbidity than choledochotomy. However, choledochotomy also had an acceptably low rate of complications. Bile leaks occurred more frequently in those with primary ductal closure than in those with transcystic drainage or T‐tube drainage. Residual stones were found in 2 patients with the transcystic approach and in 10 with choledochotomy. The residual stones were removed through the T‐tube tract by choledochoscopy in 7 of these 10 patients. From these results we conclude that laparoscopic management of CBD stones is feasible for almost all patients with CBD stones. It is considered to be safe and effective and has the advantage of being a single‐stage procedure.     

胆石症患者Oddi括约肌压力表现及其意义

目的探讨胆石症与Oddi括约肌（SO）功能的关系。方法对已行外科胆总管探查术患者术后6周进行胆道镜经T管窦道胆道测压,项目包括s0基础压、s0收缩幅度、sO收缩频率、胆总管压力。探查术原因71例为胆石症,分为胆囊结石组（20例）、胆总管结石组（22例）和肝内胆管结石组（29例）;9例因外伤,作为正常对照。胆道镜先明确有无胆道结石,如有结石在取石前后分别测压,如无结石则直接测压。结果胆道镜检查50例存在胆管结石者取石前后各测压指标均无统计学差异。胆囊结石组、胆总管结石组各指标与对照组无明显差异（P〉0．05）;但肝内胆管结石组的S0基础压、s0收缩幅度、胆总管压力均较对照组明显降低[（8．92±-5．87）mmHg比（16．21±3．27）mmHg、（58．89±26．40）mmHg比（106．30±54．28）mmHg、（8．49±6．89）mmHg比（13．56±2．93）mmHg],差异均有统计学意义（P〈0．05）,SO收缩频率无统计学差异（P〉0．05）。结论胆道测压不能作为判断胆管内有无结石的可靠依据;肝内胆管结石患者存在SO功能异常,其SO基础压和收缩幅度、胆总管压力均明显下降。     

Analysis of symptomatic recurrences of common bile ducts stones after endoscopic removal: Factors related to early or multiple recurrences

Early or multiple recurrences of symptomatic common bile duct (CBD) stones are troublesome late complications after endoscopic stone removal. We aimed to determine the factors related to early or multiple recurrences of CBD stones.We retrospectively analyzed patients who underwent endoscopic CBD stone extraction in a single institute between January 2006 and December 2015. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to the number and interval of CBD stone recurrences: single versus multiple (≥2) and early (<1.5 years) versus late (≥1.5 years) recurrence.After exclusion, 78 patients were enrolled and followed up for a median of 1974 (IQR: 938–3239) days. Twenty-seven (34.6%) patients experienced multiple recurrences (≥2 times), and 26 (33.3%) patients experienced early first recurrence (<1.5 years). In the multivariate analysis, CBD angulation was independently related to multiple CBD stone recurrence (OR: 4.689, P = .016), and endoscopic papillary large balloon dilation was independently related to late first CBD stone recurrence (OR: 3.783, P = .025). The mean CBD angles were more angulated with increasing instances of recurrence (0, 1, 2, 3, and ≥4 times) with corresponding values of 150.3°, 148.2°, 143.6°, 142.2°, and 126.7°, respectively (P = .011). The period between the initial treatment and first recurrence was significantly longer than the period between the first and second recurrence (P = .048).In conclusion, greater CBD angulation is associated with the increased number of CBD stone recurrence, and EPLBD delays the recurrence of CBD stones after endoscopic CBD stone removal.     

Hepatectomy with primary closure of common bile duct for hepatolithiasis combined with choledocholithiasis

AIM: To evaluate the feasibility of hepatectomy and primary closure of common bile duct for intrahepatic and extrahepatic calculi. METHODS: From January 2008 to May 2013, anatomic hepatectomy followed by biliary tract exploration without biliary drainage(non-drainage group) was performed in 43 patients with intrahepatic and extrahepatic calculi. After hepatectomy, flexible choledochoscopy was used to extract residual stones and observe the intrahepatic bile duct and common bile duct(CBD) for determination of biliary stricture and dilatation. Function of the sphincter of Oddi was determined by manometry of the CBD. Primary closure of the CBD without T-tube drainage or bilioenteric anastomosis was performed when there was no biliary stricture or sphincter of Oddi dysfunction. Dexamethasone and anisodamine were intravenously injected 2-3 d after surgery to prevent postoperative retrograde infection due to intraoperative bile duct irrigation, and to maintain relaxation of the sphincter of Oddi, respectively. During the same period, anatomic hepatectomy followed by biliary tract exploration with biliary drainage(drainage group) was performed in 48 patients as the control group. Postoperative complications and hospital stay were compared between the two groups.RESULTS: There was no operative mortality in either group of patients. Compared to intrahepatic and extrabiliary drainage, hepatectomy with primary closure of the CBD(non-drainage) did not increase the incidenceof complications, including residual stones, bile leakage, pancreatitis and cholangitis(P > 0.05). Postoperative hospital stay and costs were nevertheless significantly less in the non-drainage group than in the drainage group. The median postoperative hospital stay was shorter in the non-drainage group than in the drainage group(11.2 ± 2.8 d vs 15.4 ± 2.1 d, P = 0.000). The average postoperative cost of treatment was lower in the non-drainage group than in the drainage group(29325.6 ± 5668.2 yuan vs 32933.3 ± 6235.1 yuan, P = 0.005). CONCLUSION: Hepatectomy followed by choledochoendoscopic stone extraction without biliary drainage is a safe and effective treatment of hepatolithiasis combined with choledocholithiasis.     

Gallstone Pancreatitis: A Prospective Study on the Incidence of Cholangitis and Clinical Predictors of Retained Common Bile Duct Stones

Objective: The aim of this study was to define the incidence of cholangitis in gallstone pancreatitis, in the absence of cholangitis, to identify the clinical predictors of persistent common bile duct (CBD) stones at endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERCP) or at intraoperative cholangiography (IOC).
Methods: A total of 122 consecutive patients with acute gallstone pancreatitis were prospectively evaluated for the presence of CBD stones as determined by elective ERCP or IOC. Urgent ERCP was restricted to patients with concomitant cholangitis. APACHE II scores and serial laboratory data were obtained.
Results: Four (3%) patients had cholangitis and all underwent urgent ERCP successfully. Eighteen (15%) patients without cholangiogram were excluded. The remaining 100 patients underwent elective ERCP or IOC on a mean of hospital day 6.8. Twenty-one (21%) patients had persistent CBD stones. Univariate analysis detected significant differences in serum total bilirubin, ALT, and alkaline phosphatase levels between patients with and without persistent CBD stones. On multivariate analysis, serum total bilirubin on hospital day 2 was the best predictor of CBD stones. A serum total bilirubin level > 1.35 mg/dl had a sensitivity of 90.5% and specificity of 63%. Age, gender, mean APACHE II score, amylase, and presence of CBD dilation on ultrasound were not predictive of CBD stones.
Conclusions: In patients with gallstone pancreatitis, 1) cholangitis is uncommon, and 2) the best clinical predictor of persistent CBD stones is serum total bilirubin on hospital day 2.     

Mirizzi综合征的微创外科治疗

目的 总结应用腹腔镜和内镜联合治疗Mirizzi综合征的初步经验，探讨微创外科对Mirizzi综合征的治疗效果。方法 对21例CsendesⅡ型，Ⅲ型Mirizzi综合征患者，采用内镜鼻胆管引流术（ENBD）配合实施腹腔镜胆囊切除，胆总管探查，胆囊胆管瘘I期缝合修补术（内衬ENBD导管）。结果 19例手术成功，2例中转开腹。术中结石清除率100％，无胆漏，胆道出血等术后并发症。手术时间平均93.6min，术后平均住院9．4d。术后随访18－41个月，未有结石复发。结论 应用腹腔镜和内镜手段，综合治疗Mirizzi综合征在技术上是切实可行的。但腹腔镜下缝合修复胆管壁缺损较困难，适宜在腹腔镜技术较成熟的单位开展。     

Sequential Endoscopic Papillary Balloon Dilatation Following Limited Sphincterotomy for Common Bile Duct Stones

Endoscopic papillary balloon dilatation (EPBD) has been recently used in conjunction with endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) for the removal of common bile duct (CBD) stones. The present study was aimed at assessing the safety and outcome of sequential EPBD following EST for CBD stones. A total of 74 patients (43 females, mean age 41 years) with ≥10-mm stone(s) in the CBD were selected for the procedure, which included limited EST followed by EPBD with balloon dilators of 10–18 mm in size. Eleven patients had undergone EST and unsuccessful stone removal earlier. Forty-nine patients had symptoms of CBD stones, while 25 were detected on imaging. Eleven patients had previous CBD stent in situ and four had T-tube in situ. The stone size was 10–12 mm in 34, 13–14 mm in 26, and ≥15 mm in 14 patients. Thirty-one patients had a single stone, while 43 had ≥2 stones. The successful removal of stones was achieved in 68 (91.9%) patients; 62 in the first attempt, five in the second, and one in the third. Six patients were deemed to be “failures.” In two of them, the stones could be removed after mechanical lithotripsy. Complications were seen in 16 patients, with self-limiting pain in 13, self-limiting ooze in five, melaena in one, and mild pancreatitis in two. One patient had impaction of the dormia basket. We conclude that EPBD following EST is safe and effective in removing stones ≥10 mm in size in over 90% of patients.     

Superiority of 10-mm-wide Balloon over 8-mm-wide Balloon in Papillary Dilation for Bile Duct Stones: A Matched Cohort Study

Background/Aims:

Endoscopic papillary balloon dilation (EPBD) is a possible alternative to endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) for common bile duct (CBD) stones. To date, 10- and 8-mm EPBD have not been fully compared.

Patients and Methods:

Patients who underwent EPBD for CBD stones at two Japanese tertiary care centers between May 1994 and January 2014 were identified. Matched pairs with 10- and 8-mm EPBD were generated. Short- and long-term outcomes were compared between the two groups.

Results:

A total of 869 patients were identified (61 and 808 patients for 10- and 8-mm EPBD, respectively), and 61 well-balanced pairs were generated. The rate of complete stone removal within a single session was higher in the 10-mm EPBD group than in the 8-mm EPBD group (69% vs. 44%, P < 0.001), and use of lithotripsy was less frequent in the 10-mm EPBD group (23% vs. 56%, P < 0.001). The rates of post-ERCP pancreatitis were similar between the 10- and 8-mm EPBD groups (11% vs. 8%). Cumulative biliary complication-free rates were not statistically different between the two groups: 88% [95% confidence interval (CI): 79–97%] and 94% (95% CI: 88–100%) at 1 year and 69% (95% CI: 56–85%) and 80% (95% CI: 69–93%) at 2 years in the 10- and 8-mm EPBD groups, respectively. In the 10-mm EPBD group, ascending cholangitis was not observed, and pneumobilia was found in 5% of cases during the follow-up period.

Conclusions:

EPBD using a 10-mm balloon for CBD stones is safe and more effective than 8-mm EPBD. The sphincter function is highly preserved after 10-mm EPBD.     

Percutaneous removal of common bile duct stones using a modified balloon technique

To evaluate the effectiveness of percutaneous removal of common bile duct (CBD) stones using a modified balloon technique (balloon catheter sphincteroplasty and expulsion of the stones using half-captured balloons within the sheath) in patients difficult to treat with endoscopy.Fifty patients underwent a modified balloon technique (balloon group), and 53 patients underwent CBD stone removal by the basket method (stone basket group) between 2016 and 2019. We compared the balloon and stone basket groups to evaluate the effectiveness of the modified balloon technique. Outcome variables such as demographics, technical success rates, procedural details, and complications were analyzed. Statistical analysis was performed using Student t test, Fisher exact test, or the χ² test.The technical success rate in the balloon group was 66% (33/50) in 1 session, 32% (16/50) in 2 sessions, and 2% (1/50) in 3 sessions. That of the stone basket group was 45% (24/53) in 1 session, 38% (20/53) in 2 sessions, and 17% (9/53) in 3 sessions.The total procedure time was significantly shorter in the balloon group (29.5 ± 15.1 minutes) than in the stone basket group (41.7 ± 20.2 minutes) (P < .01), whereas the number of stones was higher in the balloon group than in the stone basket group (P = .03). Maximal stone size, balloon size, pancreatitis, and hospitalization stay did not show statistical differences between the 2 groups. Most complications (9 patients, balloon group; 8 patients, stone basket group) were mild and transient. Major complications occurred in one patient in the stone basket group, who experienced hemobilia due to arterial injury caused by percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage, which was treated by endovascular embolization without mortality.The modified balloon technique is an effective and safe treatment method for CBD stone removal in patients presenting difficulties in the endoscopic approach.     

Results of retrograde transhepatic biliary drainage after a common bile duct exploration for choledocholithiasis

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The purpose of this study is to assess the benefits of retrograde transhepatic biliary drainage (RTBD) and a primary closure after a common bile duct (CBD) exploration for patients with choledocholithiasis. METHODOLOGY: We analyzed 143 patients with choledocholithiasis who had been managed by RTBD after undergoing a CBD exploration retrospectively over a 12-year period. The main outcome criteria were frequency of occurrence of post-operative complications which needed a relaparotomy and the clinical long-term results. In addition, the radiographic diameter changes of the CBD at the site of the primary closure and liver function tests after RTBD were also evaluated. RESULTS: The frequency of bile peritonitis in the patients undergoing the RTBD procedure was only 0.7% (1 out of 143 cases). Cholangiography via the RTBD tube revealed no severe stenosis at the site of primary closure. Liver function returned to normal on day 3 after RTBD (p<0.05). Recurrence of common bile duct stones developed in 2 patients in this series during the follow-up (1-12 years). CONCLUSIONS: RTBD and a primary closure of the CBD after CBD exploration appears to be a clinically safe and effective method for such patients with choledocholithiasis who had undergone a complete stone removal intra-operatively.     

Diagnostic value of magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography to detect bile duct stones in acute biliary pancreatitis

Objectives

This study aims to evaluate the diagnostic value of magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) in detecting common bile duct (CBD) stones in acute biliary pancreatitis (ABP).

Combination of Preoperative EST,Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy with Choledochotomy,and Postoperative Cholangioscopy in the Treatment of Common Bile Duct Stones

A case of common duct stones, successfully managed with a combination of preoperative EST, laparoscopic choledochotomy and postoperative choledochoscopic stone extraction, is reported. A 32-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of jaundice and right hypochon-dralgia of several-days' duration. CT, US and ERCP revealed stones in the gallbladder and common bile duct. EST was performed to remove the stones in the common bile duct prior to laparoscopic cholecystectomy. However, the patient developed pancreatitis as a complication of EST, which was successfully managed by conservative therapy. Though some stones remained in the common duct following the first trial of EST, the patient rejected a second round of EST. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy and choledochotomy were performed to remove the gallbladder and the stones remaining in the common bile duct. A T tube was placed in the incised common bile duct for management of possible retained stones. Twenty days after the surgery, successful postoperative cholangioscopy was performed, and the stones remaining in the common duct were removed. Hyperamylasemia and pancreatitis are relatively common complications of EST occurring in about 7% of cases, but only 3% of these patients experience severe pancreatitis, requiring hospitalization. Conservative therapy is always the treatment of choice. In our particular patient, pancreatitis caused by EST was successfully managed by decompression with ENBD and administration of ulinastatin. Residual stones in the CBD were completely removed by laparoscopic common bile duct exploration following EST and postoperative cholangioscopy through the T tube fistula.     

Efficacy of Spyglass-Guided Electrohydraulic Lithotripsy in Difficult Bile Duct Stones

Background/Aims:

We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Spyglass-guided electrohydraulic lithotripsy (EHL) for difficult common bile duct stones (CBD) not amenable to conventional endoscopic therapy.

Design:

A retrospective study evaluating the efficacy of Spyglass-guided EHL in treating difficult CBD stones, in a single tertiary care center.

Patients and Methods:

All patients who underwent Spyglass-guided EHL from 2012 to 2013 were compared with a historical cohort who had ECSWL.

Results:

A total number of 13 patients underwent Spyglass-guided EHL, 8 (61.5%) of them were males. The mean age was 46.5 ± 5.6 years. Bile duct clearance was achieved in 13 (100%) of them. Seventy-six percent required only one Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) to clear the CBD, 7.7% required two ERCPs, and 15.4% required three ERCPs. Adverse effects (cholangitis) occurred in one patient (10%), whereas only 30 patients (64.4%) of the ESWL group had complete CBD stone clearance. Thirty-seven percent required one ERCP to clear the CBD, 35.6% required two ERCPs, and 20% required three ERCPs. Adverse effects happened in seven (15.5%) patients, where five (11%) had cholangitis and two (4.4%) had pancreatitis.

Conclusion:

Although a retrospective design with a small sample size, we concluded that Spyglass-guided EHL is an effective procedure in treating difficult CBD stones.     

Brown Pigment Stones in the Common Bile Duct: Reduced Bilirubinate Diconjugate in Bile

Background: Bilirubin is the main component of most common bile duct stones. Normally, almost all bilirubin in bile is conjugated to glucuronic acid or some other sugar moiety. These conjugates are unstable and liable to deconjugation. Unconjugated bilirubin is insoluble and may precipitate as the calcium salt found in brown pigment stones. The pattern of bilirubin conjugates in common duct bile of patients with choledocholithiasis has been unknown. Methods: In a clinical series of 55 patients with choledocholithiasis common-duct bile was aspirated, and the bilirubin conjugates analyzed with high-performance liquid chromatography. One stone from each patient was analyzed for cholesterol and bilirubin content to determine stone type. Results: Sixteen patients had cholesterol stones, 38 patients had brown pigment stones, and 1 patient had a black stone. Patients with pigment stones had a lower percentage of bilirubin diglucuronide (median, 60.3%; interquartile range, 49.7%-67.3%) than patients with cholesterol stones (64.0%; 60.2%-73.3%) (Mann-Whitney, P = 0.015). No significant difference was found for the other bilirubin conjugates, total bilirubin, or biliary pH when pigment and cholesterol stone patients were compared. The time of bile sampling in relation to papillotomy and treatment of cholestasis was not associated with the low percentage of bilirubin diglucuronide. The observation of reduced values for bilirubin diglucuronide could not be ascribed to duodenal diverticula or Billroth-II gastric resection. Conclusion: The percentage of the main bilirubinate conjugate, bilirubin diglucuronide, is decreased in the common duct bile of patients with pigmented compared with cholesterol stones.     

Clinical Features and Outcomes of Endoscopic Treatment for Stones in Stemware-Shaped Common Bile Ducts: A Multicenter Data Analysis

Background/Aims

Various anatomical features of the biliary tree affect ability to remove difficult common bile duct (CBD) stones. In this study, we evaluated the clinical characteristics and outcomes of the endoscopic treatment of stones in stemware-shaped CBDs.

Methods

Thirty-four patients with a stone and a stemware-shaped CBD who were treated at different tertiary referral centers from January 2008 to December 2012 were studied retrospectively. When stone removal failed, percutaneous or direct peroral cholangioscopic lithotripsy, endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage, or surgery was performed as a second-line procedure.

Results

The overall success rate of the first-line procedure was 41.2%. Five of the 34 patients (14.7%) experienced procedure-related complications. No procedure-related mortality occurred. Mechanical lithotripsy was required to completely remove stones in 13 patients (38.2%). Conversion to a second-line procedure was required in 20 patients (58.8%). Mechanical lithotripsy was needed in 75% and 66.7% of those with a stone size of <1 cm or ≥1 cm, respectively. Stone recurrence occurred in two patients (9.1%) after 6 months and 27 months, respectively.

Conclusions

The endoscopic treatment of stones in a stemware-shaped CBD is challenging. The careful assessment of difficult CBD stones is required before endoscopic procedures.     

腹腔镜联合内镜胆总管探查术

目的 探讨运用多种微创治疗手段,治疗经内镜取石失败的胆总管结石患者。方法 运用三窥联合的手术方式（术前内镜下经鼻胆管引流、腹腔镜胆总管探查术及术中胆道镜（对３９例胆总管结石患者进行微创治疗。结果 ３９例手术均获成功,无中转开腹,无残留结石及严重并发症。术后住院时间明显缩短,而手术时间与开腹手术相似。部分病例随边半以上未见远期并发症。结论 三镜联合行胆囊切除、胆总管探查术对于有较高内镜、腹腔镜技术水     

经内镜鼻胆管引流术在腹腔镜胆管探查中的作用

目的：应用经内镜鼻胆管引流术(ENBD)作为腹腔镜胆管探查术(LCBDE)胆管引流方式，探讨其应用价值。方法：对拟行腹腔镜下胆管探查的患者术前进行ENBD，后经胆总管探查切口应用液电碎石、胆道镜取石，将肝内外胆管结石取净，保留鼻胆管于胆管内，将胆总管探查切口一期缝合，常规放置腹腔引流管。术后经鼻胆管造影，肝内外胆管无残余结石，无胆漏，择期拔除腹腔引流管及鼻胆管。结果：共43例患者术前行ENBD，平均6．1d后行LCBDE。36例(83.7％)患者成功进行LCBDE，胆管探查切口一期缝合。术后经鼻胆管造影，发现1例(2．6％)术中胆道镜漏诊--小结石，经内镜取石后痊愈；无胆管狭窄及胆漏等并发症发生。另有7例患者(18．6％)中转开腹手术，其中2例保留鼻胆管，胆管切口行一期缝合，术后顺利拔除鼻胆管。38例患者(88．4％)均成功应用：ENBD进行胆管引流，平均3．2d拔除腹腔引流管，6.7d拔除鼻胆管，无相关并发症发生。结论：ENBD作为LCBDE胆管引流，是安全有效的方式，且术后引流时间短，并发症少，可充分发挥出腹腔镜治疗胆管结石微创的优势。     

Demographics and Characterization of 10,282 Randall Plaque-Related Kidney Stones: A New Epidemic?

Renal stone incidence has progressively increased in industrialized countries, but the implication of Randall plaque in this epidemic remains unknown. Our objectives were to determine whether the prevalence of Randall plaque-related stones increased during the past decades after having analyzed 30,149 intact stones containing mainly calcium oxalate since 1989 (cross-sectional study), and to identify determinants associated with Randall plaque-related stones in patients (case–control study).The proportion of Randall plaque-related stones was assessed over 3 time periods: 1989–1991, 1999–2001, and 2009–2011. Moreover, we analyzed clinical and biochemical parameters of 105 patients affected by calcium oxalate stones, with or without plaque.Of 30,149 calcium oxalate stones, 10,282 harbored Randall plaque residues (34.1%). The prevalence of Randall plaque-related stones increased dramatically during the past years. In young women, 17% of calcium oxalate stones were associated with Randall plaque during the 1989–1991 period, but the proportion rose to 59% 20 years later (P < 0.001). Patients with plaques experienced their first stone-related event earlier in life as compared with those without plaque (median age 26 vs 34 years, P = 0.02), had increased ionized serum calcium levels (P = 0.04), and increased serum osteocalcin (P = 0.001) but similar 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels. The logistic regression analysis showed that age (odds ratio [OR] 0.96, confidence interval [CI] 0.926–0.994, P = 0.02), weight (OR 0.97, CI 0.934–0.997, P = 0.03), and osteocalcin serum levels (OR 1.12, CI 1.020–1.234, P = 0.02) were independently associated with Randall plaque. The prevalence of the FokI f vitamin D receptor polymorphism was higher in patients with plaque (P = 0.047).In conclusion, these findings point to an epidemic of Randall plaque-associated renal stones in young patients, and suggest a possible implication of altered vitamin D response.     

Techniques of Fluorescence Cholangiography During Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy for Better Delineation of the Bile Duct Anatomy

To evaluate the clinical and technical factors affecting the ability of fluorescence cholangiography (FC) using indocyanine green (ICG) to delineate the bile duct anatomy during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC).Application of FC during LC began after laparoscopic fluorescence imaging systems became commercially available.In 108 patients undergoing LC, FC was performed by preoperative intravenous injection of ICG (2.5 mg) during dissection of Calot''s triangle, and clinical factors affecting the ability of FC to delineate the extrahepatic bile ducts were evaluated. Equipment-related factors associated with bile duct detectability were also assessed among 5 laparoscopic systems and 1 open fluorescence imaging system in ex vivo studies.FC delineated the confluence between the cystic duct and common hepatic duct (CyD–CHD) before and after dissection of Calot''s triangle in 80 patients (74%) and 99 patients (92%), respectively. The interval between ICG injection and FC before dissection of Calot''s triangle was significantly longer in the 80 patients in whom the CyD–CHD confluence was detected by fluorescence imaging before dissection (median, 90 min; range, 15–165 min) than in the remaining 28 patients in whom the confluence was undetectable (median, 47 min; range, 21–205 min; P < 0.01). The signal contrast on the fluorescence images of the bile duct samples was significantly different among the laparoscopic imaging systems and tended to decrease more steeply than those of the open imaging system as the target-laparoscope distance increased and porcine tissues covering the samples became thicker.FC is a simple navigation tool for obtaining a biliary roadmap to reach the “critical view of safety” during LC. Key factors for better bile duct identification by FC are administration of ICG as far in advance as possible before surgery, sufficient extension of connective tissues around the bile ducts, and placement of the tip of laparoscope close and vertically to Calot''s triangle.