Are expandable metallic stents better than conventional methods for treating difficult intrahepatic biliary strictures with recurrent hepatolithiasis?

BACKGROUND: Conventional methods for treating patients with recurrent hepatolithiasis associated with complicated intrahepatic biliary strictures include balloon dilatation of the intrahepatic biliary strictures, lithotripsy, and the clearance of difficult stones as completely as possible, with the placement of an external-internal stent for at least 6 months. After these modalities are used, symptomatic refractory strictures remain. Recently we used internal Gianturco-Rosch metallic Z stents to treat patients who had refractory strictures. OBJECTIVE: To compare therapeutic results and complications of an internal expandable metallic Z stent with those of repeated external-internal stent placement. STUDY DESIGN: Case-control study. SETTING: A referral center. PATIENTS: From January 1992 to December 1996, 18 patients with recurrent hepatolithiasis and complicated intrahepatic biliary strictures underwent percutaneous dilatation of stricture and transhepatic percutaneous cholangioscopic lithotomy for recurrent stones. After their stones were completely cleared, their biliary strictures failed to dilate satisfactorily. The patients were randomly enrolled into 2 groups: group A (7 patients), who received an expandable metallic Z stent, and group B (11 patients), who had repeated placement of external-internal stents. INTERVENTIONS: Percutaneous stricture dilatation, electrohydraulic lithotripsy, balloon dilatation, percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopic lithotomy, and biliary stenting by a Silastic external-internal catheter or a modified Gianturco-Rosch expandable metallic Z stent (for an internal stent). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The number of procedures, days in hospital, procedure-related complications, incidents of stone recurrence and recurrence of cholangitis, readmissions to the hospital, treatment sessions required, and mortality rate. Patients' limitations in ordinary activities were also compared. RESULTS: The follow-up period ranged from 28 to 60 (40.7+/-12.7 [mean +/- SD]) months in group A and from 28 to 49 (36.0+/-7.2) months in group B. Fewer group A patients (3 [43%]) than group B patients (8 [73%]) tended to have recurrent cholangitis and to require readmission to the hospital, but this was not statistically significant (P = .33). When their cumulative probability of a first episode of cholangitis during follow-up was compared, however, it was significantly lower in patients treated with a metallic stent (P = .04). Compared with group B patients, group A patients had less frequent recurrence of stones (0% vs 64%; P = .01), fewer procedures for the clearance of biliary stones or sludge (1.7+/-2.2 vs 6.4+/-4.3; P = .03), and shorter hospital stays (8.0+/-11.5 days vs 17.0+/-12.0 days; P = .07). No patients in group A experienced limitation in ordinary activities, whereas 7 patients in group B did (P<.02). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with the repeated placement of external-internal stents, the use of a metallic internal stent effectively decreases stone recurrence, simplifies further procedures, and is more convenient. Its use is suggested as an alternative choice in the treatment of recurrent hepatolithiasis with refractory intrahepatic biliary strictures.     

Liver resection for intrahepatic stones

HYPOTHESIS: Long-term outcome is good for a selected group of patients with hepatolithiasis treated with liver resection. Liver resection should also be offered to patients with complex hepatolithiasis such as bilateral stones or those with strictures. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Regional hospital. PATIENTS: A total of 174 patients with hepatolithiasis (201 procedures) treated between January 1, 1989, and September 30, 2003. INTERVENTIONS: Liver resection (52 procedures) or removal of stones primarily by percutaneous choledochoscopy (149 procedures). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Recurrence of cholangitis. RESULTS: Most patients in the liver resection group had stones localized to the left side. The overall success rate in this group was 98.0% (49 of 50 patients, excluding 2 patients found to have cholangiocarcinoma). The chance of biliary sepsis at 5 years after resection was 13.3%. The overall success rate of stone removal primarily by percutaneous choledochoscopy was 70.5%. The bilaterality of stones, the presence of stricture, and the presence of atrophy were found to be significant risk factors for a poor long-term outcome after stone removal alone. The chance of biliary sepsis at 5 years was 26.4% and 43.2% for those without and with stricture, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The long-term outcome after liver resection for hepatolithiasis was excellent for a selected group of patients. Poor outcomes were recorded for patients whose intrahepatic stones were removed primarily by percutaneous choledochoscopy, especially those with strictures. The indication for liver resection for hepatolithiasis should be extended to patients with strictures and those with bilateral stones. A combination of different treatment modalities is necessary to improve the outcome of these patients.     

限量肝切除加球囊扩张治疗复杂性肝胆管结石并狭窄疗效分析

目的 探讨复杂性肝胆管结石并狭窄的有效治疗方法。方法 在成都军区总医院2002年3月至2008年3月收治的复杂肝胆管结石并狭窄76例病人中,选择出34例分为传统手术组和球囊扩张组（各17例）,男16例,女18例。平均年龄为46（27~65）岁。分别进行传统手术方法和球囊渐进扩张法治疗复杂肝胆管结石并狭窄,术后长期随访观察。结果 34例病人均完成手术,术后随访1～7年,平均2.8年。传统手术组治愈12例,好转2例,加重1例,死亡2例,其中出现并发症5例;球囊扩张组治愈10例,好转7例,出现并发症1例,无加重或死亡病例。结论 限量肝切除可以减少肝切除术给病人带来的直接损伤和危险,而球囊渐进扩张分期取石是除肝切除和肝门整形以外,另一种治疗复杂肝胆管结石并狭窄的较为安全可靠的方法。     

肝内胆管结石外科手术方法探讨

目的: 探讨肝内胆管结石并狭窄的手术治疗方法及其效果。方法: 总结8年间住院的165例肝内胆管结石并胆管狭窄患者的外科手术治疗情况。其中A组85例行肝叶(或肝段)切除的各种术式，同时行胆管空肠吻合40例，肝断面扩张胆管、肝门胆管与空肠双口吻合10例，T管和U管引流分别为21例和14例；B组80例行非肝叶(或肝段)切除术的各种术式，其中胆总管切开取石+T管引流23例，胆总管切开取石+U形管引流15例，胆肠吻合+胆总管取石42例。肝门部肝胆管狭窄整形46例。结果: A组无手术死亡；随访2～7年，术后残留结石4例，残石率4.71%；症状复发3例，复发率3.53%，无再手术者。B组无手术死亡；B组随访2～7年，术后残留结石12例，残石率15.00%。10例术后常有上腹隐痛或发热，症状复发率12.5%。术后经胆道镜取石5例，其余6例中有3例再次行肝叶切除治愈。结论: 肝段(叶)切除联合其他手术是治疗肝内胆管结石较为理想而有效的手术方式。     

Liver resection for intrahepatic stones

Intrahepatic stones are difficult to manage, especially when they are associated with bile duct stricture, cholangitis and destruction of liver parenchyma. Suggested modes of treatment include surgical bile duct exploration, endoscopic procedures, transhepatic cholangiolithotomy and liver resection. This paper reports 2 patients in whom liver resection was performed because of intrahepatic ductal stones, bile duct strictures and repeated episodes of cholangitis. Liver resection was uncomplicated and long-term results were satisfactory. Our results support the view that liver resection is indicated in rare instances of intrahepatic bile duct stones associated with bile duct strictures.     

Biliary access loops for intrahepatic stones: results of jejunoduodenal anastomosis

Background: Patients with intrahepatic calculi require multiple interventions following successful surgical stone clearance for recurrent stones and cholangitis. The present paper describes the results of a technique of in‐continuity side‐to‐side jejunoduodenal anastomosis (JDA) that provides endoscopic access to the hepaticojejunostomy and intrahepatic ducts. This operation is compared to other techniques in a critical appraisal of various biliary access procedures described for long‐term management of intrahepatic ­calculi. Methods: A retrospective analysis of clinical data of 13 patients who underwent biliary drainage procedures with access loops for intrahepatic calculi during the period March 1990 to December 2000 was performed. The postoperative course of patients and the feasibility of postoperative endoscopic access to the hepaticojejunostomy and intrahepatic ductal system in treatment of recurrent cholangitis were assessed. Nine patients underwent JDA, two underwent permanent‐access hepaticojejunostomy (PAH) and two others underwent an interposition hepaticojejunoduodenostomy (IHJ). Results: The analysis revealed no major procedure‐related complications or mortality. Endoscopic access (using forward‐viewing gastroscope) was possible in 100% of cases following JDA, and with difficulty in both cases after PAH. Endoscopic access in the two patients with IHJ failed because of technical reasons. Recurrent cholangitis was seen in seven patients (54%) ? two out of two patients in the PAH group, one out of two in the IHJ group and four out of nine in the JDA group. This required 12 endotherapy sessions (mean: 1.5 procedures per patient). Conclusion: In‐continuity side‐to‐side JDA allows easy access of conventional gastroduodenoscopes to the biliary tree for removal of recurrent/residual intrahepatic stones. The technique has advantages over other access loop procedures in the long term management of recurrent intrahepatic stones.     

A study on postoperative bile duct stricture with intrahepatic stones

From January 1976 through December 1988 we encountered ninety nine cases of intrahepatic stones. Eight of them were complicated with postoperative bile duct strictures which were formed on cholangiojejunostomy in 5 cases, cholangioduodenostomy, hepatic hilum and common hepatic duct in 1 case, respectively. Six cases of them are anastomotic strictures. The stones were mainly composed of bilirubin calcium. We guessed that the bile duct stricture resulted from cholangiojejunostomy without Roux-en-Y in 1 case and anastomotic insufficiency in 5 cases. Intrahepatic stones were removed by percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy (PTCS), and the treatment for the stricture was cholangiojejunostomy in 1 case and the dilatation by PTCS in 5 cases, including 3 endoprostheses by pig-tail silicone catheter and 2 internal-external biliary drainage. Two patients who did not undergo cholangioscopic dilatation died of sepsis due to cholangitis. Three of 5 patients who underwent endoscopic dilatation by PTCS could return to social life without recurrence of gallstones. In other two cases an endoprosthetic catheter was removed by PTCS because of dislodgement or obstruction of the catheter after confirming anastomotic strictures had improved. Authors recommended that PTCS should be applied for postoperative bile duct stricture complicated with intrahepatic stone.     

Surgical resection for non-Asian intrahepatic lithiasis: The Brazilian experience

BackgroundIntrahepatic lithiasis (IHL) is a rare disease in the western world. Complications associated with IHL include acute cholangitis, liver atrophy, secondary biliary cirrhosis, and risk for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Liver resection is considered the treatment of choice for IHL. The objective of this study was to analyze patients who underwent liver resection for non-Asian hepatolithiasis.Methods127 patients with symptomatic non-Asian hepatolithiasis underwent resection in six institutions. Demographic data, clinical presentation, diagnosis, classification according to stone location, presence of atrophy, bile duct stricture, biliary cirrhosis, incidence of cholangiocarcinoma, treatment and postoperative course were evaluated.Results52 patients (40.9%) were male and the mean age was 46.1 years. Sixty-six patients (51.9%) presented with history of cholangitis. Stones were located in the left lobe in 63 (49.6%), and right lobe in 28 patients (22.0%). Atrophy was observed in 31 patients (24.4%) and biliary stenosis in 18 patients (14.1%). The most common procedure performed was left lateral sectionectomy in 63 (49.6%) patients, followed by left hepatectomy in 36 (28.3%), right hepatectomy in 19 (15.0%), and associated hepaticojejunostomy in 28 (22.0%). Forty-two patients (33.0%) presented postoperative complications and the most common were biliary fistula (13.3%) and surgical site infection (7.0%). Postoperative mortality was 0.7%. Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma was observed in 2 patients (1.5%). Recurrence was identified in 10 patients (7.8%), mostly with bilateral stones and/or hepaticojejunostomy.ConclusionLiver resection is the standard treatment for symptomatic unilateral or complicated IHL with good operative results. Risk of cholangiocarcinoma was low in non-Asian patients.     

胆道镜治疗术后肝内胆管结石并狭窄13年经验总结：附697例报告

目的:总结胆道镜治疗术后肝内胆管结石并狭窄的经验,提高肝内胆管结石并狭窄的治疗效果。方法:回顾2000年1月—2012年12月应用胆道镜经T管窦道治疗术后肝内胆管结石并狭窄的697例患者临床资料,分析技术要点,评价疗效。结果:672例患者取净结石,结石取净率96.4%。胆道镜共发现1 306支肝内胆管狭窄,其中1 297支狭窄得到解除,狭窄解除率99.3%。狭窄解除、结石取净后患者胆管壁恢复光滑。9例患者出现严重并发症,均经治疗后痊愈。结论:规范的胆道镜治疗能有效解除术后肝内胆管狭窄,取净结石;肝内胆管狭窄的发现及处理是胆道镜治疗的优势,应根据不同狭窄类型分别对待;萎缩肝段切除和术中取石在肝内胆管结石治疗中仍具有重要作用。     

Treatment of bilateral intrahepatic stones with high duct strictures through selective central hepatic resection

Bilateral intrahepatic duct stones with strictures, more common in the Orient than elsewhere, are difficult to access surgically. The results of surgical procedures have not been generally successful and are attended by a high postoperative complication and recurrence rate. We report the treatment of 30 patients with intrahepatic calculi and high duct strictures by means of selective central hepatic resection without dissection of the major vessels at the hilum. Central hepatic resection provided satisfactory access to the primary and secondary confluences of the intrahepatic ducts, allowed removal of residual stones and ascariasis, and permitted correction of multiple strictures. Twenty-nine patients so treated were followed for a mean of 32 months after operation. No patients developed recurrent fever, biliary colic, or jaundice after the operation. The technique is therefore recommended as an effective alternative to extensive hepatic lobectomy in the treatment of the intrahepatic calculi with multiple strictures.     

Long-Term Results of Hepatic Resection for Hepatolithiasis

Long-term results of hepatic resection for hepatolithiasis in 34 patients having intrahepatic biliary strictures were studied. The left lateral and the right posterior segmental ducts were commonly and often simultaneously involved. Fourteen patients had multiple segmental involvement. Hepatic resection included left sided resection (n=27), right sided resection (n=6), and repeated bilateral resection (n=1). Seven patients had biliary tumors: 3 cholangiocarcinomas, 2 gall bladder cancers, cystadenocarcinoma, and dysplasia of intrahepatic ducts. Nineteen patients received bilioenteric anastomosis. Retained stones and recurrent stones developed in 3 and 4 patients, respectively. Twenty-six patients had no remaining symptoms; 2 died of operative complication or cholangiocarcinoma; 6 presented symptoms caused by retained stones (n=2), recurrent stones (n=2), bile stasis (n=1), or neuralgia (n=1). In 4 of the 6 patients, unrelieved posterior duct strictures caused the symptoms. With a mean follow-up period of 4.5 years, 30 patients are symptoms free, and 27 are stone free. In patients with right lobar or bilobar type, intra- and extrahepatic type, and confluence strictures, bilioenteric anastomosis is required. Hepatic resection is a rational treatment for hepatolithiasis, however, meticulous management of biliary tract abnormalities, particularly the posterior duct stricture, is mandatory.     

The incidence and management of biliary complications following liver transplantation in children

Biliary complications following liver transplantation are a cause of significant morbidity and mortality. During the period 1988–1993 ten cases of biliary complications occurred after 98 transplantations in 78 children. The complications were four bile leaks, three intrahepatic biliary strictures (one with recurrent cholangitis), two anastomotic biliary strictures (one with recurrent cholangitis) and one recurrent cholangitis. All leaks occurred within 6 weeks of transplantation whereas all strictures and cholangitic episodes occurred after 3 months. Two biliary complications (20%) — one intrahepatic and one anastomotic stricture — developed secondary to hepatic artery thrombosis. The incidence of biliary complications was 13.2% with whole liver grafts as compared to 6.7% with partial liver grafts and it was 4.3% with duct-to-duct anastomosis as compared to 12.0% with Roux-en-Y hepatico-jejunostomy. Seven children required intervention for management of biliary complications and three were managed conservatively. There were no deaths related to the biliary complications.     

不同手术方法治疗肝内胆管结石的疗效对比与危险因素分析

目的:比较肝部分切除与经皮经肝穿刺胆道镜取石(PTCSL)治疗肝内胆管结石的近远期疗效,探讨影响结石残留、复发及远期并发症的危险因素。方法:回顾性分析我院2013年6月—2018年6月收治的接受肝部分切除(手术切除组)或PTCSL(PTCSL组)的78例原发性肝内胆管结石患者,对比两种治疗方式的近远期疗效,并分析结石残留复发和治疗后长期并发症(反复发作的胆管炎、肝脓肿、胆汁性肝硬化、胆管细胞癌)与临床资料的关系。结果:平均随访时间为38.3个月。手术切除组患者结石清除率显著高于PTCSL组,而术后复发率显著低于PTCSL组(P<0.05),两组患者病死率比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。78例患者术后共有22例(28.2%)发生结石残留,多因素分析显示,术前合并胆道狭窄(OR:3.026;CI:1.021~7.298)、结石双侧分布(OR:1.542;CI:1.196~3.886)及PTCSL治疗(OR:1.425;CI:1.085~4.238)是影响结石残留的独立危险因素。78例患者术后结石复发24例(30.7%),多因素分析显示,术前合并胆管狭窄(OR:1.528;CI:1.258~5.298)、术后结石残留(OR:1.854;CI:1.326~5.128)、结石双侧分布(OR:1.785;CI:1.236~6.327)及PTCSL(OR:1.367;CI:1.096~5.026)是影响结石复发的独立危险因素。总体与肝胆相关并发症率为17.9%(14/78)。多因素分析显示,年龄(OR:3.022),结石双侧分布(OR:1.793),术前胆道狭窄(OR:2.944)和术后结石残留(OR:1.991)是影响术后并发症的独立危险因素。结论:肝部分切除和PTCSL治疗原发性肝内胆管结石患者远期均可能发生结石残留、结石复发。术前有胆道狭窄、结石呈双侧分布的患者行肝部分切除术的并发症更少;对于老年患者或合并肝硬化、无法耐受手术的患者,若术前合并胆道狭窄可考虑行PTSCL。术后定期随访非常必要。     

Recurrence of intrahepatic stones after an end-to-side choledochojejunostomy

The risk factors for the recurrence of intrahepatic stones after an end-to-side choledochojejunostomy were investigated, along with the outcome following the treatment of such stones. Thirty-two patients with intrahepatic stones underwent an end-to-side choledochojejunostomy, and a complete lithotomy was achieved in 26 of them. The follow-up which ranged from 5-19 years after surgery revealed that eight patients developed a recurrence of intrahepatic stones, and their clinical and cholangiographic findings were thus reviewed. Recurrent stones were associated with onset of symptoms at a younger age and were predominantly located in the intrahepatic bile ducts. Recurrence was also associated with severe intrahepatic bile duct dilatation. Six of the eight patients developed recurrent stones more than 5 years after a complete lithotomy. One of these patients died of liver cirrhosis while two died of acute obstructive suppurative cholangitis. Five patients underwent cholangioscopic lithotomy through the jejunostomy for their recurrent stones, and a complete lithotomy was accomplished in three of them. These findings indicate the necessity of performing a hepatectomy in such patients whenever possible, and also emphasize the need for a long-term follow-up after a complete lithotomy with an end-to-side choledochojejunostomy. In addition, any recurrent stones should be treated promptly by a cholangioscopic lithotomy through a jejunostomy.     

腹腔镜肝切除术治疗肝内胆管结石中转开腹的原因分析及预防

目的 探讨腹腔镜肝切除术治疗肝内胆管结石中转开腹的原因以及预防措施.方法 回顾性分析2015年1月至2020年8月浙江省人民医院收治的165例因肝内胆管结石行腹腔镜肝切除术,其中15例中转开腹患者的临床资料.结果 本组资料中转开腹率为9.1％(15/165),其中男6例,女9例,年龄34～75岁,中位年龄57岁;肝功能...     

Xanthogranulomatous Inflammatory Strictures of Extrahepatic Biliary Tract: Presentation and Surgical Management

Background Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis (XGC) is a benign, invasive variant of chronic cholecystitis. Invasion of common bile duct (CBD), termed as xanthogranulomatous choledochitis, may mimic malignancy. We describe clinico-pathological features and management of xanthogranulomatous inflammatory biliary strictures. Methods A review of a prospectively maintained database for XGC was performed. Results Out of 6,150 cholecystectomies performed, 620 patients had XGC (10% incidence). Four patients had biliary strictures with xanthogranulomatous choledochitis on final histology. All four patients presented with jaundice and history of cholangitis. Ultrasonography revealed gallstones and thick-walled gallbladder in all. Two patients had hilar strictures: one had mid-CBD stricture and one had a lower-CBD stricture with a dilated pancreatic duct. In all four patients, preoperative diagnosis of malignancy was entertained. Three patients underwent resection—CBD excision for mid-CBD stricture, pancreaticoduodenectomy for lower-end stricture, and right hepatectomy for hilar stricture with atrophy-hypertrophy complex. One patient with unresectable hilar stricture underwent hepaticojejunostomy. Conclusion Xanthogranulomatous choledochitis may be considered as one of the differential diagnosis in patients with biliary stricture especially in a geographical area with a high incidence of XGC, when a patient harbors gall stones and had thick-walled gall bladder on imaging. This stricture can be found anywhere in the biliary tree from hepatic hilum to the lower end. However, preoperative imaging and cytology are unreliable both in confirming the diagnosis or ruling out malignancy. Therefore, resection of the stricture should be attempted wherever feasible.     

Hepatectomy in intrahepatic lithiasis

STUDY AIM: The aim of this study was to report the immediate results of a series of 65 hepatic resections for hepatolithiasis performed in Vietnam. PATIENTS AND METHOD: From 1986 to 1998, 44 men and 21 women (mean age: 40 years) underwent hepatic resection for hepatolithiasis. Fourty patients had previously undergone one or several operations for hepatolithiasis. The procedure was performed on emergency in 25 patients. Indications for hepatic resection were: angiocholitis and liver abscess in 22 cases, stones closely inserted in the biliary duct in 20 cases, hemobilia in 12 cases, stones located above a biliary stricture in 8 cases and stones associated with a postoperative biliary fistula in 3 cases. Liver resections (minor in 61 patients, including 55 left lobectomies, and major in 4 patients) were performed through transhepatic approach according to the Ton That Tung technique and followed by an external biliary drainage with a Kehr tube. RESULTS: There were 6 postoperative deaths (9%), 3 due to septic shock, 2 to cachexia, and 1 to liver failure. The 15 patients with complications recovered with conservative therapy. Bile infection was present in 93%, mostly with Escherichia coli and Enterobacter. Pigmented stones were usually found. CONCLUSION: Vietnam is a country with high incidence of hepatolithlasis. Hepatic resection is an adequate treatment for localized intrahepatic bile duct stones when the involved segment including biliary strictures and calculi can be completely removed. The procedure may be performed on emergency for liver abscess, or hemobilia.     

肝内胆管结石167例手术疗效分析

目的 探讨肝内胆管结石不同手术方式的治疗效果。方法 收集我科2006年至2009年肝内胆管结石患者的病例资料,根据手术方式的不同,分为肝切组（71例）和非肝切组（96例）。结果 167例患者均顺利完成手术,术后出现并发症36例,肝内胆管残余结石82例,其中肝切组31例（43.7%）,非肝切组51例（53.1%）,经胆道镜取石,平均2.63次,结石取净率92.5%。132例患者获得随访,随访时间6～42个月。肝切组疗效优良者49例（92.5%）,非肝切组疗效优良者66例（83.5%）,两组间差异有统计学意义（P=0.037）。术后6个月以上结石复发者14例（肝切组5例,非肝切组9例）,非肝切组继发胆管癌者4例。结论 规则性肝切除仍是目前治疗肝内胆管结石最为理想的术式。术中与术后娴熟的胆道镜技术可取尽大多数肝内胆管结石,近中期随访大多数患者获得理想临床疗效。     

Congenital choledochal cyst: Occurrence of primary intrahepatic stones and prevention of carcinogenesis

Intrahepatic biliary stones and carcinogenesis are two major complications seen after corrective surgery for congenital choledochal cyst. The incidence of these two complications was reviewed in patients seen at out-patient clinics at a mean follow-up time of 13 years and 6 months. Intrahepatic biliary stones developed in 5 of 56 patients who had undergone a standard excisional operation; in 4 of the 5 patients, the stones were found in the preexisting intrahepatic biliary dilatation (with or without a downstream stenosis), 7–15 years postoperatively. Biliary stricture with dilatation is a putative cause of intrahepatic bile duct stones, and this hypothesis was supported here, since stones developed in all 3 of the patients who had the peculiar configuration of intrahepatic biliary dilatation and stenosis. Biliary carcinoma was not observed in any of the 56 patients who had undergone standard excision of a choledochal cyst followed by hepatico-jejunostomy, but developed in 1 of 12 patients in whom complete excisional resection of the dilated extrahepatic bile duct had not been performed. The occurrence of carcinoma in choledochal cysts is reviewed.     

A combined surgical and interventional-radiologic procedure in bile duct obstructions

Surgery for biliary obstruction may be complicated by the presence of intrahepatic stones and, in difficult anastomoses, by the possibility of recurrent stricture formation. In order to decrease the need for further operation, the first surgical repair in selected cases should allow access for later radiological intervention. Primary operation consists of biliary digestive anastomosis using established techniques with a Roux-en-Y-loop. A limb of the Roux-loop may be brought to the abdominal wall and secured to the anterior parietal peritoneum to allow access for later radiological intervention either by utilizing an established tubal tract into the Roux-loop or by later puncture of the loop under ultrasound guidance. Since October 1986 we have treated 11 patients utilizing this technique. Six patients had complex strictures following cholecystectomy and two patients had obstructions secondary to alveolar or cystic Echinococcosis. One stricture was due to a previous liver resection, one followed previous operation for congenital atresia of the biliary tract and one consisted of multiple strictures and stones associated with oriental recurrent pyogenic cholangitis. In all 11 patients, postoperative radiological imaging was possible. In 6 patients, 14 radiological manoeuvers were carried out for dilatation or for removal of stones and debris. There were no complications. During a median follow-up of 11 months no patient needed further surgical intervention. The indications and techniques are outlined.