Asymptomatic common bile duct stones

Patients with asymptomatic bile duct stones exhibit typical signs, such as elevated liver function tests, dilated bile ducts on ultrasound, a history of jaundice, or pancreatitis. The incidence of asymptomatic bile duct stones is about 10%, but up to 2% of patients show no signs of the disease. Bile duct stones can be diagnosed by using clinical judgement, scoring systems, or discriminant function tests. Which diagnostic modality is most reliable, cost-effective and safe, varies with different hospitals. Which therapy is most effective, safe and the cheapest also varies with different departments, but in the future an increasing number of departments will use the one-stage laparoscopic approach.     

Laparoscopic management of common bile duct stones

We reviewed our experience with the management of common bile duct (CBD) stones in 100 consecutive patients treated laparoscopicaly during the past 9 years (1990—1998) and evaluated the advantages, disadvantages, and feasibility of the treatment, to elucidate reasonable therapeutic strategies for patients harboring CBD stones. We conclude that the most rational management of CBD stones is that which is decided according to the size of the CBD, which, in turn, depends on the size, number, and location of stones. The cystic duct in patients with a non‐dilated CBD is narrow, because the size of the CBD depends on the size and number of stones that have migrated through the narrow cystic duct, and the stones in the non‐dilated CBD are therefore usually small in size and number. Patients with a dilated CBD, however, are good candidates to undergo single‐stage laparoscopic treatment. In our Department, therefore, even if complete removal of stones has failed in patients with non‐dilated CBD, further choledochotomy is not carried out, and a C‐tube is placed through the cystic duct for a subsequent postoperative transduodenal approach, because laparoscopic transcystic CBD exploration and choledochotomy may not be always feasible in those patients with non‐dilated CBD, and spontaneous migration of small stones into the duodenum is frequently noted. In fact, some stones demonstrated on intraoperative cholangiograms were not revealed by postoperative cholangiography. In contrast, retained stones detected postoperatively were successfully removed by postoperative endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST), the endoscopic papillary balloon dilatation technique (EPBDT), or postoperative cholangioscopy (POCS) without any injury to the sphinter of Oddi. With this approach, we believe that the causes of stone recurrence can be avoided in the majority of cases.     

Primary closure of the common bile duct in open laparotomy for common bile duct stones

It is common these days to treat common bile duct (CBD) stones using endoscopic techniques. However, severe complications sometimes lead to death despite the great benefit of these techniques. If the patient has many and/or large stones, it can take considerable time for duct clearance, and this is associated with high costs. Therefore, we do not hesitate to choose surgical procedures when necessary. In this study, our aim was to evaluate the usefulness of primary closure of the CBD in open laparotomy for CBD stones. Thirty-four patients with CBD stones were operated on by open laparotomy; primary closure was done in 17 patients (group PC), and T-tube insertion was done in 17 (group TT). We compared the patients' medical records, clinical features, laboratory data, complications, and postoperative hospital admission days. There were no significant intergroup differences in patients' medical records, clinical features, or laboratory data, except for the number of CBD stones. There were no differences in complications. All complications were minor and needed no extra care. The number of postoperative hospital admission days showed a significant difference: 18.3 days in group PC and 31.5 in group TT. There are so many methods to treat CBD stones now that the selection of the procedure can be important for the patient's benefit. We prefer primary closure, to get better quality of life postoperatively and to avoid further operations and any severe complications.     

胆总管巨大结石的内镜治疗

随着近年来内镜技术的发展,治疗性经内镜逆行胰胆管造影已经取代外科手术,成为胆总管结石的首选治疗方式。内镜下乳头肌切开术和乳头球囊扩张术都已成为标准的取石术式。然而,部分胆总管巨大结石的内镜下取石术,对内镜学者来说仍然是很大的挑战。近年问世的一些新兴内镜技术,比如内镜下十二指肠乳头大球囊扩张术、胆道镜引导下的激光碎石或液电碎石术,已经被证实为安全、有效的胆管巨大结石的内镜治疗方式。评述了近年来胆总管巨大结石的内镜治疗的新技术。     

Endoscopic management of difficult common bile duct stones

Endoscopy is widely accepted as the first treatment option in the management of bile duct stones.In this review we focus on the alternative endoscopic modalities for the management of difficult common bile duct stones.Most biliary stones can be removed with an extraction balloon,extraction basket or mechanical lithotripsy after endoscopic sphincterotomy.Endoscopic papillary balloon dilation with or without endoscopic sphincterotomy or mechanical lithotripsy has been shown to be effective for management of difficult to remove bile duct stones in selected patients.Ductal clearance can be safely achieved with peroral cholangioscopy guided laser or electrohydraulic lithotripsy in most cases where other endoscopic treatment modalities have failed.Biliary stenting may be an alternative treatment option for frail and elderly patients or those with serious co morbidities.     

Comprehensive review on small common bile duct stones

Common bile duct stones are among the most common conditions encountered by endoscopists. Therefore, it is well researched; however, some items, such as indications for endoscopic papillary balloon dilatation(EPBD), safety of EPBD and endoscopic sphincterotomy in patients receiving dual antiplatelet therapy or direct oral anticoagulant, selection strategy for retrieval balloons and baskets, lack adequate evidence. Therefore, the guidelines have been updated with new research, while others remain...     

Predicting common bile duct stones by non-invasive parameters

Background: Common bile duct(CBD) stone affect about 10% of patients with symptomatic cholelithiasis. The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy(ASGE) published a strategy in 2010 for managing patients with suspected choledocholithiasis. This study aimed to assess the performance of different clinical parameters in predicting CBD stones. Methods: A total of 344 patients suspected to suffer from CBD stone and referred to endoscopic ultrasound(EUS) were included. Parameters were collected and their prediction power for CBD stones was assessed. Results: One hundred and sixty-seven patients without CBD stone according to EUS(group A) were compared to 177 patients with CBD stones(group B). Several predictive factors for CBD stone were identified on univariate analysis. In multivariate regression analysis, CBD width by US(OR = 1.224, 95% CI: 1.073–1.359; P = 0.0026), age(OR = 1.023, 95% CI: 1.011–1.035; P = 0.0 0 02) and gamma glutamyl transferase(GGT) level(OR = 1.001, 95% CI: 1.000–1.002; P = 0.0018) were significantly correlated with CBD stone, with receiver operator characteristics(ROC) of 0.7259. We generated a diagnostic equation [age(yr) × 0.1 + CBD width(mm) by US × 1 + GGT(U/L) × 0.005] to predict CBD stone with ROC of 0.7287. Conclusions: We suggest this score as a very strong predictor for CBD stones, and to reduce the strength of total bilirubin and transaminases as predictors.     

Long-term follow-up of common bile duct diameter after endoscopic sphincterotomy in patients with common bile duct stones

Background and Aims  

To determine the time to normalization of common bile duct (CBD) diameter after endoscopic sphincterotomy and stone extraction in patients with choledocholithiasis.     

Biliary stenting for management of common bile duct stones

Large and multiple common bile duct stones may defy extraction despite an adequate endoscopic papillotomy. We treated 65 patients with symptomatic bile duct stones with endoscopic stents after failed attempts at stone extraction. Of the 65 patients, bile duct stones were extracted in eight at a second attempt, 29 underwent elective surgery and 28 patients were followed with the stent in situ for 21–52 months (median 42 months). During follow up, two patients had recurrent pain and two required surgery. The remaining 24 patients remained asymptomatic. Biliary stenting is a safe and effective mode of treatment for common bile duct stones in patients who have failed stone extraction after endoscopic papillotomy.