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.