ABSTRACT
Objective To discuss the clinical application of percutaneous transhepatic removal of gall-stone technique in treating common bile duct (CBD) stones.Methods Between January 2013 and January 2015,a total of 25 patients with CBD stones underwent lithotomy procedure via percutaneous transhepatic route.First,under ultrasound or fluoroscopy guidance percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC) was performed with subsequent placement of an 8 F rsheath;then,a balloon of 8-12 mm diameter was employed to dilate the papilla;mechanical lithotripsy was adopted when the stone size exceeded 12 mm;finally,through guide-wire exchange technique the stone-retrieval balloon was used to push the stones into the intestinal tract through the sphincter of duodenal papilla.Results The reasons to receive percutaneous transhepatic removal of gall-stone technique in the 25 patients included previous gastrointestinal surgery (n=18),endoscopic treatment failure (n=3),unwilling to receive endoscopic treatment (n=3),and other reasons (n=1).Successful removal of stones was accomplished in all 25 patients.After the treatment,complications occurred in 3 patients (12％),including fever (n=2) and liver abscess formation (n=1).The patients were followed up for 0.5-3 years;two patients died of tumor recurrence and metastasis,and one patient developed recurrence of common bile duct stones.No reflux cholangitis occurred.Conclusion For the treatment of CBD stones,percutaneous transhepatic removal of gall-stone technique carries higher technical success rate with lower incidence of complications,therefore,this technique can be used for the patients who are not suitable for endoscopic treatment or in whom endoscopic treatment failed.