Sphincter of oddi laxity: a considerable issue in hepatolithiasis / 中华消化外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Hepatolithiasis is still a common biliary disease in China with unknown pathogenesis and poor long-term outcomes.Surgery is probably the only curative treatment to hepatolithiasis.However,surgeons and patients cannot keep trouble from high recurrence and reoperation rates after surgery.Hepatolithiasis is a serious disease,which can cause cholangitis,liver abscess,liver cirrhosis,and even cholangiocarcinoma.Sphincter of Oddi,which controls the unidirectional outflow of bile and separates the bile duct from the bacteria-filled intestinal tract,is thought to be a gatekeeper of the almost-sterile biliary tract.Dysfunction of sphincter of Oddi,including stenosis,spasm and laxity,is closely associated with biliary disease,A lax sphincter of Oddi will aggravate bilioenteric reflux,leading to biliary infection and calculi development eventually.This issue has gradually gained enough attention.How to evaluate sphincter of Oddi function reliably and restore or replace its function,which is key to treat hepatolithiasis and prevent its recurrence,remain unclear.