The clinical role of ultrasound image-fusion navigation system in percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopic lithotripsy / 中华肝胆外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To study the clinical role of ultrasound image-fusion and navigation system (UIFNS), which works through image fusion with volume navigation of ultrasound (VNUS) and computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), in percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopic lithotripsy (PTCSL) for treatment of hepatolithiasis.Methods:The data of 54 patients with hepatolithiasis who underwent PTCSL between January 2017 and October 2019 in Hepatobiliary Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University was retrospectively analyzed. Among 54 patients, 16 males and 38 females, aged 16-84 years with a median age of 59.5 years, were included. Preoperative ultrasound, CT, MRI and UIFNS were used to evaluate stone location and distribution in bile ducts. The rates of consistency of each single modality of evaluation with intraoperative examination by cholangioscopy plus ultrasound were compared. The stone clearance rates were compared among the different groups with different numbers of biliary sinus tracts used for stone extraction.Results:The rates of consistency of each single modality of evaluation, including ultrasound, CT, MRI and UIFNS, with intraoperative examination by choledochoscopy plus ultrasound were 75.9% (41/54), 55.6% (30/54), 72.2% (39/54) and 92.6% (50/54), respectively. The rates of consistency as assessed by UIFNS was significantly higher than that by CT or MRI (each P<0.05). The 54 patients were divided into the central-type group, the single-biliary-branch-type group and the multi-branch-type group according to biliary stone location and distribution, with 10 patients, 2 patients and 42 patients, respectively. Biliary sinus tract was established by the one-step method. One single tract was established in 43 patients, and two or more tracts in 11 patients. Each patient underwent 1-3 times of cholangioscopic lithotripsy (mean 1.76 times). The stone clearance rate in the central-type of patients and patients with single-biliary-branch stones was 100% (12/12). In 42 patients with stones in multiple branches of intrahepatic bile ducts, 31 patients underwent stone extraction through a single sinus tract while 11 patients through 2 or more sinus tracts. There was no significant difference in the stone clearance rate between patients with a single sinus tract and those with 2 or more sinus tracts ( P>0.05). The total stone clearance rate was 79.6% (43/54) and the total complication rate 18.5% (10/54). Conclusion:UIFNS was a useful tool with advantages in evaluating the location and distribution of biliary stones, and in selecting appropriate hepatic ducts for planning puncture routes to establish sinus tracts for stone removal.