ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Many endoscopic procedures have been used to treat hepatolithiasis, including as laparoscopic hepatectomy (LH), laparoscopic intrahepatic duct exploration (LIDE), and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). However, long-term results of such treatments are rarely reported. The series aimed to evaluate the immediate outcomes and long-term results of these treatments and their optimal indications. METHODS: From January 2002 to April 2010, a total of 124 continuous patients with hepatolithiasis were primarily treated with endoscopic surgery, including LH (LH group, n = 37), LIDE (LIDE group n = 41), and ERCP (ERCP group, n = 46) at our two institutes. These cases were retrospectively reviewed. The patients' demographic variables, operative outcomes, complete clearance rate, and cholangitis recurrence rate were analyzed. RESULTS: Complete stone clearance was achieved in 94.6 % of LH, 78.0 % of LIDE, and 67.4 % of ERCP patients. After a median follow-up period of 5.0 years (rang 2-8 years), we observed stone recurrence in 26.6 % (33/124) of patients and recurrent cholangitis in 24.2 % (30/124) of patients. Stricture, stones in both lobes, and non-hepatectomy treatments were significant risk factors for incomplete stone clearance on multivariate analysis. In addition, recurrent cholangitis was associated with non-hepatectomy therapy, Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction, residual stones, and intrahepatic bile strictures. CONCLUSION: In this study with 2-8 years of follow-up, residual stones, biliary stricture, Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction, and ERCP therapy were associated with recurrent stones and/or cholangitis after treatment, indicating that the modification of Sphincter of Oddi function and maintaining its normal pressure are very important.
