Dissolution of retained bile duct stones using heparin

A history of the dissolution of retained choledocholithiasis

BACKGROUND

Common duct calculi retained after gallbladder surgery continue to present a clinical challenge especially in the era of minimally invasive surgery. This review examines the strategy of dissolution therapy used throughout the history of biliary tract surgery and its use to the modern surgeon.

DATA SOURCES

Original journal articles and reviews were identified using standard surgical textbooks and MEDLINE. Keywords for searching included choledocholithiasis, dissolution, mono-octanoin, common duct stones, MTBE, cholic acid, and gallstones.

CONCLUSIONS

Dissolution therapy used initially as an alternative to open surgery is now used more effectively as an adjunct to laparoscopic or endoscopic biliary tract surgery. The current review demonstrates a majority of patients with retained choledocholithiasis respond to dissolution and can be safely managed without choledochotomy.

Dissolution of cholesterol ductal stones in the biliary tree with medium-chain glycerides

In vitro and in vivo experiments were carried out with medium-chain glycerides. In vitro, cholesterol gallstones were rapidly dissolved by medium-chain glycerides; control experiments with saline solution failed to modify the size of the stones. In vivo, medium-chain glycerides were instilled through an intraductal tube in 12 patients with retained bile duct stones. Perfusions lasted 2-10 days. After perfusion, stones disappeared in six cases, were reduced in size in one case, and remained unchanged in five cases. In five cases, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or pain were observed. Medium-chain glyceride infusion rapidly dissolves cholesterol gallstones, but is commonly associated with mild to severe side effects.

Dissolution of common bile duct stones

Retained common duct stones can now be treated by a number of non-operative techniques, including dissolution by cholesterol solvents, simple irrigation, stone extraction via the T tube tract and by endoscopic sphincterotomy. This paper reviews the various solvents available for stone dissolution and its physicochemical basis. When a retained stone is found simple irrigation with saline will be successful in about 50 per cent of patients. If this fails, stone extraction via the T tube tract or by endoscopic sphincterotomy are now the methods of choice, with a 90--95 per cent chance of success. Stone dissolution by cholic acid is slow and is only successful in about 60 per cent of patients but can be of value when stone extraction is unavailable or unsuccessful.

Exploration of the common bile duct: a comparative study

The results of a retrospective comparative study of 122 patients who underwent explorations of the common bile duct in a district general hospital over a 5-year period are presented. Seventy-eight patients had a supraduodenal choledochotomy, 32 had a transduodenal spincterotomy and 12 had a combination of both procedures. Particular attention was paid to postoperative complications in relation to the grade of the surgeon performing the operation and also to the age of the patient. A total of 78 (64 per cent) patients had definite stones in the common bile duct. Of these patients, 7 (9 per cent) were subsequently shown to have retained stones, all having been operated on by registrars. Registrars also did more negative explorations than consultants. Nine patients (7.4 per cent) died, all but 1 of them being over the age of 70 and 4 of them having had a combined procedure. We conclude that transduodenal exploration should be avoided in patients over 70, particularly when added to a supraduodenal exploration.

Non-operative treatment of retained bile duct calculi in patients with an indwelling T tube

The results of combined instrumental and chemical treatment of retained bile duct calculi in 18 patients with an indwelling T tube are reported. The instrumental extraction of stones was carried out through the T tube channel using a modified Dormia apparatus. The chemical method involved continuous infusion through the T tube of heparin in saline alternating with sodium cholate. The treatment was successful in 16 of 18 patients with from 1 to 14 residual stones. The instrumental extraction of stones is recommended as the treatment of choice 5--6 weeks after choledochotomy in patients with residual stones and an indwelling T tube. Subsequent chemical treatment is recommended if remnants of stones are left in the bile duct after instrumental treatment.