Modified percutaneous transhepatic papillary balloon dilation for patients with refractory hepatolithiasis

Hepatolithiasis: Epidemiology, presentation, classification and management of a complex disease

The term hepatolithiasis describes the presence of biliary stones within the intrahepatic bile ducts, above the hilar confluence of the hepatic ducts. The disease is more prevalent in Asia, mainly owing to socioeconomic and dietary factors, as well as the prevalence of biliary parasites. In the last century, owing to migration, its global incidence has increased. The main pathophysiological mechanisms involve cholangitis, bile infection and biliary strictures, creating a self-sustaining cycle that perpetuates the disease, frequently characterised by recurrent episodes of bacterial infection referred to as syndrome of "recurrent pyogenic cholangitis". Furthermore, long-standing hepatolithiasis is a known risk factor for development of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Various classifications have aimed at providing useful insight of clinically relevant aspects and guidance for treatment. The management of symptomatic patients and those with complications can be complex, and relies upon a multidisciplinary team of hepatologists, endoscopists, interventional radiologists and hepatobiliary surgeons, with the main goal being to offer relief from the clinical presentations and prevent the development of more serious complications. This comprehensive review provides insight on various aspects of hepatolithiasis, with a focus on epidemiology, new evidence on pathophysiology, most important clinical aspects, different classification systems and contemporary management.

Subacute liver and respiratory failure after segmental hepatectomy for complicated hepatolithiasis with secondary biliary cirrhosis: A case report

BACKGROUND

Despite being a benign disease, hepatolithiasis has a poor prognosis because of its intractable nature and frequent recurrence. Nonsurgical treatment is associated with high incidences of residual and recurrent stones. Consequently, surgery via hepatic lobectomy or segmental hepatectomy has become the main treatment modality. Clinical management and resolution of complicated hepatolithiasis with bilateral or diffuse intrahepatic stones remain very difficult and challenging. Repeated cholangitis and calculous obstruction may result in secondary biliary cirrhosis, a limiting factor in the treatment of hepatolithiasis.

CASE SUMMARY

A 53-year-old woman with a 5-year history of intermittent abdominal pain and fever was admitted to the hepatopancreatobiliary surgery department following worsening symptoms over a 3-d period. Blood tests revealed elevated transaminases, alkaline phosphatase, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, and total bilirubin, as well as anemia. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography showed dilatation of the intrahepatic, left and right hepatic, common hepatic, and common bile ducts, and multiple short T2 signals in the intrahepatic and common bile ducts. Abdominal computed tomography showed splenomegaly and splenic varices. The diagnosis was bilateral hepatolithiasis and choledocholithiasis with cholangitis. Surgical treatment included hepatectomy of segments II and III, cholangioplasty, left hepaticolithotomy, second biliary duct exploration, choledocholithotomy, T-tube drainage, and accretion lysis. Surgical and pathological findings confirmed secondary biliary cirrhosis. Liver-protective therapy and anti-infectives were administered. The patient developed liver and respiratory failure, severe abdominal infection, and septicemia. Eventually, her family elected to discontinue treatment.

CONCLUSION

Liver transplantation, rather than hepatectomy, might be a treatment option for complicated bilateral hepatolithiasis with secondary liver cirrhosis.

A case of a smooth transition to subsequent percutaneous transjejunal biliary intervention for hepatolithiasis after biliary reconstruction by adding jejunostomy during an emergency operation for perforation due to balloon-assisted endoscopy

Treatments for hepatolithiasis include peroral endoscopy, percutaneous cholangioscopy, and surgery. Balloon-assisted endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (BAERCP) has been widely performed in recent years for patients with hepatolithiasis after biliary reconstruction. However, accidental bowel perforation caused by BAERCP may need emergency surgery. Here, we describe a 77-year-old Japanese woman diagnosed with acute cholangitis due to hepatolithiasis after biliary reconstruction (a biliary diversion operation for pancreaticobiliary maljunction). She underwent BAERCP for treatment of hepatolithiasis, however, a small-bowel perforation occurred. She underwent an emergency operation to suture the perforation and add a catheter jejunostomy. She had no postoperative complications after surgery and was discharged 11 days after surgery. One month later, she was readmitted and underwent percutaneous transjejunal cholangioscopy-guided lithotripsy with complete removal of the calculi. Although endoscopists should be careful to avoid small-bowel perforation during BAERCP, if perforation occurs, addition of a catheter jejunostomy during emergency surgery can be easily transitioned to subsequent treatment of the hepatolithiasis.