New surgical technique applied with urological instruments in bilobar multiple hepatolithiasis: Ultra-mini percutaneous hepatolithotomy

The value of three-dimensional visualization techniques in hepatectomy for complicated hepatolithiasis: A propensity score matching study

OBJECTIVE

The present study aimed to investigate the safety, feasibility, and efficacy of three-dimensional visualization technique (3DVT)-guided hepatectomy in the treatment of complicated hepatolithiasis.

METHODS

The clinical and follow-up data of 279 patients with complicated hepatolithiasis were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into a 3DVT group (group A, 66 cases) and a non-3DVT group (group B, 213 cases). After baseline data were balanced using propensity score matching (PSM), the clinical characteristics and follow-up data of the two groups were observed.

RESULTS

After 1:1 PSM, 58 patients in each group were successfully matched with each other. When the groups were compared, the surgical duration (p = 0.033) and intraoperative blood loss (p = 0.002) of group A were lower than those of group B. The immediate stone clearance rate (91.4% vs. 75.9%, p = 0.024) and quality of life outcome (p = 0.034) of group A were significantly higher than those of group B. Logistic regression analysis showed that history of two or more biliary tract operations (odds ratio [OR] = 6.544, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.193-35.890, p = 0.031), bilateral stone distribution (OR = 4.198, 95% CI = 1.186-14.854, p = 0.026), and Geng grade III or IV (OR = 12.262, 95% CI = 2.224-67.617, p = 0.004) were independent risk factors for poor outcomes in patients with complicated hepatolithiasis.

CONCLUSION

Compared to conventional imaging examinations, 3DVT can be used to guide and achieve accurate preoperative diagnosis of complicated hepatolithiasis and has good safety, feasibility, and efficacy.

Percutaneous Transhepatic Choledochoscopic Lithotomy (PTCSL) is Effective for the Treatment of Intrahepatic and Extrahepatic Choledocholithiasis

BACKGROUND

To explore percutaneous transhepatic choledochoscopic lithotomy (PTCSL) as a treatment for intrahepatic and extrahepatic choledocholithiasis.

PATIENT AND METHODS

A retrospective review of 67 patients with intrahepatic and extrahepatic choledocholithiasis treated by PTCSL from January 2014 to January 2019, including 36 males and 31 females, with an average age of 66 years. During the operation, the doctor established a channel through a 16-Fr Amplatz sheath and removed the stone in the channel with the aid of nephroscope. The clinical efficacy and complications of all patients were analyzed.

RESULTS

Sixty-seven patients (67/67, 100%) had their stones successfully removed in the first operation. Only 2 patients (2/67, 3.0%) developed mild reactive pleural effusion after the operation, and 1 patient (1/67, 1.5%) with cholangiocarcinoma after the operation. The incidence of severe bleeding during the operation was 0%.

CONCLUSION

PTCSL is a minimally invasive, simple, effective and easy to repeat procedure for use in the clinic. It is an effective surgical treatment and is worthy of clinical use.

Ultra-mini Percutaneous Hepatolithotomy in Patients With Large and Multiple Hepatolithiasis

BACKGROUND

In this study, we applied the ultra-mini percutaneous hepatolithotomy (UM-PHL) technique on hepatolithiasis patients with multiple and large stones on which other minimally invasive methods failed, and our aim was to report its results, sharing in series for the first time.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Preoperative and postoperative data, laboratory parameters, radiologic findings, and preoperative and postoperative details were recorded for a total of 14 patients for whom the UM-PHL technique was applied between April 2017 and December 2019. As all patients had multiple stones and extreme stone load and had bile duct surgery, they did not have a normal anatomy. All patients were radiologically confirmed to have had preprocedural magnetic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.

RESULTS

Operation duration of the patients was 137.6±44.9 minutes, while intraoperative blood loss was 69.2±24.9 mL, drainage catheter removal time was 2.85±0.86 days, and the hospitalization time was 4.28±2.55 days. Intraoperative balloon dilation was applied to enlarge the stricture area in 5 patients (35.7%). On the basis of the Clavien-Dindo classification, grade 2 complication was observed in 2 patients (14.2%) due to postoperative cholangitis. Patients were followed up for an average of 15 months, and nonsymptomatic radiologic stone recurrence was detected in the 12th month control of 1 patient (7.1%).

CONCLUSION

The UM-PHL technique is a successful method that facilitates stone clearance by providing minimal dilatation through percutaneous intervention and by using instruments with small diameter, and it can safely be applied with its low complication level, low recurrence ratio, and short hospitalization time.