Cholecystolithotomy Combined Armillarisin A versus Cholecystectomy in Cirrhotic Portal Hypertension Patients with Symptomatic Cholelithiasis.

Object: To discover whether cirrhotic portal hypertension patients with symptomatic cholelithiasis would benefit from cholecystolithotomy combined with Armillarisin A in the authors hospital. Sixty-one patients with cirrhotic portal hypertension and symptomatic gallstone disease who underwent either cholecystolithotomy combined with Armillarisin A (group A) or cholecystectomy (group B) for cholelithiasis from Feb 2007 to March 2011 were retrospectively reviewed. These patients were undergoing simultaneous procedure for esophageal varices. The operation-relevant information, change of laboratory examination data, postoperative complications and symptoms were analyzed. There were no significant differences between group A and group B in mean operative time, intraoperative blood loss, time to resume diet postoperatively and length of hospital stay (P 0.05). The hepatic function biochemical profile and Child-Pugh'™s score at 2 weeks and 1 month after operations were both altered significantly less in group A than in group B (ALT, 0.008, 0.011; AST, 0.006, 0.003; Child-Pugh'™s score, 0.010, 0.016, respectively). However, at 6 months postoperatively, the changes were not significant (P 0.05). Except for gallstone recurrence and wound infection, occurrences or development of postoperative complications including biliary fistula, liver failure and subphrenic infection showed significant differences between the two groups (P = 0.037, P = 0.041, P = 0.019, respectively). After a mean follow-up of 4.2 years, all patients remain alive. Twenty-seven patients in group A (93%) are free of biliary symptoms.

Conclusion: Cholecystolithotomy combined with using Armillarisin A is a useful treatment for symptomatic gallstones in patients with cirrhotic portal hypertension who are at high risk for cholecystectomy. It preserves gallbladder function and reduces the possibility of liver failure; moreover the rate of recurrent gallstones are relatively low.