Intrahepatic bile duct exploration lithotomy is a useful adjunctive hepatectomy method for bilateral primary hepatolithiasis: an eight-year experience at a single centre.

Background: To evaluate the perioperative and long-term results of intrahepatic bile duct exploration lithotomy (IHBDIL) combined with hepatectomy for patients with complicated bilateral primary hepatolithiasis.

Methods: A study was conducted involving 56 patients with complicated bilateral primary hepatolithiasis who underwent IHBDIL combined with hepatectomy at our hospital from January 2006 to December 2014. The perioperative and long-term outcomes that were retrospectively analysed included the stone clearance rate, operative morbidity and mortality, and stone recurrence rate. Patients with a preoperative diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma were excluded.

Results: In all 56 patients, hepatic duct stones were located in the bilateral IHBD. The surgical method was IHBDIL combined with hepatectomy. Postoperative complications occurred in 15 patients (26.8%), 14 patients responded to conservative management, and there was 1 case of postoperative mortality because of hepatic failure. The overall initial success rate of stone clearance was 85.7%, and the final clearance rate was 92.9% following postoperative choledochoscopic lithotripsy. The stone recurrence rate was 13.5%, and the occurrence of postoperative cholangitis was 10.9% during the follow-up period.

Conclusion: IHBDIL combined with hepatectomy is a safe, effective, and promising treatment for patients with complicated bilateral primary hepatolithiasis. The perioperative and long-term outcomes are satisfactory for complicated bilateral primary hepatolithiasis.