Digital cholangioscopy-assisted, direct visualization-guided, radiation-free, endoscopic retrograde intervention for cholelithiasis: technical feasibility, efficacy, and safety.

BACKGROUND: Nonradiation, digital cholangioscope (DCS)-assisted endoscopic intervention for cholelithiasis has not been widely performed. For this study, we aimed to report the feasibility, efficacy, and safety of an established DCS-guided lithotomy procedure. METHODS: Data relating to biliary exploration, stone clearance, adverse events, and follow-up were obtained from 289 patients. The choledocholithiasis-related outcomes via the DCS-guided procedure were subsequently compared to those via conventional endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). RESULTS: Biliary access was achieved in 285 patients. The technical success rate for the exploration of the common bile duct, the cystic stump, the hilar ducts, and secondary radicals was 100%. Moreover, the success rates were 98.4%, 61.7%, and 20.7%, for the exploration of the cystic duct, complete cystic duct, and gallbladder, respectively. Suspicious or confirmed suppurative cholecystitis, cholesterol polyps, and hyperplastic polyps were detected in 42, 23, and 5 patients, respectively. Stone clearance was achieved in one session in 285 (100%), 11 (100%), 13 (100%), 7 (100%), 6 (100%), and 3 (14.3%) patients with choledocholithiasis and hepatolithiasis, cystic duct stump stones, nondiffuse located intrahepatic lithiasis, a single cystic duct stone, a single gallbladder stone, and diffuse located intrahepatic lithiasis, respectively. Complete stone clearance for diffuse intrahepatic lithiasis was achieved in 19 (90.5%) patients, and fractioned re-lithotomy was performed in 16 (76.2%) patients. One patient developed mild acute cholangitis, and 12 developed mild pancreatitis. Stones recurred in one patient. Compared with conventional ERCP, DCS-guided lithotomy has the advantages of clearing difficult-to-treat choledocholithiasis and revealing concomitant biliary lesions, and this technique has fewer complications and a decreased risk of stone recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: The technical profile, efficacy, and safety of nonradiation-guided and DCS-guided lithotomy are shown in this study. We provide a feasible modality for the endoscopic removal of cholelithiasis.

Balloon endoscopy-assisted endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography for hepatolithiasis in patients with hepaticojejunostomy.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Balloon endoscopy-assisted endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (BE-ERCP) is an emerging procedure for pancreatobiliary diseases in patients with surgically altered anatomy. However, data on BE-ERCP for hepatolithiasis after hepaticojejunostomy (HJS) are still limited. METHODS: Stone removal success, adverse events and recurrence were retrospectively studied in consecutive patients who underwent BE-ERCP for hepatolithiasis after HJS between January 2011 and October 2022. Subgroup analysis was performed to compare clinical outcomes between patients who had undergone HJS over 10 years before (past HJS group) and within 10 years (recent HJS group). RESULTS: A total of 131 patients were included; 39% had undergone HJS for malignancy and 32% for congenital biliary dilation. Scope insertion and complete stone removal were successful in 89% and 73%, respectively. Early adverse events were observed in 9.9%. Four patients (3.1%) developed gastrointestinal perforation but could be managed conservatively. Hepatolithiasis recurrence rate was 17%, 20% and 31% in 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year after complete stone removal. The past HJS group was the only risk factor for failed stone removal (odds ratio 10.4, 95% confidence interval 2.99-36.5) in the multivariable analysis. Failed scope insertion (20%) and failed guidewire or device insertion to the bile duct (22%) were two major reasons for failed stone removal in the past HJS group. CONCLUSIONS: BE-ERCP for hepatolithiasis was effective and safe in cases with HJS but the complete stone removal rate was low in the past HJS group. Recurrent hepatolithiasis was common and careful follow up study is needed even after complete stone removal.

Early and late outcomes of congenital biliary dilatation in pediatric patients.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to reveal the early and late postoperative complications and outcomes after surgery for congenital biliary dilatation (CBD) by reviewing cases over the past 40 years. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 59 patients with CBD who underwent radical surgery for complications and outcomes, based on medical records. Early complications were defined as those requiring treatment within 5 years of the initial operation. Late complications were defined as those treated more than 5 years later. RESULTS: The median age at the first surgery was 37 months. Regarding biliary reconstruction, 54 of the 59 patients (91.5%) underwent hepaticojejunostomy. Although three patients underwent cholecystoduodenostomy and one patient underwent hepaticoduodenostomy, all were converted to hepaticojejunostomy after a median of 12.5 years. One patient developed synchronous biliary carcinoma and underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy. Early complications occurred in seven patients with 10 events (surgical site infection, n = 3 bile leakage, n = 3; ileus, n = 3; bile duct obstruction, n = 1 and intussusception, n = 1). Late complications occurred in nine patients with 12 events (ileus, n = 3; anastomotic stricture, n = 3; hepatolithiasis, n = 3; asynchronous biliary carcinoma, n = 2; pancreatolithiasis, n = 1). Two of the three patients with hepatolithiasis underwent hepatectomy refractory to the endoscopic approach. Two patients developed asynchronous biliary carcinoma at 34 and 13 years after last operation; both ultimately died of the carcinoma. Only 35 patients (61.4%) underwent a follow-up examination. A total of 11 female patients (45.8%) eventually married, and all successfully gave birth. CONCLUSION: Although the long-term prognosis is excellent with complete cyst excision and hepaticojejunostomy, we emphasize the importance of long-term follow-up.

Ultrasound-guided percutaneous transhepatic one-step biliary fistulation combined with rigid choledochoscopy for recurrent hepatolithiasis.

PURPOSE: Percutaneous transhepatic one-step biliary fistulation (PTOBF) is used to treat choledocholithiasis and biliary stricture. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ultrasound-guided PTOBF combined with rigid choledochoscopy in the treatment of recurrent hepatolithiasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The clinical data of 37 consecutive patients who underwent PTOBF combined with rigid choledochoscopy for RHL from March 2020 to March 2022 at our hospital were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 68 percutaneous transhepatic punctures were performed in 37 patients, with a puncture success rate of 85.29% (58/68) and a dilatation success rate of 100.00% (58/58). The mean blood loss of operation was 9.84 ± 18.10 mL, the mean operation time was 82.05 ± 31.92 min, and the mean length of postoperative hospital stay was 5.59 ± 3.26 days. The initial stone clearance rate was 40.54% (15/37) and the final stone clearance rate was 100% (37/37). The incidence of postoperative complications was 10.81% (4/37), including 2 cases of pleural effusion, 1 case of hemorrhage, and 1 case of cholangitis, which recovered after treatment. During a mean follow-up period of 23 months (range 12 to 36 months), only 1 patient experienced stone recurrence. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound-guided PTOBF combined with rigid choledochoscopy in the treatment of RHL based on skilful manipulation seems to be a safe, effective and minimally invasive method with clinical application value. Further comparative studies with large sample sizes are needed in the future to confirm the reliability of its therapeutic results.

Clinical application of indocyanine green fluorescence navigation technique in laparoscopic common bile duct exploration for complex hepatolithiasis.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the clinical application of the indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence navigation technique in bile duct identification during laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LCBDE) for complex hepatolithiasis. METHODS: Eighty patients with complex hepatolithiasis were admitted to our department between January 2022 and June 2023 and randomly divided into control and observation groups. The control group underwent conventional LCBDE, while the observation group underwent LCBDE guided by ICG fluorescence. RESULTS: Intraoperatively, the observation group had shorter operation and search times for the common bile duct (CBD), as well as reduced intraoperative blood loss and fewer complications, such as conversion to laparotomy and various injuries (gastroduodenal, colon, pancreatic, and vascular) than the control group, with statistical significance (P < 0.05). Postoperatively, the observation group had lower rates of postoperative bile leakage, abdominal infection, postoperative hemorrhage, and residual stone than the control group. Additionally, the observation group demonstrated significantly shorter times for resuming flatus, removal of the abdominal drainage tube, and hospitalization than the control group, with statistical significance (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: ICG fluorescence navigation technology effectively visualizes the bile duct, improves its identification rate, shortens the operation time, prevents biliary tract injury, and reduces the occurrence of complications.

[A Case of Hilar Cholangiocarcinoma Arising during Long-Term Follow-Up of Hepatolithiasis].

A 91-year-old man had a history of cholecystectomy and choledochostomy for cholecystolithiasis and choledocholithiasis. Eleven years earlier, intrahepatic stones were found in the posterior bile duct, and he did not wish to undergo treatment. Over time, worsening of the intrahepatic stones and dilation of the intrahepatic bile duct were observed. At 91 years old, enhanced abdominal CT revealed wall thickening of the hilar bile duct, and MRCP showed stenosis of the hilar bile duct. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography showed no contrast in the right intrahepatic bile duct and marked dilation of the left intrahepatic bile duct. Brush cytology confirmed adenocarcinoma, leading to a diagnosis of hilar cholangiocarcinoma. He underwent open right and caudal lobectomy with biliary reconstruction. Histopathological examination revealed a hilar cholangiocarcinoma, T3N1M0, Stage Ⅲc, mainly located at the confluence of the right and left hepatic ducts. This case suggests a potential association between hepatolithiasis and hilar cholangiocarcinoma, emphasizing the importance of regular imaging examinations for timely surgical resection. Early intervention, including liver resection, is recommended for the management of hepatolithiasis.

Phenotypic characterization of a pediatric cohort with cystinuria and usefulness of newborn screening.

BACKGROUND: Cystinuria is an inherited metabolic disease involving the defective transport of cystine and the dibasic amino acids in the renal proximal tubules that causes the formation of stones in the urinary system. In our regional child health program, cystinuria is included in newborn metabolic screening. Our objectives are the phenotypic characterization of our cystinuric pediatric cohort and to present our experience in neonatal cystinuria screening. METHODS: The study of clinical cases of pediatric patients diagnosed with cystinuria over a period of 32 years. All patients were studied at demographic, clinical, laboratory, radiological, and therapeutic levels. RESULTS: We diagnosed 86 pediatric patients with cystinuria; 36% of them had the homozygous biochemical phenotype. 95.3% of the patients were detected by neonatal metabolic screening. We performed urine biochemical analyses of parents with additional diagnoses of 63 adult patients. The mean follow-up time was 16.8 ± 8.5 years. 11.6% of patients developed one or more episodes of urinary tract infection during that period. Chronic kidney disease, proteinuria, and hypertension were uncommon (1.2%). 10.5% developed kidney stones at the mean age of presentation of 7.78 ± 7.6 years; 33% were recurrent. The risk of developing lithiasis was higher for homozygous biochemical-phenotype patients. Hypercalciuria was a significant risk factor in the development of lithiasis. CONCLUSIONS: Our clinical data suggest that diagnosing cystinuria through neonatal screening could be a useful strategy for the detection of presymptomatic cases, in order to establish preventive measures, as well as for the detection of relatives at risk. A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information.

Percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy for benign and malignant biliary disease using a novel short single-operator cholangioscope.

BACKGROUND: The length of conventional single-use cholangioscopes poses a challenge for percutaneous or laparoscopic approaches for direct visualization of the biliary tract. The aim of this retrospective observational clinical study was to assess the use of a dedicated percutaneous short single-operator cholangioscope (PSSOC) for diagnosis and treatment of benign or malignant biliary diseases. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database including all consecutive patients undergoing percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy with the PSSOC between 06/2021 and 01/2023. RESULTS: Forty patients were included (22F/18 M, age 58.7 ± 16.7 years). The diagnostic and therapeutic management plan was based on procedural findings. Indications were bile duct obstruction associated with complex anatomy (n = 13), choledocholithiasis (n = 11), suspected malignant stenosis of the biliary tract (n = 11), biliary stent placement (n = 2) and removal (n = 1), and failed endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (n = 2). The cholangioscopies were diagnostic (n = 5), therapeutic (n = 20) or both simultaneously (n = 15). The most frequent procedures were electrohydraulic lithotripsy (n = 25) and biopsy sampling (n = 12). Complications occurred in 7 cases (17.5%), including cholangitis (n = 4, B2), pleural perforation (n = 1, B2), portal bleeding (n = 1, B3), and Tako-Tsubo syndrome (n = 1, B3), classified according to the Society of Interventional Radiology classification. Intraprocedural visual diagnosis was confirmed by the histopathologic result in 11/12 patients in which biopsies were performed (91.7%). PSSOC was relevant to avoid surgery in 2 patients (5%) with indeterminate strictures, allowing to rule out malignancy and treat the lithiasis. CONCLUSIONS: Direct visualization of the biliary tract enabled targeted biopsies for histopathological diagnosis. The visual and histopathological diagnoses were concordant in all but one case. Percutaneous cholangioscopy with a dedicated PSSOC allows to optimize identification and treatment of complex biliary disease including biliary lithiasis while assessing bile duct patency. The clinical use of the novel PSSOC system was safe and effective and could prevent surgical exploration in select patients.

Laparoscopic anatomical left hemihepatectomy guided by middle hepatic vein in the treatment of left hepatolithiasis with a history of upper abdominal surgery.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the safety and efficacy of laparoscopic anatomical left hemihepatectomy guided by the middle hepatic vein (MHV) for the treatment of patients with hepatolithiasis who had a history of upper abdominal surgery. METHODS: Retrospective data analysis was performed on patients who underwent laparoscopic left hepatectomy for hepatolithiasis and with previous upper abdominal surgery at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University from January 2018 to April 2022. According to the different surgical approaches, patients were divided into laparoscopic anatomical left hepatectomy guided by the MHV group (MHV-AH group) and laparoscopic traditional anatomical left hepatectomy not guided by the MHV group (non-MHV-AH group). RESULTS: This study included 81 patients, with 37 and 44 patients in the MHV-AH and non-MHV-AH groups, respectively. There was no significant difference in the basic information between the two groups. Five cases were converted to laparotomy, and the remaining were successfully completed under laparoscopy. Compared to the non-MHV-AH group, the MHV-AH group had a slightly longer operation time (319.30 min vs 273.93 min, P = 0.032), lower bile leakage rate (5.4% vs 20.5%, P = 0.047), stone residual rate (2.7% vs 20.5%, P = 0.015), stone recurrence rate (5.4% vs 22.7%, P = 0.028), and cholangitis recurrence rate (2.7% vs 22.7%, P = 0.008).There were no significant differences in the results of other observation indices between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic anatomical left hepatectomy guided by the MHV is safe and effective in the treatment of left hepatolithiasis with a history of upper abdominal surgery. It does not increase intraoperative bleeding and reduces the risk of postoperative bile leakage, residual stones, stone recurrence, and cholangitis recurrence.

Classification of left-side hepatolithiasis for laparoscopic middle hepatic vein-guided anatomical hemihepatectomy combined with transhepatic duct lithotomy.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic middle hepatic vein-guided anatomical hemihepatectomy combined with transhepatic duct lithotomy (MATL) is an approach that can substantially improve stone clearance rates while reducing the rate of postoperative biliary fistula formation, residual stone rates, and rates of recurrence. In this study, we classified left-side hepatolithiasis cases into four subtypes based upon the diseased stone-containing bile duct, the middle hepatic vein, and the right hepatic duct. We then investigated the risk associated with different subtypes and evaluated the safety and efficacy of the MATL procedure. METHODS: In total, 372 patients who underwent left hemihepatectomy for left intrahepatic bile duct stones were enrolled. Based on the distribution of the stones, the cases could be divided into four types. The risk of surgical treatment was compared for the four types and the safety, short-term efficacy, and long-term efficacy of the MATL procedure in the four types of left intrahepatic bile duct stones were studied. RESULTS: Type II was found to be the most likely to cause intraoperative bleeding while type III was likely to cause biliary tract damage and type IV was associated with the highest stone recurrence rate. The MATL procedure did not increase the risk of surgery and was found to reduce the rate of bile leakage, residual stones, and stone recurrence. CONCLUSION: Left-side hepatolithiasis-associated risk classification is feasible and may represent a viable means of improving the safety and feasibility of the MATL procedure.

Robotic versus laparoscopic liver resections for hepatolithiasis: an international multicenter propensity score matched analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Minimally invasive liver resection (MILR) is widely recognized as a safe and beneficial procedure in the treatment of both malignant and benign liver diseases. Hepatolithiasis has traditionally been reported to be endemic only in East Asia, but has seen a worldwide uptrend in recent decades with increasingly frequent and invasive endoscopic instrumentation of the biliary tract for a myriad of conditions. To date, there has been a woeful lack of high-quality evidence comparing the laparoscopic (LLR) and robotic (RLR) approaches to treatment hepatolithiasis. METHODS: This is an international multicenter retrospective analysis of 273 patients who underwent RLR or LRR for hepatolithiasis at 33 centers in 2003-2020. The baseline clinicopathological characteristics and perioperative outcomes of these patients were assessed. To minimize selection bias, 1:1 (48 and 48 cases of RLR and LLR, respectively) and 1:2 (37 and 74 cases of RLR and LLR, respectively) propensity score matching (PSM) was performed. RESULTS: In the unmatched cohort, 63 (23.1%) patients underwent RLR, and 210 (76.9%) patients underwent LLR. Patient clinicopathological characteristics were comparable between the groups after PSM. After 1:1 and 1:2 PSM, RLR was associated with less blood loss (p = 0.003 in 1:2 PSM; p = 0.005 in 1:1 PSM), less patients with blood loss greater than 300 ml (p = 0.024 in 1:2 PSM; p = 0.027 in 1:1 PSM), and lower conversion rate to open surgery (p = 0.003 in 1:2 PSM; p < 0.001 in 1:1 PSM). There was no significant difference between RLR and LLR in use of the Pringle maneuver, median Pringle maneuver duration, 30-day readmission rate, postoperative morbidity, major morbidity, reoperation, and mortality. CONCLUSION: Both RLR and LLR were safe and feasible for hepatolithiasis. RLR was associated with significantly less blood loss and lower open conversion rate.

Intraoperative ultrasound-guided percutaneous hepatocholangiostomy applied in the cholangioscopic lithotripsy for hepatolithiasis and choledocholithiasis.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopic lithotripsy (PTCSL) is a minimally invasive treatment for hepatolithiasis. But it may make a long cycle of treatment so that it was further improved to complete the percutaneous hepatic choledochotomy and choledochoscopic lithotripsy in phase I surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the modified technique comparing with laparoscopic choledochotomy. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of the clinical data of patients with hepatolithiasis or choledocholithiasis consulted at our hospital from February 2018 to December 2021. The cases were divided into two groups according to surgical modality, intraoperative ultrasound-guided percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopic lithotripsy (IUG-PTCSL) and laparoscopic choledochotomy lithotripsy (LC-L). Contrast analysis determined the advantages of the two approaches. RESULTS: IUG-PTCSL was performed in 44 patients, aged 58.14 ± 14.01 years, including 9 male and 35 female. There were 15 patients underwent LC-L, aged 62.13 ± 15.03 years, including 1 male and 14 female. There was not statistically significant difference in the composition of patients' age and sex between the two groups (p = 0.356, 0.219). The success rate of intraoperative ultrasound-guided percutaneous hepatic bile duct puncture was 100% followed with the success rate of hepatocholangiostomy was 100%. Although 1 (1/44) patient showed significant bleeding during choledochoscopic lithotripsy and was converted to open choledochotomy for stone extraction, 43 patients completed IUG-PTCSL with the rate of phase I surgical stones removal was 81.40% (35/43), whereas the stones removal rate of LC-L was 66.67% (10/15). There was not statistically significant difference between them (p = 0.067). Both the groups showed no significant complications with the postoperative hospital stay of 8 (6, 10) days and 10 (8, 11) days, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (p = 0.028). CONCLUSION: Intraoperative ultrasound-guided percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy might be a safe and reliable ideal method for bile duct stones with the advantages of rapid recovery for patients. Intraoperative ultrasound-guided percutaneous hepatocholangiostomy may be the key technique for the successful completion of the surgery.

Outcome of percutaneous transhepatic biliary interventions in the management of biliary enteric anastomotic strictures with hepatolithiasis.

AIM: To evaluate percutaneous transhepatic biliary interventions (PTBI) using the ADDFREE (Access-Drain-Dilate-Flush-REpeat periodically-Evaluate and remove) technique and its outcomes in patients with biliary enteric anastomotic strictures (BEAS) and hepatolithiasis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective review was undertaken of patients having hepatolithiasis with BEAS who underwent PTBI with a therapeutic intent (from January 2010 to January 2021) was performed. The technical and clinical successes of PTBI were analysed. Technical success was divided into duct access, crossing of BEAS, stricture resolution, and calculi clearance. Improvement of liver function tests, resolution of leucocytosis and presenting complaints were considered as clinical success. The patients were followed-up for a minimum duration of 6-months. RESULTS: Eighteen patients received PTBI in form of the ADDFREE technique. Hepatolithiasis was bilobar (44.4%), unilobar in multiple ducts (unilobar-m; 27.8%) and unilobar in a single duct (unilobar-s; 27.8%) along with anastomotic stricture. The average number of sessions of stone clearance for bilobar, unilobar-m, and unilobar-s was 4.4 (±1.6), 3.6 (±2.4), and 1.5 (±0.5), respectively. Clinical success was observed in 14 (77.8%), while one patient had recurrence of calculi and received repeat treatment. Bile culture was positive for bacterial organisms in 17 (94.4%) patients. No major complication were seen while minor complication were seen in five patients consisting of self-limiting haemobilia (n=1), per-catheter bile leak (n=2) and aggravation of cholangitis (n=2). CONCLUSION: PTBI, consisting of bile duct access, cholangioplasty, and calculi clearance, is a safe and effective technique for the treatment of patients having hepatolithiasis secondary to BEAS.

Clinical characteristics and prognosis of primary hepatolithiasis in hospitalized children.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of primary hepatolithiasis in hospitalized children. This retrospective cohort study included 106 hospitalized patients with primary hepatolithiasis at Beijing Children's Hospital. Clinical data were derived from electronic inpatient (2010-2021) and outpatient (2016-2021) medical records. The prognosis was evaluated by outpatient ultrasounds after discharge and telephone interviews performed in December 2022. Intrahepatic bile duct stones in patients enrolled in the study were all found incidentally by abdominal ultrasound during hospitalization, with an incidence of 1.7 per 10,000 hospitalized children. The mean age at diagnosis was 9.3 ± 3.6 years, with male predominance (69/106, 65.1%). The right lobe of the liver (80/106, 75.5%) was preferentially affected. All patients underwent conservative observation. Seventy-eight patients (78/106, 73.6%) were followed up with a mean follow-up age of 17.1 ± 5.0 years, and 4 (4/78, 5.1%) had intermittent abdominal pain. From 2016 to 2021, 32 patients were diagnosed with primary hepatolithiasis, and follow-up abdominal ultrasounds were performed in 20 of them (20/32, 60.0%) with a median time of 2.1 (0.1, 3.5) years. The stones were present in 17 patients (17/20, 85.0%). CONCLUSION: Primary hepatolithiasis in hospitalized children is rare, almost found accidentally; mostly affects the right lobe of the liver; and can be conservatively observed without surgical treatment in childhood. WHAT IS KNOWN: • Primary hepatolithiasis in adults often presents with severe clinical symptoms and requires hepatectomy.. • There are few studies on primary hepatolithiasis in children. WHAT IS NEW: • Primary hepatolithiasis in children is mostly found accidentally by abdominal ultrasound without associated symptoms during hospitalization. • Children with accidental primary hepatolithiasis can be conservatively observed without surgical treatment in childhood.

Nomogram predicting surgical risk of laparoscopic left-sided hepatectomy for hepatolithiasis.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the surgical risk factors of laparoscopic left-sided hepatectomy for hepatolithiasis and establish and validate a nomogram to estimate the corresponding surgical risks. METHODS: Patients with hepatolithiasis who underwent laparoscopic left-sided hepatectomy were retrospectively enrolled. Demographic data, clinicopathological parameters, and surgical factors were collected. Three hundred fifty-three patients were enrolled and randomly divided into training set (n=267) and validation set (n=86) by 3:1. Conversion to laparotomy was used as a surrogate index to evaluate the surgical risk. Univariate analysis was used to screen potential surgical risk factors, and multivariate analysis using logistic regression model was used to screen independent surgical risk factors. Nomogram predicting the surgical risks was established based on the independent risk factors. Discrimination, calibration, decision curve, and clinical impact analyses were used to evaluate the performance of the nomogram on the statistical and clinical aspects both in the training and validation sets. RESULTS: Five independent surgical risk factors were identified in the training set, including recurrent abdominal pain, bile duct stricture, ASA classification ≥2, extent of liver resection, and biliary tract T tube drainage. No collinearity was found among these five factors, and a nomogram was established. Performance analyses of the nomogram showed good discrimination (AUC=0.850 and 0.817) and calibration (Hosmer-Lemeshow test, p=0.530 and 0.930) capabilities both in the training and validation sets. Decision curve and clinical impact analyses also showed that the prediction performance was clinically valuable. CONCLUSIONS: A nomogram was established and validated to be effective in evaluating and predicting the surgical risk of patients undergoing laparoscopic left-sided hepatectomies for hepatolithiasis.

An audit of Complicated Choledochal Cysts- 15-years' experience at a tertiary care center.

PURPOSE: Complicated choledochal cysts (CDC) have a variable presentation, and their management differs from an uncomplicated CDC. They are infrequently reported. We present our 15 years of experience in the management of complicated CDC. METHODOLOGY: We reviewed the data of patients with CDCs managed at a tertiary level center from 2005 to 2020 from a prospectively maintained database. RESULTS: Of 215 patients with CDC, 123 patients presented with complicated CDC. The median age of complicated CDC was 31 years with a female preponderance (62.6%). The most common type of CDC associated with complications was type I (69.1%), followed by type IVA (29.3%). The Complicated CDC was presented as cholangitis with or without cystolithiasis (n = 45), cystolithiasis and hepatolithiasis(n = 44), malignancy(n = 10), complications associated with incomplete cyst excision (n = 10), acute pancreatitis (n = 8), chronic pancreatitis(n = 8), portal hypertension (n = 6), spontaneous rupture (n = 4), gastric outlet obstruction (n = 1). These patients were managed as a one-stage approach (52.03%) and a two-stage approach (47.96%). On univariate and multivariate analysis, increasing age, prolonged duration of symptoms, and presence of abnormal pancreaticobiliary ductal junction (APBDJ) were significantly associated with complicated CDC. CONCLUSION: The management of complicated CDC varied depending on the associated pathology, many of them required a staged approach. Increasing age, prolonged duration of symptoms, and presence of APBDJ were significantly associated with complicated CDC.

Transoral removal of submandibular hilar lithiasis: results on the salivary duct system, glandular parenchyma, and quality-of-life recovery.

OBJECTIVE(S): To confirm that hilar transoral submandibular sialolitectomy (TOSL) is the first treatment option for submandibular hilar lithiasis (SHL) in terms of glandular parenchyma recovery, salivary system restoration, and patient quality of life (QoL) improvement. METHODS: Depending on whether the stone was easily palpable, TOSL was carried out with or without sialendoscopy. For the first time in the literature, Magnetic Resonance Sialography (MR-Si) was performed before and after TOSL, to evaluate stone characteristics, glandular parenchyma status, hilum dilation and main duct recanalization. Radiological data was examined independently by two radiologists. COSQ, a recently validated and specific questionnaire, was used to assess associated QoL. RESULTS: Between 2017 and 2022, 29 TOSL patients were examined. With a high interobserver correlation, MR-Si was confirmed as a very useful radiological test in the pre- and post-surgical evaluation of SHL. The salivary main duct was completely recanalized in all cases. The presence of lithiasis was found in 4 patients (13.8%). After surgery, the majority of patients (79.31%) had hilum dilation. There was a statistically significant improvement in parenchyma status, but no significant progression to glandular atrophy. After surgery, COSQ mean values always improved (22.5 to 4.5). CONCLUSIONS: TOSL is the ideal surgical technique for the management of SHL, resulting in improved parenchymal inflammatory changes, recanalization of Wharton's duct, and enhancement patients' QoL. As a result, before removing the submandibular gland, TOSL should be considered as the first treatment option for SHL.

Exploring the Contribution of the Transporter AGT1/rBAT in Cystinuria Progression: Insights from Mouse Models and a Retrospective Cohort Study.

More than 20 years have passed since the identification of SLC3A1 and SLC7A9 as causative genes for cystinuria. However, cystinuria patients exhibit significant variability in the age of lithiasis onset, recurrence, and response to treatment, suggesting the presence of modulatory factors influencing cystinuria severity. In 2016, a second renal cystine transporter, AGT1, encoded by the SLC7A13 gene, was discovered. Although it was discarded as a causative gene for cystinuria, its possible effect as a modulatory gene remains unexplored. Thus, we analyzed its function in mouse models of cystinuria, screened the SLC7A13 gene in 34 patients with different lithiasic phenotypes, and functionally characterized the identified variants. Mice results showed that AGT1/rBAT may have a protective role against cystine lithiasis. In addition, among the four missense variants detected in patients, two exhibited a 25% impairment in AGT1/rBAT transport. However, no correlation between SLC7A13 genotypes and lithiasis phenotypes was observed in patients, probably because these variants were found in heterozygous states. In conclusion, our results, consistent with a previous study, suggest that AGT1/rBAT does not have a relevant effect on cystinuria patients, although an impact in patients carrying homozygous pathogenic variants cannot be discarded.

Efficacy of Theobromine and Its Metabolites in Reducing the Risk of Uric Acid Lithiasis.

Uric acid lithiasis accounts for about 10% of all types of renal lithiasis. The most common causes of uric acid lithiasis are low urinary pH, followed by high concentration of urinary uric acid, and low diuresis. Treatment of patients consists of alkalinization of urine, reducing the consumption of purine-rich foods, and administration of xanthine oxidase inhibitors, because there are no established therapeutic inhibitors of uric acid crystallization. We recently found that theobromine inhibited uric acid crystallization in vitro, and that the increased urinary level of theobromine following its oral consumption was associated with the prevention of uric acid crystallization. In this study, we evaluated the inhibitory effects of theobromine metabolites and other methylxanthine-related compounds on uric acid crystallization. We also measured the urinary concentrations of theobromine and its metabolites in samples from healthy individuals and patients with uric acid stones and compared the extent of uric acid supersaturation and uric acid crystal formation in these different samples. Theobromine and other methylxanthines that lacked a substituent at position 1 inhibited uric acid crystallization, but other methylxanthines did not have this effect. Individuals with clinical parameters that favored uric acid crystallization did not develop uric acid crystals when theobromine and its metabolites were in the urine at high levels. Thus, theobromine and its metabolites reduced the risk of uric acid lithiasis.

Thulium fiber laser in cystine calculi.

INTRODUCTION: Thulium Fiber Laser (TFL) is the most modern technology to treat nephrolithiasis and ureterolithiasis in endourology. Although there are a lot of new studies coming up, we still don't have data on how this laser works in some rare diseases.Cystinuria is the most common genetic nephrolithiasis disorder (1), known for its recurrent lithiasis (2). Our main goal in this video is to show a successful case of cystine calculi treated with Thulium Fiber Laser (Laser Fiber Dust/Quanta System™). Cystinuria is the most common genetic nephrolithiasis disorder (1), known for its recurrent lithiasis (2). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 25 years-old male, cystinuric, presented with a CT scan, showing a 10mm stone on the right side and two calculi 6 and 7 mm on the left side, all located in the lower calyx. Bilateral flexible ureteroscopy was done using a reusable digital flexible ureteroscope. Starting on the left side, we repositioned the stone from the lower to the upper calyx, using a tipless front opening basket. Lithotripsy was performed using TFL. Settings were 100 Hz (frequency) and 100 mJ (energy) for dusting.  Popcorn technique was also used, setting the laser at 100Hz and 200 mJ, obtaining good dusting. On the right side, lithotripsy was performed in the inferior calyx, also resulting in "snowstorm". Procedure time was 120 minutes. RESULTS: The postoperative was uneventful. Follow up CT showed a 3 mm residual fragment in the right kidney. CONCLUSION: This video demonstrates the treatment of bilateral cystine calculi with Thulium Fiber Laser. Reasonable procedure time and excellent dusting results are encouraging, pointing towards great improvements in endourology.