Surgical resection for non-Asian intrahepatic lithiasis: The Brazilian experience.

BACKGROUND: Intrahepatic lithiasis (IHL) is a rare disease in the western world. Complications associated with IHL include acute cholangitis, liver atrophy, secondary biliary cirrhosis, and risk for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Liver resection is considered the treatment of choice for IHL. The objective of this study was to analyze patients who underwent liver resection for non-Asian hepatolithiasis. METHODS: 127 patients with symptomatic non-Asian hepatolithiasis underwent resection in six institutions. Demographic data, clinical presentation, diagnosis, classification according to stone location, presence of atrophy, bile duct stricture, biliary cirrhosis, incidence of cholangiocarcinoma, treatment and postoperative course were evaluated. RESULTS: 52 patients (40.9%) were male and the mean age was 46.1 years. Sixty-six patients (51.9%) presented with history of cholangitis. Stones were located in the left lobe in 63 (49.6%), and right lobe in 28 patients (22.0%). Atrophy was observed in 31 patients (24.4%) and biliary stenosis in 18 patients (14.1%). The most common procedure performed was left lateral sectionectomy in 63 (49.6%) patients, followed by left hepatectomy in 36 (28.3%), right hepatectomy in 19 (15.0%), and associated hepaticojejunostomy in 28 (22.0%). Forty-two patients (33.0%) presented postoperative complications and the most common were biliary fistula (13.3%) and surgical site infection (7.0%). Postoperative mortality was 0.7%. Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma was observed in 2 patients (1.5%). Recurrence was identified in 10 patients (7.8%), mostly with bilateral stones and/or hepaticojejunostomy. CONCLUSION: Liver resection is the standard treatment for symptomatic unilateral or complicated IHL with good operative results. Risk of cholangiocarcinoma was low in non-Asian patients.

LIVER RESECTION FOR NON-ORIENTAL HEPATOLITHIASIS.

BACKGROUND: Primary intrahepatic lithiasis is defined when the stones are formed in the liver and associated with local dilatation and biliary stricture. Liver resection is the ideal procedure. AIM: To evaluate the results of liver resection in the treatment of non-oriental intrahepatic lithiasis. METHODS: Fifty-one patients with symptomatic benign non-oriental hepatolithiasis underwent surgical resection in six institutions in Brazil. Demography data, clinical symptoms, classification, diagnosis, management and postoperative course were analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 51 patients, 28 were male (54.9%), with a mean age of 49.3 years. History of cholangitis was observed in 15 (29.4%). The types of intrahepatic lithiasis were type I in 39 (76.5%) and type IIb in 12 (23.5%), with additional type Ea in six (11.8%). Liver function test were normal in 42 patients (82.4%). Segmental atrophy was observed in 12 (23.5%). Treatments included left lateral sectionectomy in 24 (47.1%), left hepatectomy in 14 (27.5%) and right hepatectomy in eight (15.7%), with associated hepaticojejunostomy in four (7.8%). Laparoscopic liver resection was performed in eight (15.7%). Postoperative complications were observed in 20 (39.2%) with no mortality. CONCLUSION: Liver resection in patients with hepatolithiasis is the ideal procedure as it removes stones, stricture, atrophic parenchyma, and minimizes the risk of cholangiocarcinoma.

Liver resection for non-oriental hepatolithiasis / Ressecção hepática no tratamento da hepatolitíase não oriental

ABSTRACT Background: Primary intrahepatic lithiasis is defined when the stones are formed in the liver and associated with local dilatation and biliary stricture. Liver resection is the ideal procedure. Aim: To evaluate the results of liver resection in the treatment of non-oriental intrahepatic lithiasis. Methods: Fifty-one patients with symptomatic benign non-oriental hepatolithiasis underwent surgical resection in six institutions in Brazil. Demography data, clinical symptoms, classification, diagnosis, management and postoperative course were analyzed. Results: Of the 51 patients, 28 were male (54.9%), with a mean age of 49.3 years. History of cholangitis was observed in 15 (29.4%). The types of intrahepatic lithiasis were type I in 39 (76.5%) and type IIb in 12 (23.5%), with additional type Ea in six (11.8%). Liver function test were normal in 42 patients (82.4%). Segmental atrophy was observed in 12 (23.5%). Treatments included left lateral sectionectomy in 24 (47.1%), left hepatectomy in 14 (27.5%) and right hepatectomy in eight (15.7%), with associated hepaticojejunostomy in four (7.8%). Laparoscopic liver resection was performed in eight (15.7%). Postoperative complications were observed in 20 (39.2%) with no mortality. Conclusion: Liver resection in patients with hepatolithiasis is the ideal procedure as it removes stones, stricture, atrophic parenchyma, and minimizes the risk of cholangiocarcinoma.

RESUMO Racional: Litíase intra-hepática primária é definida quando os cálculos são formados dentro do fígado, podendo estar associada à dilatação local e estenosa da via biliar. A ressecção hepática é considerada o procedimento ideal. Objetivo: Avaliar os resultados da ressecção hepática no tratamento da litíase intra-hepática não oriental. Métodos: Cinquenta e um pacientes com hepatolitíase benigna não oriental sintomática foram submetidos à ressecção hepática em seis instituições no Brazil. Os dados demográficos, sintomas clínicos, classificação, diagnóstico, tratamento e evolução pós-operatória foram analisados. Resultados: Dos 51 pacientes havia 28 homens (54,9%), e a idade média era de 49,3 anos. História de colangite foi observada em 15 pacientes (29,4%). Os tipos de litíase observados foram tipo I em 39 (76,5%) e tipo IIb em 12 (23,5%), com o tipo adicional Ea em seis pacientes (11,8%). Os testes de função hepática estavam normais em 42 (82,4%) e atrofia segmentar foi observada em 12 (23,5%). O tratamento incluiu setorectomia lateral esquerda em 24 (47,1%), hepatectomia esquerda em 14 (27,5%) e hepatectomia direita em oito pacientes (15,7%). A hepaticojejunostomia esteve associada ao procedimento inicial em quatro (7,8%). Hepatectomia por videolaparoscopia foi realizada em oito (15,7%). Complicações pós-operatórias foram observadas em 20 pacientes (39,2%) e não houve mortalidade. Conclusão: Ressecção hepática na hepatolitíase é o procedimento ideal, pois remove os cálculos, a estenose, o parênquima atrofiado e minimiza os riscos para colangiocarcinoma.