J Korean Radiol Soc.  1992 Apr;28(2):169-175.

Retained intrahepatic stones: percutaneous removal with a preshaped angulated catheter in 179 patients

• Choi BI
• Han JK
• Park JH
• Kim HS
• Ahn IO
• Choi YW
• Han MC

Abstract

Intrahepatic stones are frequently associated with recurrent pyogenic cholangiohepatitis and complete surgical removal of the stones is almost always difficult because of the large number of stones and associated bile duct strictures. One hundred and seventy-nine patients with retained intrahepatic stones underwent percuttaneous stone removal utilizing a preshaped angulated catheter and a Dormia basket under fluoroscopy with a combination of techniques including irrigation-suction. crushing of large stones. balloon dilatation of strictures and extracorporenal shock wave lithotripsy. The procedure was performed through a mature T-tube tract (177 patients) and a mature transhepatic tube tract (two patients). Stones were exclusively intrahepatic in 130 patients. whereas 49 patients also had stones in the common bile duct. In 91 (50.8%) of 179 patients. the stones were completely removed and in 36 (20.1%) patients most of the stones were removed. The overall success rate was 70.9% ngulation deformity. stricture of bile ducts and impacted stones were the factor most often responsible for failure, No significant complications were observed. Fluoroscopicalyy-guided percutaneous interventional procedures with a preshaped angulated catheter is an useful complementary procedure to surgery for patients with intrahepatic stones. the major benefits of an individually fitted angulated catheter are its safety and easy access to small peripheral bile ducts.

MeSH Terms

Bile Ducts
Catheters*
Common Bile Duct
Congenital Abnormalities
Constriction, Pathologic
Dilatation
Fluoroscopy
Humans
Lithotripsy
Shock