Aim: Surgical and nonsurgical procedures for management of hepatolithiasis have been reported. The aim of this study was to evaluate immediate and long-term results of hepatectomy as treatment for hepatolithiasis.
Materials and methods: Immediate and long-term outcomes of 123 consecutive patients who underwent hepatectomy for hepatolithiasis at our institution from 2000 to 2005 were analyzed retrospectively. Acute cholangitis was the major presenting symptom (in 106 out of 123, 86.2% of cases).
Results: The immediate stone clearance rate was 92.7% (114 out of 123) and final stone clearance rate was 96% (118 out of 123) after subsequent T-tube route or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Residual stones were identified in 5 patients (4%). The surgical morbidity and mortality rates were 33.3% (41 out of 123) and 1.6% (2 out of 123) respectively. Of the 123 patients, 3 (2.4%) had associated cholangiocarcinoma at the time of hepatectomy. With a median follow-up of 40.3 months (range 5-58), a recurrent stone developed in 7 patients (5.7%) and cholangiocarcinoma in 2 (1.6%). Ten patients died during the follow-up period, with 4 of them (out of 123, 3.2%) due to recurrent stone with sepsis.
Conclusion: Hepatectomy is a safe and effective treatment for hepatolithiasis, with a high stone clearance rate and fair rate of surgical complications. Recurrent stone-induced sepsis and cholangiocarcinoma are the major factors compromising long-term survival in these patients.