Current management of intrahepatic stones.

Abstract

A high incidence of intrahepatic stones occurs in East Asia. The surgical management of intrahepatic stones is problematic because it is difficult to locate and remove all the stones and relieve the accompanying biliary strictures. Consequently, the rate of recurrent cholangitis is high. Many new techniques have been introduced to locate, fragment, and retrieve gallstones. Operative procedures to relieve biliary strictures have also undergone development. These new procedures and techniques have been applied to intrahepatic stones. The initial results are good. Whether these good results can be maintained in the long-term remains to be seen.