Transcholecystic management of extrahepatic duct stones in poor candidates for endoscopic or transhepatic approaches

ConclusionsPercutaneous EHD stone removal through transcholecystic and transhepatic routes after PC is effective and safe in poor candidates for PTBD or ERCP.Key Points• This study shows the safety and efficacy of extrahepatic duct (EHD) stones in patients who are poor candidates for initial percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.• The overall technical success for the transcholecystic-only approach was 80.5% (33/41). Including transhepatic conversions, it was 100% (41/41). Stone removal was successful in one session in 78% (32/41) of the patients and in multiple sessions in 28.1% (9/41) of the patients.• Balloon ampulloplasty with stone expulsion using an occlusion balloon catheter is also a safe and effective method for removing EHD stones.
Source: European Radiology - Category: Radiology Source Type: research