[Personal case series of intrahepatic lithiasis]

Fifteen cases of intrahepatic lithiasis are reported, on 1798 operations for non malignant diseases of the biliary tract (0.8%), carried out by the Authors in the last 11 years. Two cases were described separately, consisting respectively of an "eastern" hepatolithiasis, and a secondary form, due to stenosis of a choledochoduodenostomy, which had been performed after surgical injury of the common bile duct. The other 13 patients had a "mixed" form. Jaundice was present in 8 of these cases, cholangitis in 4. Intrahepatic stones were diagnosed preoperatively in 3 cases and intraoperatively in 10. A bilioenteric anastomosis was carried out in 9 cases, a sphincteroplasty in 3, and a T-tube drainage in a patient with suppurative cholangitis. Two patients died postoperatively, both from sepsis: the first in the early postoperative phase, after emergency operation for cholangitis; the other, with "primitive" hepatolithiasis, 3 months after the operation. Clinical results are satisfactory after 1-11 years. On the basis of data from current literature, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects are set forth, with specific reference to the mixed and secondary forms: the bilioenteric anastomoses seem to give better chances of success, but the need to have access to lobar ducts may sometimes impose hilar derivations. Spincteroplasty may have a few indications, solely in selected patients.