Abstract Background: Surgical intervention is usually required to treat symptomatic bile duct stones (BDS) in patients after failed endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography (ERCP) or in the presence of biliary-enteric anastomosis. Percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy (PTCS) is a promising non-surgical intervention, especially for surgically unfit patients. The study aim was to report our experience of Interventional Radiology (IR) led PTCS and lithotripsy for treatment of BDS in a single centre. Patients and Methods: Retrospective review of consecutive patients who underwent PTCS and lithotripsy for BDS between March 2021 and December 2023 in single UK tertiary hepatobiliary centre. Results: Eight patients underwent PTCS during the study period. Indications for PTCS were either failed ERCP ( N = 3) or ERCP was inappropriate due to previous surgery ( N = 5). Duct clearance was possible by the index PTCS and lithotripsy procedure and confirmed on follow-up imaging in 6 patients (75%). Two patients underwent duct clearance but had residual stones on follow-up imaging, one of whom had successful duct clearance after repeat PTCS. The remaining patient was asymptomatic and did not require any further intervention. There were no procedural complications. Conclusion: IR led PTCS and lithotripsy for the clearance of biliary stones is safe and effective and can be utilised in cases where the standard of care cannot be applied.
Alaaeldin Ginawi (Tue,) studied this question.
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