Intrahepatic stones and postoperative choledochoscopy.

In 35 out of 38 cases of patients suffering from intrahepatic stones, complete removal of the stones has been carried out with repeated postoperative choledochoscopies, the average being 14.5. A follow-up study revealed that 34 cases remain asymptomatic and are leading a normal social life. The remaining one case died from pancreas carcinoma 22 months after successfully removing the entire stones. With the successful results using postoperative choledochoscopy, we believe that the endoscopy is the preferred approach insofar as it can relieve symptoms, prolong life and render cure in some cases, although it may be only palliative in others. This safer and more reliable procedure as opposed to the blind technique which is carried out under fluoroscopic control should be routinely used for management of intrahepatic stones.