Clinical experience of hepatic lobectomy for the treatment of hepatolithiasis

Objective To explore the method and effect of hepatectomy for the treatment of the patients with hepatolithiasis.Methods Retrospective summary was made on 112 patients suffering from hepatolithiasis undergone different types of hepatectomy from Dec.1992 to Dec.2004.Results None patient died in operation and the majority of postoperative complications were biliary fistulas(2.7%),subphrenic infection(4.5%),peritoneal abscesses(1.8%) and liver failure(0.9%).Long-term follow up on 103 patients at a median of 7.3 years showed that 76.7% were without symptom and could work as usual,17.5% had occasional mild attacks of cholangitis,5.8% had severe cholangitis requiring further surgical intervention.Conclusion Hepatectomy is the most effective treatment for hepatolithiasis.