Biliary stone removal through the percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage route, focusing on the balloon sphincteroplasty flushing technique: a single center study with 916 patients.

PURPOSE: To present our experience in biliary stone removal (BSR) through the percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) route in 916 patients, and discuss its clinical usefulness.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 2001 to 2015, 916 patients (479 male patients and 437 female patients; age range, 22-92 years; mean age, 67 years) with 52 recurring cases, so a total of 968 cases, were enrolled in this study and retrospectively reviewed. PTBD was performed in all patients. BSR was performed using a combination of a balloon sphincteroplasty flushing technique, a pushing technique after sphincteroplasty, and classical extraction technique, decided case by case.

RESULTS: A complete removal was achieved in 893 cases (92.3%) and the overall clinical success rate was 99.3%. Failure occurred in 7 cases (0.7%), and the causes of failure were stone impaction (n = 5) and intrahepatic bile duct stricture (n = 2). Sphincteroplasty was performed in 902 cases (93.2%). Balloon sphincteroplasty flushing technique was used in 829 (85.6%) cases. There was no major complication. Transient minor complications were seen in 86 cases (8.9%).

CONCLUSIONS: BSR through the PTBD route using a combination of techniques, including balloon sphincteroplasty flushing, is a safe and effective treatment modality to remove biliary stones.