LAPAROSCOPIC CHOLECYSTECTOMY AND MANAGEMENT OF CHOLEDOCHOLITHIASIS

The advent of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) has led to a reassessment of the approach to the management of choledocholithiasis. In a consecutive series of 418 patients undergoing LC, common bile duct (CBD) stones were suspected pre-operatively in 130 patients. Forty-five of the patients (35%) were found to have CBD stones on either pre-operative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP; 20) or on operative cholangiography (OC; 25). Common bile duct stones were detected on OC in a further 12 of 288 patients (4.2%) without pre-operative suspicion of choledocholithiasis. Of the total of 57 patients with CBD stones, the duct was cleared by pre-operative ERCP and endoscopic sphincter-otomy (ES) in 15 patients. In 13 patients, two of whom had had a pre-operative ERCP and ES, duct clearance was achieved by relaxing the sphincter pharmacologically and flushing the CBD via the OC catheter. One patient had an on-table ERCP and ES with successful stone extraction during LC. Eleven patients were converted to open operation with bile duct exploration. Sixteen patients had a postoperative ERCP. In five patients the CBD stones had passed spontaneously in the time between LC and ERCP. Ten patients required ES to clear the duct of stones. One patient had a failed ERCP and is still awaiting a repeat. The remaining patient was scheduled, but did not return for follow-up ERCP. In summary, pre-operative ERCP was indicated in less than 10% of patients in this series. It was possible to deal with over one-third of CBD stones found at LC by the simple technique of pharmacological relaxation of the spincter of Oddi and flushing the duct through the cholangiogram catheter. Of the patients who required follow-up ERCP, one third had passed their CBD stones by the time of the examination and the rest required ES for stone extraction. Less than 3% of the entire series of patients were converted to open operation for exploration of the common bile duct.     

Preoperative endoscopic sphincterotomy versus laparoendoscopic rendezvous in patients with gallbladder and bile duct stones

OBJECTIVE: To compare success rate, length of hospital stay, clinical results, and costs of sequential treatment (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography followed by laparoscopic cholecystectomy) versus the laparoendoscopic Rendezvous in patients with cholecysto-choledocholithiasis. BACKGROUND: The ideal management of common bile duct (CBD) stones in the era of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) remains controversial. METHODS: A total of 91 elective patients with cholelithiasis and CBD stones diagnosed at magnetic resonance cholangiography (MRC) were included in a prospective, randomized trial. The patients were randomized in 2 groups. Group I patients (45 cases) underwent a preoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) followed by LC in the same hospital admission. Group II patients (46 cases) underwent LC associated with intraoperative ERCP and ES according to the rendezvous technique. RESULTS: The rate of CBD clearance was 80% for Group I and 95.6% for Group II (P = 0.06). The morbidity rate was 8.8% in Group I and 6.5% in Group II (P = not significant). No deaths occurred in either group. Hospital stay was shorter in Group II than in Group I: 4.3 days versus 8.0 days (P < 0.0001). There was a significant reduction in mean total cost for group II patients versus group I patients: 2829 euro versus 3834 euro (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: When compared with preoperative ERCP with ES followed by LC, the laparoendoscopic rendezvous technique allows a higher rate of CBD stones clearance, a shorter hospital stay, and a reduction in costs.     

Endoscopic management of retained bile stones with an indwelling T-tube

Background Endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) is widely used for the treatment of residual bile duct stones in patients who had common bile duct (CBD) exploration and T-tube insertions. Methods In a 4-year period 45 patients were referred for endoscopic removal of residual bile duct stones. All patients had been operated 7–15 days earlier for choledocholithiasis and had a T-tube in the common bile duct (CBD). Results Four patients were excluded. Three patients had a periampullary carcinoma and the fourth patient had no residual stone seen at cholangiography. All patients had a successful ES, conventional in 34, precut-knife in 3, and with the rendezvous technique in 4 patients. In 24 patients, all having stones distal to the T-tube, complete clearance of the CBD was achieved during one session and the T-tube was removed after 48 h. In the remaining 17 patients (15 having stones proximal to the T-tube), the T-tube had to be removed first and following stone extraction, a plastic stent was inserted in the CBD. Complete bile duct clearance and stent removal was achieved in a second session 3–4 weeks later. There were no serious complications or biliary related symptoms after the procedures and after a mean follow-up period of 18 months. Conclusion The endoscopic technique is safe and efficient for the treatment of residual stones after CBD exploration with a T-tube insertion, offering immediate cure compared to the percutaneous techniques. It is also an ideal method for the diagnosis of periampullary carcinomas. Online publication: 24 August 2004     

Choledocholithiasis. Endoscopic sphincterotomy or common bile duct exploration.

A prospective randomized trial was conducted of preoperative endoscopic sphincterotomy and surgery (ES&S) or surgery alone (SA) in 52 patients with cholecystolithiasis and choledocholithiasis that were candidates for elective surgery. After ES&S 65% of patients were stone free. Eighty-eight per cent of patients with SA were stone free after surgery (p less than 0.05). Three patients in each group had residual stones at the completion of the operation. Five of these six had more than 20 common bile duct (CBD) stones. There was one episode of major hemorrhage in a patient in each group and no deaths. Costs were essentially equal for the individual patient with a successful ES as compared to SA. Societal costs of a program of preoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and ES would be higher because of the cost of screening for patients with CBD stones. These results do not support preoperative ES as a technique for clearance of the CBD of stones on the basis of efficacy, morbidity rate, or cost.     

Successes, failures, early complications and their management following endoscopic sphincterotomy: results in 394 consecutive patients from a single centre

The indications and results of 394 endoscopic sphincterotomies (ES) performed over a 6 year period from a single centre are described. The indications for ES were common bile duct (CBD) calculi (81 per cent), papillary stenosis (9 per cent), periampullary tumours, insertion of endoprostheses, sump syndrome and biliary dilatation for benign strictures. ES was achieved in 98 per cent of patients. In the calculus group the CBD was cleared of stones in 93.3 per cent following a successful ES (92 per cent overall success rate for CBD clearance). Early complications (less than or equal to 1 month) occurred in 41 patients (10.4 per cent) of which haemorrhage accounted for nearly half. Emergency surgery following ES was undertaken in 15 patients (3.8 per cent). There were 13 deaths within one month of ES (3.3 per cent) of which three were directly attributable to ES (0.8 per cent). The diagnosis and management of complications following ES is important with increasing numbers of patients being treated from outside the referral centre.     

Single-Stage vs. Two-Stage Management for Concomitant Gallstones and Common Bile Duct stones: A Prospective Randomized Trial with Long-Term Follow-up

Aim

The preferred approach to the management of common bile duct (CBD) stones is uncertain, with single-stage laparoscopic cholecystectomy and CBD exploration vs. two-stage preoperative endoscopic CBD clearance followed by laparoscopic cholecystectomy being debated. To address this, a prospective randomized study which compared these two management strategies was undertaken.

Methods

Between Jan 2002 and Dec 2005, patients with gallstones and common bile duct stones diagnosed by preoperative ultrasonography and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography were randomized to single-stage vs. two-stage treatment. In a single-stage group, laparoscopic cholecystectomy and CBD exploration were undertaken at the same operation, whereas in a two-stage group, endoscopic stone clearance was followed by laparoscopic cholecystectomy 2–5 days later. Early treatment success and complications and longer-term follow-up for the two groups were compared.

Results

Two hundred twenty-one patients were enrolled in the trial, 110 in the single-stage group and 111 in the two-stage group. There was no significant difference in the success rate of CBD clearance (93.6 vs. 94.6 %, p?=?0.76) or the complication rates (3.6 vs. 5.1 %, p?=?0.527) between the groups. However, at longer-term follow-up, recurrent CBD stones were seen more often in the two-stage group (9.5 vs. 2.1 %, p?=?0.037).

Conclusion

The single-stage and two-stage approaches were equally effective in achieving initial clearance of CBD stones. However, recurrent CBD stones occurred more commonly in patients who had undergone two-stage treatment with initial endoscopic stone clearance, followed by laparoscopic cholecystectomy.     

Treatment of Common Bile Duct Stones Discovered during Cholecystectomy

Background Several techniques of laparoscopic bile duct exploration and intraoperative endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) have been developed to treat patients with common bile duct (CBD) stones in one session and avoid the complications of ES. With all these options available, very few randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have been undertaken. This review analyzes those studies. Methods We searched PubMed. Four RCTs and a Cochran Database Systematic Review were found. Results Two RCTs compared preoperative ES and laparoscopic CBD exploration (E) for known CBD stones. Laparoscopic CBDE had shorter length of hospitalization. Two RCTs compared immediate and delayed treatment and found that length of stay was less with laparoscopic CBDE, but clearance rates and morbidity/mortality were similar. Conclusions Studies suggest that CBD stones discovered at the time of cholecystectomy are best treated during the same operation. The transcystic approach is safest if applicable. Individual surgeons must be aware of their own capabilities and those of the available endoscopists and perform the safest technique. Presented at the Postgraduate Course of the 48th Annual Meeting of the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, May 20, 2007, Washington D.C., USA.     

Surgical treatment of common bile duct calculi. Results and outcome in a series of 707 cases

From 1965 to 1990, 707 patients (22 p. cent aged between 70 and 80 and 6% over 80) were operated on for common bile duct (CBD) stones, with intraoperative cholangiography and endoscopic control of the duct patency since 1977. Before 1981, all patients were operated on (n = 546). After 1981, 161 patients were operated on, 30 had an endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) and the operation was completed by an ES in 9 patients for retained stones voluntarly (n = 5) or unvoluntarly (n = 4). Before 1981, there were no postoperative deaths. One patient died during the anesthetic induction and was not operated on. After 1981, there were 3 deaths: no death after surgery, 1 after surgery + ES from acute cholangitis with multiple hepatic abscesses and 2 after ES in high risk patients. After 1981, there were no biliopancreatic postoperative complications. The incidence of operations for CBD stones has decreased in our series (400 between 1970 and 1979, 190 between 1980 and 1989) and the proportion between operations for CBD stones and operations for gallstones has decreased from 14% before 1981 to 8% after 1981. The declining of surgery is in relation to the increasing of ES. Many factors may influence the choice between surgery and ES: 1--age and general health problems, 2--complicated (jaundice, acute cholangitis, acute pancreatitis) or non complicated lithiasis, 3--gallbladder in situ with or without stones, or anterior cholecystectomy, 4--predictive difficulties for ES or for extraction of stones through ES, 5--predictive difficulties for surgery or extraction of stones through hepaticotomy, 6--experience of the endoscopic and surgical teams.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Laparoscopic Common Bile Duct Exploration

Since the introduction of laparoscopic cholecystectomy, the management of common bile duct (CBD) stones has undergone significant change. Preoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with sphincterotomy is now routinely done in cases where the diagnosis of choledocholithiasis is suspected preoperatively, with clearance of the bile ducts before laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Intraoperative discovery of CBD stones by cholangiography represents a challenge to the surgeon, who must make a decision about when to perform laparoscopic CBD exploration, convert to open surgery, or send the patient for ERCP during the postoperative period. Because ERCP has a definite failure rate, laparoscopic CBD exploration can be a treatment option. Among 2500 laparoscopic cholecystectomies done by our group from January 1991 to June 1997, 50 patients (2%) underwent laparoscopic CBD exploration, 13 by the transcystic technique and 37 by choledocotomy, with a conversion rate of 8% and a hospital stay of 4.3 days. One patient died from complicated pancreatitis following ERCP and unsuccessful extraction of a CBD stone. We obtained our goal of a CBD free of stones in 92% of the cases. We conclude that laparoscopic CBD exploration is an effective method for treating choledocolithiasis that allows management of this pathology in one stage, although it requires advanced laparoscopic skills and adequate equipment.     

Intraoperative cholangiography can be safely omitted during laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a prospective study of 413 consecutive patients.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The aim of the study was to show that laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) can be performed safely without intraoperative cholangiography (IOC). MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a prospective study of 413 consecutive patients with symptomatic gallstone disease, who underwent LC. According to the preoperative clinical, laboratory and ultrasound criteria, 38 patients (9.2%) were selected for preoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC). All patients were followed postoperatively for symptoms and signs of common bile duct (CBD) stones. RESULTS: Preoperative ERC allowed to make a diagnosis of choledocholithiasis in 22 (58%) of the 38 selected patients. Stone clearance was achieved with endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) in all cases. Three patients (7.9%) had an episode of mild self-limited pancreatitis after the procedure. Eight patients (1.9%) of 413 required conversion from LC to open cholecystectomy. There were no CBD injuries and no death cases. Of the postoperative complications, 1.5% were recorded during hospital stay. During the follow-up period, for at least 2 years after surgery, retained CBD stones were verified in 6 patients (1.5%); however, the supposed rate of residual stones was 2.4%. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that performance of selective preoperative ERC with ES when necessary, followed by LC, is an appropriate and safe approach to the treatment of patients with cholecystolithiasis and unsuspected choledocholithiasis. This approach allows to omit IOC and to perform LC safely without biliary duct injuries, ensuring low rate of retained CBD stones in the late follow-up period.     

Bile Duct Calculi – The New Challenges

Background: Morbidity and mortality after surgical treatment of bileduct stones increase with age and associated diseases. A proposed alternative therapy is endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) with the gallbladder left in situ, and we elected to compare this option with standard open surgery in high-risk patients.Methods: 98 patients (mean age 80 years) with symptoms likely to be due to bileduct stones or a recent episode of biliary parcreatitis were randomised to be treated either by open cholecystectomy with operative cholangiography and (if necessary) bileduct exploration (n=48) or by endoscopic sphincterotomy alone (n=50).Findings: The procedure was accomplished successfully in 94% of the surgery group and 88% of the ES group, and there were no significant differences in immediate morbidity (23% vs 16%) or mortality (4% vs 6%). During mean follow-up of 17 months biliary symptoms recurred in three surgical patients, none of whom underwent repeat surgery, and in 10 ES patients, seven of whom had biliary surgery. By multivariate regression analysis endoscopic sphincterotomy was an independent predictor of recurrent biliary symptoms (odds ratio 6.9; 95% C11.46 to 32.54).Interpretation: In elderly or high-risk patients, surgery is preferably to endoscopic sphincterotomy with the gallbladder left in situ as a definitive treatment for bileduct stones or non-severe biliary pancreatitis.     

Outcome of surgery for failed endoscopic extraction of common bile duct stones in elderly patients.

Endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) is the treatment of choice for common bile duct stones in elderly patients. For those in whom endoscopic clearance of the common bile duct fails the treatment options include stenting, dissolution therapy and lithotripsy. Surgery is often avoided because of the reported high morbidity and mortality in elderly patients. We have reviewed the outcome of patients referred for surgery after failed endoscopic clearance of common bile duct stones. Over a 3-year period, 100 patients with common bile duct stones were referred specifically for endoscopic clearance of the common bile duct (median age 69 years, range 19-97 years). In seven patients duct clearance was possible without ES and in five patients ES was considered inappropriate. ES was attempted in 88 patients and was successful in 75 (85%). Of the 13 patients failing ES or stone removal, surgery was performed in nine and four were stented. Of patients having successful ES (n = 75), ten were referred for surgery because of incomplete duct clearance. Surgery was performed to obtain duct clearance in 19 patients (eight male, 11 female, median age 77 years, range 47-90 years). Of the 19, eight had previously undergone a cholecystectomy (42%) and 17 of the 19 had biliary tract drainage preoperatively (90%). The procedures performed consisted of choledocholithotomy in all plus cholecystectomy (11), choledochoduodenostomy (7) and choledochojejunostomy (7). There were no deaths and only one major complication. The median total inpatient stay was 26 days (range 14-75 days) and the median postoperative stay was 12 days (range 7-50 days). We would conclude that open surgery can be performed safely and effectively in elderly patients with retained bile duct stones.     

Gallstone cholangitis: a 10-year experience of combined endoscopic and laparoscopic treatment

BACKGROUND: To date, no procedure has yet been identified as the gold standard for the treatment of gallstone cholangitis in the laparoscopic era. METHODS: The data of 109 consecutive patients with acute cholangitis were prospectively entered into a computerized database. All patients were managed according to a standard protocol. The main treatments were endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC) combined with endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES), followed by interval laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). Patients in whom ERC or endoscopic stone clearance failed were managed by emergency open common bile duct exploration. LC was performed with a standardized four-cannula technique. The mean duration of surgery, conversion rate, and postoperative outcome of these patients were evaluated. RESULTS: ERC was successful in 103 patients (94.5%). In five of these patients (4.8%), no bile duct stones were found. The 98 patients (95.2%) with common bile duct stones were referred for ES. The bile duct stones were successfully removed after ES in 93 cases (94.9%). The overall failure rate of ERC and ES for choledocholithiasis was 10.1%. Self-limiting pancreatitis occurred in four patients (4.3%). Overall, two of the 109 patients died (1.8%). After ES, 81 patients underwent LC. LC was performed successfully in 74 patients (91.3%). Conversion to open surgery was required in seven patients (8.7%). The morbidity rate after cholecystectomy was 7.4%; the morbidity rate after open bile duct exploration was 36.4% (p<0.05). Fifteen patients were managed conservatively after initial endoscopic management of their cholangitis. The overall incidence of recurrent biliary symptoms was significantly higher among patients with gallbladder in place than for patients who underwent cholecystectomy (38.5% vs 1.5%, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: ES followed by LC is a safe and effective approach for the management of gallstone cholangitis; cholecystectomy should be performed in patients with gallstone cholangitis unless the operative risk is extremely high. These high operative risk patients and those who refuse surgery after ES should be warned that they are at high risk for recurrent biliary symptoms.     

Single-stage laparoscopic treatment of gallstones and common bile duct stones in 120 unselected,consecutive patients

Feasibility, success rate, safety, and shortterm results of single-stage, laparoscopic, transcystic—whenever possible—or choledochotomic treatment of gallstones and common bile duct (CBD) stones were evaluated in 120 unselected patients.Of 1095 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy, 120 had ductal stones; among those patients, stones were suspected or proven in 72, 27 of whom were referred after failed endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) performed elsewhere; unsuspected CBD stones were discovered in 48.The procedure was successful in 116 patients. Four patients required conversion to open surgery. The transcystic access was feasible in 77 patients; a choledochotomy was required in 39. Incidence of retained CBD stones was 4.3%. Minor complications, major complications, and mortality were observed in 6.8%, 1.7%, and 0.8% of patients, respectively.Single-stage laparoscopic treatment of gallstones and CBD stones in unselected patients is safe and feasible in the majority of cases, with success rates and short-term results that are not inferior to reported results of ERCP/ES and cholecystectomy.Presented at the annual meeting of the Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES), Orlando, FL, USA, 11–14 March 1995     

Stone clearance and risk factors for failure in laparoscopic transcystic exploration of the common bile duct

Background Laparoscopic cholecystectomy has become a gold standard globally. At the time of surgery, 5 to 10% of patients have coexisting stones in the common bile duct (CBD). There are several alternatives in treating these patients. We have chosen to try to extract the CBD stones at the primary operation by laparoscopic transcystic CBD exploration. Methods During the years 1994–2002 laparoscopic attempt of exploration of the CBD was made in 207 patients. Data was prospectively collected in a database, and was analyzed using unconditional logistic regression for risk factor analysis. Results In 155 of the 207 patients an attempt of transcystic CBD exploration was made and it was successful in 132 cases (85%). The median operating time was 184 minutes (range 89–384 minutes) and the median postoperative hospital stay was one day (range 1–31 days). The odds ratio for failure in stone clearance among patients with a bile duct diameter greater than 6 mm was 6.90 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.87–54.61) compared to patients with a bile duct diameter of 6 mm or less. There was a significant threefold increase in risk among patients with stones of greater than 5 mm diameter compared to patients with stones 5 mm or less. Conclusions The laparoscopic transcystic exploration of the CBD had a high frequency of stone clearance and low morbidity in the present study. Moreover, large stones are a risk factor for failure in stone clearance.     

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy and common bile duct exploration are safe for older patients

Background: Laparoscopic common bile duct (CBD) exploration is a well-established treatment option in dedicated centers. However, few data are available on the results in elderly patients. Methods: The outcome after laparoscopic CBD exploration in elderly patients (age <70 years) was compared with that in a concurrent control group of younger patients (age, <70 years). Results: There were 77 elderly patients in group A and 207 younger patients in group B. American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) III and IV patients and prior abdominal operations were more frequent in group A (p <0.001). Two patients from each group underwent conversion to open surgery. There was no significant difference frequency of use between the transcystic and choledochotomy approaches, although the latter tended to be more frequent in the group A because of larger stones, (group A 53.4%; group B, 37.6%). Minor and major morbidity (group A, 12%; group B, 13.6%), rate of recurrent stones (group A, 1.3%; group B, 1.9%), and mortality (group A, 1.3%; group B, 0%) were not significantly different between the two groups. The single death in group A involved a patient with acute toxic cholangitis who underwent emergency surgery after multiple failed attempts at endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography/endoscopic sphincterotomy performed elsewhere. No CBD stenosis was observed at follow-up assessment. Conclusions: Elective laparoscopic CBD exploration is safe and effective. It may become the standard of care in both elderly and younger patients.     

内镜与腹腔镜联合一期与二期治疗胆囊结石合并胆总管结石疗效的前瞻性研究

【摘要】 目的 探讨一期与二期腹腔镜联合内镜的不同治疗方法对胆囊结石同时合并胆总管结石患者的治疗疗效及安全性。 方法〓104例符合标准的患者分为2组:一期腹腔镜胆总管探查联合腹腔镜胆囊切除术(LCBDE+LC组,n=55)和二期内镜逆行性胰胆管造影术联合Oddi括约肌切开序贯腹腔镜胆囊切除术(ERCP/S+LC组,n=49)。分析探讨两组患者手术成功率、术后并发症和术后住院时间的差异。 结果〓两组患者在流行病学和临床病例特点方面无明显差异,提示两组患者具有可比性。LCBDE+LC组和ERCP/S+LC组的患者手术成功率相近(分别为90.0%和95.9%, P=0.309),但ERCP/S+LC组的患者结石清除率更高(分别为93.6%和80.0%, P=0.046),两组患者术后并发症发生率无明显差异。此外,两组患者在术后住院时间和总体住院费用方面亦相近。在术后随访期间,LCBDE+LC组和ERCP/S+LC组分别有5.9%(3/51)和6.3%(3/48)的患者发现胆总管结石残留,差异无显著的统计学意义。结论〓胆囊结石同时合并胆总管结石的一期和二期双镜联合治疗方法具有相近的成功率,术后并发症发生率相若,远期复发无明显差异,但二期双镜联合治疗的手术结石清除率更高。     

Preoperative endoscopic sphincterotomy in the treatment of patients with cholecystocholedocholithiasis

Preoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) prior to laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) are the most common methods for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with cholecystocholedocholithiasis. We evaluated the selection criteria for preoperative ERCP examination and the results of endoscopic-laparoscopic treatment of patients with choledocholithiasis. Between January 1993 and December 1998, 1630 patients with symptomatic cholelithiasis were admitted for surgical intervention. Preoperative ERCP was performed in 247 patients according to the selection criteria. The criteria to perform ERCP were dilated common bile duct (CBD; more than 8 mm), abnormal serum liver test results, and a recent history of pancreatitis. Endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) was performed if CBD stones were found during the procedure. LC was then carried out within 3 days after ES. Of the 247 patients selected for preoperative ERCP, CBD stones were confirmed in 146 patients (59.1%). ES was successful in 141 patients, and stone clearance was achieved in 133 patients, resulting in a 94.3% success rate. Eight patients (5.5%) had complications after endoscopic intervention, all of which resolved uneventfully. Open operative procedures were carried out in a total of 31 patients. Overall, 115 patients were successfully treated by this endoscopic laparoscopic sequence. The length of hospital stay in these groups was significantly lower than that for patients in whom an open method was employed. Preoperative ES combined with LC is a safe and effective therapy for cholecystocholedocholithiasis, and the criteria that we used for the selection of patients seem to be appropriate. Received: July 4, 2000 / Accepted: October 12, 2000     

Common bile duct diameter and complications of endoscopic sphincterotomy.

To assess the relationship between distal common bile duct (CBD) diameter and the incidence of an immediate complication following endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES), all patients undergoing ES between January 1986 and October 1990 were studied. The overall risk of an immediate complication following ES in 655 patients was 5.6 per cent (37 patients). Patients with calculi were at greater risk if the distal CBD was dilated (P < 0.001); the complication in those with stones was most likely to be haemorrhage (81 per cent). The relative risk of a complication increased ten times if the distal bile duct diameter was > 0.8 cm. Patients with stricture of the distal CBD did not have a significantly greater risk of complication than those with stones (9.7 versus 4.9 per cent). There was no significant difference between the mean distal CBD diameter of those with stricture and controls (0.61 versus 0.44 cm).     

Laparoscopic common bile duct exploration after failed endoscopic stone extraction

BACKGROUND: Our objective was to present the technical aspects and results of laparoscopic common bile duct (CBD) exploration following failed endoscopic stone extraction. METHOD: From April 1997 to December 2006, 32 patients were referred to us after unsuccessful attempts at endoscopic CBD stone extraction. Transcholedochal laparoscopic CBD exploration was used in all patients. Previous operations, several pathologic entities, and stone impaction were studied as potential predictors of failure of the laparoscopic approach. RESULTS: Previous operations, cholangitis, anatomic abnormalities, and stone impaction were the principal reasons for failure of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Stone extraction under direct laparoscopic choledochotomy was achieved in 20 of 31 patients (64.51%). Biliary stents were inserted in 7 patients (21.8%) and T tubes were placed in 21 patients (65.6%). Five laparoscopic choledochoduodenostomies were performed. There were 11 conversions to open surgery. Morbidity was 12.5%. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic choledochotomy is an efficacious procedure in dealing with unsuccessful endoscopic CBD clearance.