The rendezvous technique for the treatment of choledocholithiasis

BACKGROUND: The rendezvous technique combines endoscopy with percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography to facilitate cannulation of the bile duct when previous attempts have failed. METHODS: Over a 7-year period, a total of 1753 ERCPs were performed. Twelve of these patients with a diagnosis of choledocholithiasis were poor candidates for surgery. Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography as well as ERCP with precut papillotomy failed to resolve biliary obstruction. In a further 2 cases the percutaneous approach was used by means of a T-tube positioned at a prior cholecystectomy. OBSERVATIONS: The combined procedure was successful in 13 patients (93%). It was unsuccessful in 1 patient because of a stone lodged distally near the papilla. There was only 1 complication (7%), a retroperitoneal perforation that occurred during papillotomy; no mortality was directly attributable to the technique. CONCLUSIONS: The rendezvous technique is recommended for patients who are not eligible for surgery when ERCP is unsuccessful and when it is impossible to resolve biliary obstruction by percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography.