The long-term follow-up of patients with positive intraoperative cholangiograms during laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Background The routine use of laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LCBDE) for common bile duct (CBD) stones discovered during cholecystectomy would be further supported if the long-term outcomes were similar to those for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography with endoscopic papillotomy (ERCP/EP).Methods A retrospective review was completed of 151 patients who had a positive intraoperative cholangiogram (IOC) during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). A positive IOC was defined as a filling defect or lack of contrast flow into the duodenum. A successful CBDE was defined as a negative IOC after completion of CBDE. Long-term follow-up was obtained using a standardized questionnaire to determine the incidence of recurrent biliary pain or need for subsequent ERCP/EP.Results CBD exploration was attempted in 142 patients (transcystic LCBDE 126 and open CBDE 16) and was successful in 107 of 142 (75%). Transcystic LCBDE was successful in 90 of 126 (71%). ERCP/EP was used in 41 patients; 35 of these cases were for failed LCBDE. Pancreatitis was not observed in any patient after CBDE but was observed in 3 of 41 patients (7.3%) after ERCP/EP. Long-term follow-up of the LCBDE versus ERCP/EP patients revealed no difference in the incidence of recurrent biliary pain or need for subsequent ERCP (mean follow-up time of 61 months).Conclusion LCBDE is safe and effective in the majority of cases when an attempt at transcystic LCBDE was made. In addition, after long-term follow-up of >5 years, the outcomes were similar if the stones were removed by intraoperative laparoscopic methods versus postoperative ERCP. LCBDE seems worthy of pursuing when an intraoperative CBD stone is discovered.Presented in poster format at the annual meeting of the Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES), Los Angeles, CA, USA, 2003