Laparoscopic Exploration of the Common Bile Duct with a Rigid Scope in Patients with Problematic Choledocholithiasis

Background  

The development of laparoscopic cholecystectomy as a minimally invasive approach to eliminate gallstones, in conjunction with increasingly sophisticated techniques for removal of common bile duct (CBD) stones by endoscopic sphincterotomy, has revolutionized the treatment of choledocholithiasis. We describe a new technical approach to laparoscopic exploration of the CBD after unsuccessful endoscopic stone extraction.