Combined endoscopic and laparoscopic treatment of common bile duct stones

Abstract

In a consecutive series of 228 patients reterred to Kalundborg Sygehus, Surgical Department, for treatment of gall bladder disease, 17 patients had common bile duct (CBD) stones. Nine were found pre-operatively and treated with endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC), papillotomy and stone extraction. In two cases, however, the ERC procedure failed and the patients were treated successfully using laparoscopic therapy. Six CBD stones were found during laparoscopic surgery. Four of these patients were treated with laparoscopic stone extraction. In two patients laparoscopic stone extraction was not possible and they were treated post-operatively with ERC and stone extraction. Two CBD stones were discovered after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. One was treated with ERC and stone extraction, the other with open surgery. By combining endoscopic and laparoscopic procedures, it is possible in most cases to avoid open surgery for the treatment of CBD stones.

Key Words:

• common bile duct stones
• ERC
• laparoscopic surgery