title: The long-term follow-up of patients with positive intraoperative cholangiograms during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
abstract: 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).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Department of General, Vascular, and Thoracic Surgery, Virginia Mason Medical Center, 1100 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98111, USA.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Sobrino
authors.forename: L W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Traverso
mesh_terms: D002758:Cholangiography; D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D042882:Gallstones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007430:Intraoperative Care; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors