title: Conversion rate of laparoscopic cholecystectomy after endoscopic retrograde cholangiography in the treatment of choledocholithiasis: does the time interval matter?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Preceding endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC) in patients with choledochocystolithiasis impedes laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) and increases risk of conversion. We studied the influence of time interval between ERC and LC on the course of LC.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients treated for choledochocystolithiasis with ERC and LC during 1996-2001 were studied retrospectively, comparing the course of LC in three time interval groups; LC < 2, 2-6, and > 6 weeks after ERC.
  
  
  METHODS
  adhesions, bile duct injury, operating time, and conversion-rate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty-three patients were studied (group 1, n = 23; group 2, n = 15; group 3, n = 45). Adhesions, operation time, and bile duct damage did not significantly differ between the groups. The conversion rate in group 2 is significantly higher compared to group 1 (p = 0.027, OR 11 (1.13-106.8)) CONCLUSIONS: A higher conversion rate of LC is found 2-6 weeks after ERC compared to LC within 2 weeks. However, further research is needed to gain more reliable data on whether this is caused by timing.
authors.affiliation: Academic Medical Centre, Meibergdreef 9, 1100, Amsterdam, DE, The Netherlands. annebeth.devries@amc.uva.nl
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Vries
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Donkervoort
authors.forename: A A W
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: van Geloven
authors.forename: E G J M
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Pierik
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde; D002763:Cholecystectomy; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic; D042883:Choledocholithiasis / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors