title: Management of common bile duct stones: a ten-year experience at a tertiary care center.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The authors present their experience with the treatment of cholecystocholedocholithiasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  From August 1995 to August 2005, we treated 3750 patients with symptomatic gallbladder stones, and 12.7% of these patients also had a choledocholithiasis. This percentage with reference to the literature is certainly due to intraoperative cholangiography (IOC) performed routinely. During the follow-up, the percentage of residual versus recurrent stones was evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only 2 patients (3.1%) of the laparoscopic choledochotomy and cholecystectomy group had retained stones discovered at 5 and 11 months after surgery. These patients received ERCP with good results. No patients had leaks or fistulas. Only one patient died from a massive pulmonary embolism (1.6%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We believe that the key to successful management of patients with CBD stones is a well-standardized institutional procedural algorithm consistent with the available local resources and technologies.
authors.affiliation: General Surgery Department, Martina Franca Hospital, Taranto, Italy. lacitignola@libero.it
authors.forename: Sebastiano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lacitignola
authors.forename: Martino
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Minardi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000465:Algorithms; D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic; D005260:Female; D042882:Gallstones / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016717:Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic