Laparoscopic bile duct reexploration for retained duct stones.
BACKGROUND
Failure of endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) for retained bile duct stones occurs in 4% to 10% of cases and was traditionally managed with open bile duct reexploration.


METHODS
This study uses retrospective analysis of a consecutive series of cases of laparoscopic bile duct reexploration for retained bile duct stones after unsuccessful ES.


RESULTS
Thirty-one cases were operated over a 7-year period. Seventy percent had a previous open cholecystectomy. Ten cases were successfully treated with a transcystic approach and 19 with laparoscopic choledochotomy. Two patients were converted to open surgery. Morbidity was 3.22% with no mortality.


CONCLUSIONS
Laparoscopic bile duct reexploration can be safely performed and should be considered as an alternative to open surgery.
Chiappetta Porras
L T
LT
Department of Surgery, Cosme Argerich Hospital, Alte. Brown 240, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Nápoli
E D
ED
Canullán
C M
CM
Quesada
B M
BM
Petracchi
J E
JE
Oría
A S
AS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D042882:Gallstones / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods* / Q000401:mortality; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000503:physiopathology; D011028:Pneumoperitoneum, Artificial; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000601:surgery; D012008:Recurrence; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016717:Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome