title: Laparoscopic bile duct reexploration for retained duct stones.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Cosme Argerich Hospital, Alte. Brown 240, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: L T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Chiappetta Porras
authors.forename: E D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Nápoli
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Canullán
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Quesada
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Petracchi
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Oría
mesh_terms: 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