Laparoscopic treatment of choledocholithiasis with novel self-releasing biliary stent.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a self-releasing biliary stent antegradely placed during laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LCBDE) for choledocholithiasis.


METHODS
The soft biliary stent, made of polyurethane, was designed as a J-umbrella form with a pigtailed duodenal part and an umbrella-like biliary anchoring part shaped with the rapidly absorbable suture. After the clearance of stones during LCBDE, a guide wire was inserted into the duodenum through the choledochoscope. The stent was advanced over the guide wire until the pigtail of the stent entered the duodenum. The choledochotomy was primarily closed.


RESULTS
This technique has been performed on 33 patients with choledocholithiasis. The median length of postoperative hospital stay was 4.3 (3-8) days. All the stents were eliminated from the bile ducts and discharged out of the body. The median time of the stent stay in the body was 13.6 (+/- 2.55) days. Transient hyperamylasemia occurred in 4 of the 33 (12.1%) patients, and stent occlusion occurred in 1 patient who recovered soon after treatment. No bile leak, biliary infection, or stent dislocation was observed. During the follow-up of 12 months, no biliary infection, residual calculi, or stricture occurred.


CONCLUSIONS
This novel self-releasing stent is safe and effective in the laparoscopic treatment of choledocholithiasis, and the subsequent removal of the stent can be avoided.
Tian
Ming Guo
MG
Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China. tian88@hotmail.com
Shi
Wei Jin
WJ
Zhong
Chong Jun
CJ
Zhang
Xi Wen
XW
Chen
Tian Min
TM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D042883:Choledocholithiasis / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome