title: Preoperative versus intraoperative endoscopic sphincterotomy for management of common bile duct stones.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  ERCP remains the prevailing method of treating CBDS; however, its ideal timing in respect to laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is not defined. LC combined with intraoperative endoscopic sphincterotomy (IOES) was compared with preoperative endoscopic sphincterotomy (PES) followed by LC for management of preoperatively known cholecystocholedocholithiasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between June 2006 and September 2009, 198 patients diagnosed preoperatively by clinical assessment, liver chemistry, ultrasonography, and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) to have combined choledochocystolithiasis were eligible. They were randomly divided into two groups: PES/LC group (n = 100) and LC/IOES group (n = 98). The surgical times, surgical success rates, number of stone extractions, postoperative complications, retained common bile duct stones, and postoperative lengths of stay were compared prospectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no statistically significant differences in surgical time, surgical success rate, CBD diameter, stone size, or stone number between the two groups. The success rate was 95.3% and 97.8% for PES/LC and LC/IOES, respectively. There were no significant difference in postoperative retained stones, surgical time, and complications, but the total hospital stay was significantly shorter in the LC/IOES group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PES/LC and LC/IOES are both good options for dealing with preoperatively diagnosed CBDS, but when there is enough experience and facilities, LC/IOES, as a single-stage treatment, would be preferable.
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Surgical Center, Jehan Street, Mansoura, Dakahlia 35516, Egypt. ahmedraoaf@mans.edu.eg
authors.forename: Ahmed A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: ElGeidie
authors.forename: Gamal K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: ElEbidy
authors.forename: Yussef M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Naeem
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic / Q000379:methods*; D002764:Cholecystitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D042883:Choledocholithiasis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007430:Intraoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016717:Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult