title: Treatment for retained [corrected] common bile duct stones during laparoscopic cholecystectomy: the rendezvous technique.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the feasibility and efficacy of the laparoscopic intraoperative rendezvous technique for common bile duct stones (CBDS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Verona University Hospital, Verona, Italy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 110 patients were enrolled in the study; 47 had biliary colic; 39, acute cholecystitis; 19, acute biliary pancreatitis; and 5, acute biliary pancreatitis with associated acute cholecystitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  In all patients, CBDS diagnosis was reached by intraoperative cholangiography. Intraoperative endoscopy with rendezvous performed during laparascopic cholecystectomy for confirmed CBDS; for such a procedure, a transcystic guide wire was positioned into the duodenum. Intraoperative endoscopy with rendezvous was performed for retrieved CBDS during a laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Laparoscopic rendezvous feasibility, morbidity, postprocedure pancreatitis, and mortality.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The laparoscopic rendezvous proved to be feasible in 95.5% (105 of 110 patients). The rendezvous failed in 3 cases of successfully performed laparoscopic cholecystectomy, and a conversion of the laparoscopy was needed in 2 cases of successful rendezvous. Two major complications and 2 cases of bleeding were registered after sphincterotomy was successfully performed with rendezvous, and severe acute pancreatitis complicated a traditional sphincterotomy performed after a failed rendezvous.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rendezvous is a feasible option for treatment of CBDS; it allows one to perform only 1 stage of treatment, even in acute cases such as cholecystitis and pancreatitis. Positioning of the guide wire may allow reduced complications secondary to papilla cannulation but not those of the endoscopic sphincterotomy.
authors.affiliation: Verona University Hospital, Italy. gborz@libero.it
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Borzellino
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rodella
authors.forename: Edoardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Saladino
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Catalano
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Politi
authors.forename: Annamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Minicozzi
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cordiano
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002758:Cholangiography / Q000379:methods; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D041881:Cholecystitis, Acute / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D042883:Choledocholithiasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D042882:Gallstones / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007430:Intraoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D007813:Laparotomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler