title: Choledocholithiasis and endo-laparoscopic rendezvous. Analysis of 59 consecutive cases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Choledocholithiasis is a real problem of major clinical importance. The incidence of cholelithiasis is 10-20%.
  
  
  METHODS
  We have examined 2907 patients treated with videolaparoscopic cholecystectomy (VLC) between January 2001 and September 2009. 214 cases (7.4%) were affected by choledocolithiasis; among these, 59 consecutive cases were treated by rendezvous, 151 cases by sequential treatment (ERCP-ES before VLC), 3 cases by extraction with Dormia's basket, and 1 case by ERCP-ES after VLC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The complications were one biliary fistula and three hemorrhages (one from the cystic artery, one from the hepatic area and one from trocar's site). The mean hospital stay was 1.38 +/- 0.83 days for the rendezvous group vs 4 53 +/- 0.74 days in the sequential treatment group (p<0.004). The satisfaction scores were 6.6 +/- 1.39 versus 5.7 +/- 0.96 (p<0.004).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The rendezvous procedure reduces hospital stay and has a greater compliance (only one treatment). We can use this option in the management of cases where preoperative ERCP-ES has failed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Science, General Surgery and Organ Transplantation, University of Parma, School of Medicine, Parma, Italy. paolo.delrio@unipr.it
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Del Rio
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dell'Abate
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Labonia
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Negri
authors.forename: Nicoletta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sianesi
authors.forename: Maria Francesca
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Arcuri
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sianesi
mesh_terms: D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic / Q000379:methods; D042883:Choledocholithiasis / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020535:Video-Assisted Surgery