title: Natural course vs interventions to clear common bile duct stones: data from the Swedish Registry for Gallstone Surgery and Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (GallRiks).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The optimal strategy for common bile duct stones (CBDSs) encountered during cholecystectomy is yet to be determined.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the outcomes after various interventional techniques to clear the bile ducts and the natural course of CBDSs found during intraoperative cholangiography.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a large retrospective cohort analysis, we analyzed data from the Swedish Registry for Gallstone Surgery and Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (GallRiks). We included all patients with CBDSs found on intraoperative cholangiography during cholecystectomy from May 1, 2005, through December 31, 2009.
  
  
  METHODS
  Presence of CBDSs on intraoperative cholangiography.
  
  
  METHODS
  Relation between strategies for handling CBDSs in terms of complication rates and/or incomplete clearance with need of intervention (ie, unfavorable outcomes).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 38,864 cholecystectomies, CBDSs were found in 3969 patients, of whom 3828 underwent analysis. Earlier or ongoing symptoms were more common with increasing stone size (P < .001). In total, postoperative unfavorable outcomes were found in 14.9% but less frequently for patients with smaller stones (P < .01). Among patients in whom no intraoperative measures were taken (representing natural course), the risk for unfavorable outcomes was 25.3%. This risk was significantly lower in patients in whom any measure was taken to clear the ducts (12.7%; odds ratio, 0.44 [95% CI, 0.35-0.55]). The same was found when small (<4 mm) and medium (4-8 mm) stones were analyzed separately (odds ratio, 0.52 [95% CI, 0.34-0.79] and 0.24 [95% CI, 0.17-0.32], respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The high rates of unfavorable outcomes associated with taking no measures when CBDSs are found during cholecystectomy suggest that the natural course might not be as favorable as earlier suggested. This finding implies that, in general, efforts should be made to clear the bile ducts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Ersta Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden2Department of Clinical Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Danderyds Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Mats
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Möller
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Ersta Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden2Department of Clinical Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Danderyds Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ulf
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Gustafsson
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Finn
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rasmussen
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Ryhov Hospital, Jönköping, Sweden.
authors.forename: Gunnar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Persson
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Ersta Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden2Department of Clinical Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Danderyds Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thorell
mesh_terms: D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde; D002763:Cholecystectomy; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome