title: Laparoscopic Common Bile Duct Exploration: 9 Years Experience from a Single Center.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the study was to evaluate the safety and feasibility of laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LCBDE) through cholangiotomy with T-tube placement in one séance for common bile duct stones (CBDS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Between January 2005 and December 2010, a total of 99 patients with CBDS stones undergoing LCBDE with T-tube insertion at Enköping Hospital, Sweden, were registered prospectively. All patients were followed up by review of the patient records according to a standardized protocol.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No severe intraoperative complications were registered. Four procedures required conversion to open cholecystectomy due to impacted stones or technical difficulty. The mean operative time was 194 min [(SD) 57 min]. The mean postoperative hospital stay was 4.8 days, SD 2.4 days. At secondary cholangiography, 2 (2%) retained stones were found. Two (2%) patients had minor bile leakage, which resolved spontaneously. None of the patients experienced biliary peritonitis, biliary fistula, pancreatitis, or cholangitis. No death within 30 days after surgery was seen. No patient was readmitted with clinical signs of stricture.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  If performed by a surgeon familiar with the technique, LCBDE is a safe and feasible alternative for managing CBDS. The advantages are most pronounced in the case of multiple and large CBDS. The risk for retained stones and stricture is low.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Enköping Hospital , Stockholm , Sweden.
authors.forename: Bahman
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Darkahi
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Enköping Hospital , Stockholm , Sweden.
authors.forename: Håkan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liljeholm
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Intervention and Technology (CLINTEC), Center for Digestive Diseases, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital , Stockholm , Sweden.
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sandblom
keywords: bile duct injury; bile duct structure; bile leakages; cholangiotomy; choledochostomy; common bile duct stones; infections