[Treatment of common bile duct stones with laparoscopy. Retrospective multicenter study with 612 patients]

To analyse retrospectively the results of one-stage laparoscopic treatment for common bile duct stones in 19 surgical centers in France.

From January 1991 to July 1996, 612 patients with choledocholithiasis underwent laparoscopic treatment.

Overall duct clearance was obtained in 489 of the 612 patients (80%): through the cystic duct in 222 of 380 patients (58.4%), by secondary choledochotomy (after unsuccessful transcystic duct extraction) in 77 of 96 (80%), and in 190 of 232 (82 %) by primary choledochotomy. The overall duct clearance rate increased from 65% in 1991 to 84% in 1996. The use of the choledochotomy approach increased from 43% in 1991 to 69% in 1996 (P<0.01), due to a substantial increase in primary choledochotomy. In contrast, the use of the transcystic approach decreased from 57% to 31% (P<0.01). The mean time for surgery was shorter for cystic duct exploration than for primary choledochotomy (101+/-51 vs. 155+/-62 min, P<0.0001). The mean hospital stay decreased from 7.7+/-3.6 days in 1991 to 4.1+/-2 days in 1996 (P<0.001). The main biliary complications were related to biliary drainage (2,8%) and retained stones (3.1%).

This study confirms that laparoscopy is a good alternative with a low complication rate, a short hospital stay, and is an effective and safe option for the management of common bile duct stones.