Treatment of choledocholithiasis: therapeutic ERCP versus peroperative extraction during laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Limitation for preoperative ERCP/ES before laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patients scheduled for laparoscopic cholecystectomy are (1) Additional invasiveness of endoscopic procedures in patients supposed to be fitted for surgery, (2) A high rate of useless procedures due to the low predictive value of suspicion criteria for common bile duct stones (CBDS), (3) an inability to detect and treat all patients with CBDS, and (4) so far, an absence of demonstration of the superiority of this split therapeutic approach versus a one stage surgical treatment. Published series of CBDS extraction during laparoscopic cholecystectomy have included more than 2000 patients. Results and complications of this one stage laparoscopic approach compares favourably to the conventional open surgical treatment. In one randomized trial endoscopy plus laparoscopy was not demonstrated superior to laparoscopy alone. Intraoperative diagnosis and treatment of CBDS during laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the most cost efficient approach for patients with or without preoperative suspicion of CBDS, provide they are fitted for surgery.