Choledocholithiasis: overdiagnosed endoscopically and undertreated laparoscopically

Two recent meta-analyses suggest that operative common bile duct (CBD) exploration (laparoscopic or open) may be superior to endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for the management of choledocholithiasis when the gall bladder is in situ. Much of the published work regarding laparoscopic exploration comes from enthusiasts of the technique and may not be transferable to other institutions. In our institution, both hepatobiliary and general surgeons carry out cholecystectomy, with differing levels of expertise in laparoscopic bile duct exploration. ERCP and laparoscopic antegrade transampullary endobiliary stents are available. We reviewed the management of choledocholithiasis in this setting.

A retrospective review of all patients undergoing cholecystectomy during 2004 and 2005 at John Hunter and Belmont Hospitals (Newcastle, Australia) was conducted.

The overall incidence of choledocholithiasis was 10.3% (70 of 681). Fifty patients underwent preoperative ERCP, with choledocholithiasis confirmed in only 24 patients (therapeutic rate 30%). Thirty-one patients underwent CBD exploration with 100% clearance through an open approach (12 patients) and 58% clearance through a laparoscopic approach (11 of 19 patients). Hepatobiliary surgeons carried out 22 of 31 CBD explorations (clearance rate 82%) and placed 13 transampullary antegrade endobiliary stents. In comparison, general surgeons carried out nine CBD explorations (clearance rate 56%) and placed only four antegrade stents.

This series suggests that preoperative ERCP is significantly overutilized, laparoscopic CBD exploration is less successful than open CBD exploration and that antegrade transampullary intraoperative endobiliary stenting is underutilized by non-hepatobiliary surgeons.