Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 3, 2026
Laparoscopic Common Bile Duct Exploration Followed by Primary Suture Using a Modified Bile Duct Incision
Published on: May 2, 2025
Laparoscopic bile duct reexploration for retained duct stones
L T Chiappetta Porras1, E D Nápoli, C M Canullán
1Department of Surgery, Cosme Argerich Hospital, Alte. Brown 240, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Background:
Failure of endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) for retained bile duct stones occurs in 4% to 10% of cases and was traditionally managed with open bile duct reexploration.
Methods:
This study uses retrospective analysis of a consecutive series of cases of laparoscopic bile duct reexploration for retained bile duct stones after unsuccessful ES.
Results:
Thirty-one cases were operated over a 7-year period. Seventy percent had a previous open cholecystectomy. Ten cases were successfully treated with a transcystic approach and 19 with laparoscopic choledochotomy. Two patients were converted to open surgery. Morbidity was 3.22% with no mortality.
Conclusion:
Laparoscopic bile duct reexploration can be safely performed and should be considered as an alternative to open surgery.
