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Updated: Jun 3, 2026
Laparoscopic Choledochal Cyst Excision and Roux-en-Y Choledochojejunostomy in Adults
Published on: February 28, 2025
Is the laparoscopic operation as safe as open operation for choledochal cyst in children?
Nguyen T Liem1, Hien D Pham, Hoan M Vu
1Department of Surgery, National Hospital of Pediatrics, Hanoi, Vietnam. liemnhp@hotmail.com
Insights
Laparoscopic surgery for choledochal cysts in children is as safe as open surgery. Laparoscopic procedures resulted in fewer complications and shorter hospital stays.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric surgery
- Minimally invasive surgery
- Gastrointestinal surgery
Background:
- Choledochal cysts are congenital bile duct anomalies requiring surgical intervention.
- Traditional open surgery has been the standard treatment for choledochal cysts.
- Laparoscopic surgery offers potential benefits in terms of recovery and morbidity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the safety and early outcomes of laparoscopic surgery versus open surgery for pediatric choledochal cysts.
- To evaluate key metrics including complications, operative time, reintervention rates, and hospital stay.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective comparison of early outcomes between open surgery (2001-2006) and laparoscopic surgery (2007-2010) for choledochal cysts.
- Analysis of intraoperative and postoperative complications, operative time, blood transfusion rates, reintervention rates, and duration of hospital stay.
- Inclusion of 307 patients in the open surgery group and 309 in the laparoscopic surgery group.
Main Results:
- Laparoscopic surgery demonstrated a significantly lower rate of reintervention and a significantly shorter postoperative stay compared to open surgery.
- While postoperative complications were lower in the laparoscopic group, the difference was not statistically significant.
- Operative time was longer in the laparoscopic group, but fewer patients required blood transfusions.
Conclusions:
- Laparoscopic surgery is a safe and effective alternative to open surgery for treating choledochal cysts in children.
- The benefits of laparoscopic approaches include reduced reintervention rates and shorter hospitalizations, contributing to improved patient recovery.
Aim:
The aim of this study was to compare the safety of laparoscopic operation with open surgery for choledochal cyst in children.
Methods:
Early outcomes of open surgery from January 2001 to December 2006 were compared with early outcomes of laparoscopic operations from January 2007 to July 2010. The main outcome variables included intra- and early postoperative complications, operative time, rate of reintervention, and duration of postoperative stay.
Results:
There were 307 patients in the open operation group and 309 patients in the laparoscopic operation group. There was no significant difference in cyst diameter between the 2 groups. The operative time was longer in the laparoscopic operation group. The number of patients requiring blood transfusion was lower in the laparoscopic operation group. Intraoperative complications were low in both groups and not significantly different. The rate of postoperative complications was lower in the laparoscopic operation group but not significantly. The rate of reintervention was significantly lower in the laparoscopic operation group. The postoperative stay was significantly shorter in the laparoscopic operation group.
Conclusion:
Laparoscopic operation is as safe as open operation for choledochal cyst. The postoperative stay was significantly shorter in the laparoscopic operation group.