Managing concomitant gallbladder stones and common bile duct stones in the laparoscopic era: a systematic review

There is still no consensus on the ideal management of common bile duct (CBD) stones. This article aims to review the management of concomitant gallbladder stones and CBD stones in the laparoscopic era.

A PubMed database search was performed to identify MEDLINE articles from 1986 to 2010 using the key terms "common bile duct stones,""cholecystectomy,""bile duct exploration,""ERCP" (endoscopic retrograde cholangiography), and "endoscopic sphincterotomy."

There were five randomized comparative trials (RCT) comparing sequential preoperative ERCP and laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) to laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LCBDE). Two RCTs showed similar stone clearance rates and shorter hospital stays in the LCBDE group, while three RCTs showed similar stone clearance rates and hospital stays in sequential preoperative ERCP, LC and LCBDE groups. There were two RCTs comparing LCBDE to sequential LC and postoperative ERCP. One showed similar stone clearance rate and shorter hospital stay in LCBDE group, while the other showed similar stone clearance rate and hospital stay. There were three RCTs comparing sequential preoperative ERCP and LC against LC with intraoperative ERCP. All three studies showed similar stone clearance rates and shorter hospital stays in the intraoperative ERCP group. There was only one RCT comparing sequential preoperative ERCP and LC against sequential LC and postoperative ERCP. This showed a similar stone clearance rate and shorter hospital stay in the postoperative ERCP group.

Different management approaches of concomitant gallbladder stones and CBD stones were equivalent in efficacy. However, one-stage management had the advantage of providing a shorter hospital stay.