Laparo-endoscopic Rendezvous in the Treatment of Cholecystocholedocholithiasis: A Single Center Initial Experience

Cholecystocholedocholithiasis is a common disease worldwide; however, there is still no consensus regarding a gold standard therapy for its management. Nowadays, the preferred method is a "two-step" process, starting with an endoscopic common bile duct (CBD) stone extraction (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography [ERCP]) followed by a laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). Nevertheless, this "two-step" approach has shown some difficulties over time (i.e., need for two hospital admissions, need of at least two anesthesia inductions, higher rate of post-procedural pancreatitis, longer hospitalizations and thus, increased costs). On the other hand, the laparo-endoscopic rendezvous (LER), which is a simultaneous combined procedure for removing the gallbladder laparoscopically and clearing the CBD endoscopically, is another valid treatment modality that involves a "single-step" resolution of cholecystocholedocholithiasis applying a multidisciplinary approach of the patient. The aim of this study was to present our initial outcomes. We retrospectively analyzed eleven patients who consecutively underwent LER at our institution from May 2017 to March 2022. The patients' mean age was 50.6 years old (range, 34 - 68) and most were male 54.5% (6/11). LER successfully achieved CBD stone clearance in 90.9% (10/11) of the cases. Post-LER pancreatitis was not recorded in any case. Post-operative complications included one reoperation (1/11; 9.1%) due to bleeding from one of the laparoscopic trocar sites. Our group concluded that LER can be effectively applied in Perú with good mid-term results and confirmed its effectiveness in accomplishing CBD stone clearance. Based on our results, we recommend the use of LER as a safe and valid therapeutic option for our patients.