Treatment for recurrent choledocholithiasis: endoscopic? or laparoscopic? A prospective cohort study

Endoscopic and laparoscopic techniques are crucial for management of bile duct stone.

The aim of this study was to share our initial experiences with endoscopic and laparoscopic treatments for recurrent choledocholithiasis, with a particular focus on long-term complications.

From January 2014 to June 2017, a total of 153 patients with recurrent common bile duct stones were prospectively recruited in this study. Patients were scheduled for either an endoscopic procedure (ERCP/EST group, n = 84), or a laparoscopic procedure (LCBDE group, n = 69). Data were collected on comorbid conditions, presenting symptoms, bile duct clearance, and the incidence of both short-term and long-term complications.

Patients in ERCP/EST group had a stone clearance rate comparable to that of the LCBDE group (94.2% vs 91.7%, p = 0.549). Minor (Clavien-Dindo grade 1 and 2) and major short-term complications (Clavien-Dindo grade 3 and above) were similar between patients in two groups (ERCP/EST group 17.9% versus LCBDE group 26.1%, and ERCP/EST group 7.1% versus LCBDE group 5.8%, p = 0.227 and p = 0.740, respectively). Patients in the ERCP/EST group had a shorter stone free interval than patients in the LCBDE group (28.5 ± 14.7 months versus 43.3 ± 17.8 months, p = 0.029). During a mean follow-up period of 67.0 months, more patients in the ERCP/EST group experienced stone recurrence compared to those in the LCBDE group (26.1% vs 11.6%, p = 0.020). In the ERCP/EST group, 45.5% (10/22) of the recurrent cases experienced more than two recurrences, with three patients requiring choledochojejunostomy due to repeated recurrence. Among patients with a non-dilated common bile duct (d ≤ 8 mm), both groups had comparable short-term and long-term complication rates (p = 0.151 and p = 0.404, respectively).

Laparoscopic treatment is a safe and effective option for patients with recurrent choledocholithiasis, extending the stone free interval, reducing the likelihood of stone recurrence, and highlighting benefits of minimally invasive surgery.