[Preoperative ERCP and laparoscopic cholecystectomy for treatment of choledocholithiasis]

Out of 110 patients suffering from gallstone-related symptoms, 21 underwent ERCP prior to laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Indications for this combined treatment were laboratory signs of cholestasis (36%), pancreatitis (29%), pathological IVC (18%), sonographic evidence for bile duct dilatation (10%) and cholangitis (7%). Local and general complications were not increased neither intraoperatively nor postoperatively. Median duration of postoperative hospital stay was four days for ERCP-treated patients as compared to three days for patients subjected to laparoscopic cholecystectomy only. In summary treatment of choledocholithiasis by a combination of preoperative ERCP and laparoscopic cholecystectomy offers the following advantages: high patient comfort, low incidence of complications and short hospitalization compares favourably with conventional common bile duct exploration.