[Double balloon catheter for facilitating (laparoscopic) choledochus drainage]

Area of Science:

• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Gastrointestinal Surgery
• Surgical Innovation

Context:

• Laparoscopic management of choledocholithiasis presents challenges with current bile-duct drainage methods.
• A significant number of patients (n=97) have undergone laparoscopic common bile duct stone removal since 1991.
• Existing drainage solutions are often problematic, hindering optimal surgical outcomes.

Purpose:

• To introduce and evaluate a novel double-balloon catheter designed for laparoscopic bile-duct drainage.
• To assess the safety and efficacy of this new catheter in patients with common bile duct stones.
• To determine if the new catheter improves the efficiency and ease of laparoscopic bile-duct exploration.

Summary:

• A double-balloon catheter was developed in collaboration with industry for laparoscopic use.
• The catheter was successfully used in 15 cases of choledocholithiasis management.
• No complications such as dislocation, obstruction, or leakage were observed during the study period.

Impact:

• The new double-balloon catheter facilitates laparoscopic bile-duct exploration, simplifying the procedure.
• It leads to a reduction in overall operating time for choledocholithiasis treatment.
• The catheter enables easier removal of residual stones, improving treatment completeness.