INTRODUCTION: The treatment of bile duct calculi associated with cholelithiasis is controversial. The hospital costs could be a decisive factor in choosing between the different therapeutic options. OBJECTIVES: To compare the effectiveness and costs of two options in the treatment of common bile duct calculi: 1) One-stage: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy and bile duct exploration, and 2) Two-stage: sequential endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and laparoscopic cholecystectomy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective, observational study was performed on 49 consecutive patients with bile duct calculi and gallbladder in situ, treated consecutively and simultaneously over a two year period. The post-operate complication, hospital stay, number of procedures per patient, conversion to laparotomy, efficacy of removing the calculi, and hospital costs. RESULTS: There were no differences as regards the patient clinical features or morbidity. The mean post-surgical hospital stay for the One-stage group was less than that in the Two-stage group. Three patients of the Two-stage group required conversion to laparotomy. The median costs per patient were less for the One-stage strategy, representing an overall saving of 37,173€ during the period studied. CONCLUSIONS: No significant differences were found between the two treatment options as regards efficacy or post-surgical morbidity and mortality, but there were differences in hospital stay and costs. The management of patients with gallstones in one-stage surgery represents a saving of 3 days hospital stay and 1,008€ per patient.
INTRODUCTION: The treatment of bile duct calculi associated with cholelithiasis is controversial. The hospital costs could be a decisive factor in choosing between the different therapeutic options. OBJECTIVES: To compare the effectiveness and costs of two options in the treatment of common bile duct calculi: 1) One-stage: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy and bile duct exploration, and 2) Two-stage: sequential endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and laparoscopic cholecystectomy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective, observational study was performed on 49 consecutive patients with bile duct calculi and gallbladder in situ, treated consecutively and simultaneously over a two year period. The post-operate complication, hospital stay, number of procedures per patient, conversion to laparotomy, efficacy of removing the calculi, and hospital costs. RESULTS: There were no differences as regards the patient clinical features or morbidity. The mean post-surgical hospital stay for the One-stage group was less than that in the Two-stage group. Three patients of the Two-stage group required conversion to laparotomy. The median costs per patient were less for the One-stage strategy, representing an overall saving of 37,173€ during the period studied. CONCLUSIONS: No significant differences were found between the two treatment options as regards efficacy or post-surgical morbidity and mortality, but there were differences in hospital stay and costs. The management of patients with gallstones in one-stage surgery represents a saving of 3 days hospital stay and 1,008€ per patient.
Authors: Rosa Jorba; Mihai C Pavel; Erik Llàcer-Millán; Laia Estalella; Mar Achalandabaso; Elisabet Julià-Verdaguer; Esther Nve; Erlinda D Padilla-Zegarra; Josep M Badia; Donal B O'Connor; Robert Memba Journal: Surg Endosc Date: 2020-09-23 Impact factor: 4.584