Rajeev Sinha1. 1. Department of Surgery, MLB Medical College, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, India. sinha_rga@yahoo.co.in
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Apart from the required expertise, a major deterrent to laparoscopic common bile duct (CBD) lithotomy (LCDL) remains the relatively prohibitive cost of the flexible choledochoscope, and it also has a shortcoming of not being effective in removal of large impacted CBD stones. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: All patients presenting with CBD stones were treated, without exclusion, by laparoscopic cholecystectomy plus transdochal LCDL after relevant investigations. LCDL was performed using a rigid nephroscope. The CBD was closed either with running 3-0 polyglactin acid (Vicryl; Ethicon) sutures without a stent or around a T tube in a few patients. Perioperative parameters were recorded in all patients. RESULTS: Transdochal LCDL was performed on 172 consecutive patients. Five patients had a prior open cholecystectomy, 26 patients presented with acute cholecystitis, 5 patients presented with mild acute pancreatitis, and 12 patients presented after failed endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Twenty-eight (16.28%) patients had multiple stones, 2 had biliary sludge, and no stone was found in 3 patients. Stone size varied from 4 to 12 mm. The average operative time was 68 minutes (range, 45-127 minutes). Primary repair was performed with 3-0 Vicryl continuous sutures, and the T tube was left in place in 13 (7.56%) patients. Conversion to an open procedure was required in 8 patients (4.65%). Postoperatively, mild acute pancreatitis occurred in 1 patient, and biliary peritonitis occurred in 5 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Rigid scope transdochal LCDL is feasible, probably easier, better for impacted large CBD stones, and definitely more affordable.
BACKGROUND: Apart from the required expertise, a major deterrent to laparoscopic common bile duct (CBD) lithotomy (LCDL) remains the relatively prohibitive cost of the flexible choledochoscope, and it also has a shortcoming of not being effective in removal of large impacted CBD stones. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: All patients presenting with CBD stones were treated, without exclusion, by laparoscopic cholecystectomy plus transdochal LCDL after relevant investigations. LCDL was performed using a rigid nephroscope. The CBD was closed either with running 3-0 polyglactin acid (Vicryl; Ethicon) sutures without a stent or around a T tube in a few patients. Perioperative parameters were recorded in all patients. RESULTS: Transdochal LCDL was performed on 172 consecutive patients. Five patients had a prior open cholecystectomy, 26 patients presented with acute cholecystitis, 5 patients presented with mild acute pancreatitis, and 12 patients presented after failed endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Twenty-eight (16.28%) patients had multiple stones, 2 had biliary sludge, and no stone was found in 3 patients. Stone size varied from 4 to 12 mm. The average operative time was 68 minutes (range, 45-127 minutes). Primary repair was performed with 3-0 Vicryl continuous sutures, and the T tube was left in place in 13 (7.56%) patients. Conversion to an open procedure was required in 8 patients (4.65%). Postoperatively, mild acute pancreatitis occurred in 1 patient, and biliary peritonitis occurred in 5 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Rigid scope transdochal LCDL is feasible, probably easier, better for impacted large CBD stones, and definitely more affordable.