Technique and results of laparoscopic choledochotomy for the management of bile duct calculi.

Laparoscopic choledochotomy has been performed in 50 patients to remove common bile duct calculi demonstrated on routine operative cholangiography at the time of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The patients ranged from 16 to 91 years old. One patient died, giving a mortality of 2%. At postoperative T-tube cholangiography, retained stones were demonstrated in three patients (6%) with all stones being removed using a choledochoscope via the T-tube track. Laparoscopic common bile duct exploration via a choledochotomy is a feasible and effective method to manage common bile duct calculi demonstrated during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.