Laparoscopic stenting for protection of common bile duct sutures.

Laparoscopic common bile duct exploration is comparable with the open operation and it is usually finished with the insertion of external bile drainage such as a T-tube. We performed an antegrade placement of a biliary stent with primary suture of the common bile duct following common bile duct exploration. We thereby avoided the acquisition of the additional expensive equipment required for the transcystic approach and the placement of a T-tube, which in our eyes contradicts the idea of minimized discomfort in minimally invasive surgery.