1993 Volume 42 Pages 133-137
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy have been performed 21 patients with common bile duct stones in our Department, during the period from May 1990 to December 1992. Symptoms of the patients are jaundice in 8 cases, cholangitis in 2 cases. Of 21 patients, preoperative EST was successful in 18 cases, and preoperative PTCS in one case. Two out of 18 patients were converted to open cholecystectomy (9.5%) . In the remaining 2 cases, EST had been failed, were treated by laparoscopic choledochotomy and T-tube placement, but their hospital stay require over 4 weeks postoperatively. No recurrent stones or cholangitis were noted in those patients during postoperative follow up period.
Advantages of preoperative EST are ; short postoperative hospital stay, low incidence of bile duct injuries, and easy access for residure stones if occurred. Therefore preoperative EST should be first indicated in the patients with common bile duct stones prior to laparoscopic cholecystectomy, for the purpose of improvement of patient's quality of life.
