Laparoscopic Surgery for Biliary tract disease

Abstract

Although laparoscopic surgery for gastrointestinal disease has been recently performed worldwide, the indication of laparoscopic surgery for biliary tract disease is limited except laparoscopic cholecystectomy and laparoscopic common bile duct exploration. Recently, the feasibility of laparoscopic surgery for choledochal cysts and biliary tract cancer has been reported from some institutions. However, it remains challenging because of technical difficulties. Laparoscopic approach is also difficult for patients with preoperative cholecystitis and cholangitis. Further discussion is needed to safely perform laparoscopic surgery before the indication is widened in each biliary tract disease. We herein review recent reports and describe future prospects of laparoscopic surgery for biliary tract disease.