Management of concomitant gall bladder and common bile duct stones, single stages laparoscopic versus endo-laparoscopic: A center experience

Background: One-stage laparoscopic cholecystectomy and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticography (ERCP-LC) was compared with one-stage laparoscopic cholecystectomy and laparoscopic exploration of common bile duct (LC- LCBDE) in patients with choledocholithiasis in an attempt to fi nd the best mini-invasive treatment for choledocholithiasis. Patients and methods: For this study, 46 patients with cholelithiasis and choledocholithiasis diagnosed with preoperative ultrasonography and other diagnostic studies were divided randomly into an ERCP-LC group (group A) (23 cases) and an LC-LCBDE group (group B) (23 cases). The surgical time, surgical success rate, postoperative complications, retained common bile duct stones, postoperative length of stay, and hospital charges for operative procedures were compared prospectively. Results: There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of surgical time, surgical success rate, postoperative complications, retained common bile duct stones, and postoperative length of stay, but there was a big difference in hospital charges for operative procedures. Conclusion: Finally, we can conclude that there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of surgical time, surgical success rate, postoperative complications, mortality rates, retained common bile duct stones, and postoperative length of stay. However, patients in group A were more vulnerable than patients in group B to developing low-grade cholangitis because of sphincterotomy performed during stone extraction.