Bile duct laparoscopic exploration

The use of ERCP with endoscopic esphincterotomy (ES) for the management of choledocholithiasis has replaced almost completely common bile duct exploration in the era of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Once the procedure is completed it is followed by laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the same hospitalization. During the last few years, the development of new technology and equipment with possibilities of minimal invasive procedures and diagnosis, as well as the ongoing surgical skills has allowed surgeons to solve the problem of choledocholithiasis in one minimal invasive procedure, decreasing effectively morbidity with a high success rate, changing again ERCP with ES as a complement and not as a substitute for surgery. Nevertheless the initial step in the use of these techniques require of a special technical support and what is most important capacitation to achieve the desire objectives. Transcystic technique seems to be the most promising and choledochotomy with primary closure in cases that cannot be solved with the transcystic approach. Regardless of the approach the surgeon must be familiar with both and increasingly with the use of the endoscope in order to provide patients with advantages of minimal invasive surgery and all its advantages. We also discuss our series of 81 patients operated on with laparoscopic surgery with a high rate of success, low morbidity and mortality.