Endoscopic sphincterotomy prior to laparoscopic cholecystectomy for the treatment of cholelithiasis.

Background: We performed this study to assess the outcome of endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC) before laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) for symptomatic gallbladder and suspected duct stones.

Methods: We performed prospective study of 310 patients with symptomatic gallstones and suspected choledocholithiasis managed by preoperative ERC with endoscopic extraction (ESE) and LC. The presence of one or more of the following criteria at hospital admission led to preoperative ERC because of suspected choledocholithiasis: jaundice for more than 72 h, ultrasonography measurement of the common bile duct > 8 mm, cholestasis, and acute biliary pancreatitis.

Results: ERC for suspected choledocholithiasis was performed in 310 patients. The rate of successful cannulation for ERC was 96.8%. Duct stones were found in 86%. Twelve patients had impacted duct stones cleared at open common duct exploration. The failure rate of ERC was 4.5%, and the rate of unnecessary ERC was 13.5%. LC was performed in 298 of 310 patients. Morbidity rates were 2.2% and 1.5% after ESE and LC, respectively.

Conclusion: A total of 95.5% of patients with symptomatic gallbladder and ductal stones could be successfully managed by ERC prior to LC with a low morbidity rate.