TECHNIQUE AND RESULTS OF LAPAROSCOPIC CHOLEDOCHOTOMY FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF BILE-DUCT CALCULI

Laparoscopic choledochotomy has been performed in 50 patients to remov e common bile duct calculi demonstrated on routine operative cholangio graphy at the time of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The patients range d from 16 to 91 years old. One patient died, giving a mortality of 2%. At postoperative T-tube cholangiography, retained stones were demonst rated in three patients (6%) with all stones being removed using a cho ledochoscope via the T-tube track. Laparoscopic common bile duct explo ration via a choledochotomy is a feasible and effective method to mana ge common bile duct calculi demonstrated during laparoscopic cholecyst ectomy.