Laparoscopic cholecystofistulectomy for preoperatively diagnosed cholecystoduodenal fistula

The presence of cholecystoduodenal fistula, a rare condition, has been one of the reasons for conversion from laparoscopic cholecystectomy to open cho lecystectomy. Here we report a patient with cholecystocholedocholithiasis c omplicated by cholecystoduodenal fistula, diagnosed preoperatively and trea ted by combined endoscopic sphincterotomy and laparoscopic cholecystofistul ectomy. After the removal of multiple bile-duct stones by endoscopic sphinc terotomy, the patient underwent laparoscopic cholecysto fistulectomy. We we re able to resect the fistula without cleavage, using an endoscopic linear stapling device, because we had been able to confirm the site of the fistul a preoperatively. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful. We con clude that laparoscopic cholecystofistulectomy by skilled laparoscopic surg eons can be adopted as a first-choice treatment for cholecystoduodenal fist ula.