Laparoscopic common bile duct exploration using a rigid nephroscope.

BACKGROUND: Patients with cholelithiasis and choledocholithiasis are increasingly managed with laparoscopic bile duct exploration and cholecystectomy. Large impacted bile duct stones continue to defy laparoscopic extraction. This study explored the feasibility of laparoscopic bile duct clearance using a rigid nephroscope, which is suited to extracting large stones. METHOD: This prospective study recruited patients with large bile duct stones and a bile duct wider than 8 mm on ultrasonography. In addition to standard ports for laparoscopic cholecystectomy, a custom-made 9-mm port was introduced in the epigastrium for the rigid nephroscope, which was negotiated into the bile duct through a choledochotomy. Rigid graspers and lithotripters were introduced through the nephroscope to fragment and remove the calculi. RESULTS: Between December 2005 and September 2008, 18 patients had nephroscope-guided bile duct exploration (mean(s.d.) age 49(13.9) years, bile duct diameter 11.3(2.3) mm). Three patients had solitary stones and 15 had multiple calculi. Most of the stones were removed with graspers, but the lithotripter was required in five patients. The mean(s.d.) hospital stay was 6(2.3) days. Two patients required postoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticography for residual stones. CONCLUSION: The rigid nephroscope was useful for laparoscopic bile duct exploration, particularly for large impacted stones.