Ann Surg Treat Res.  2025 May;108(5):310-316. 10.4174/astr.2025.108.5.310.

Re-do laparoscopic common bile duct exploration for recurrent common bile duct stones: a single-center retrospective cohort study

• Lee IH
• Lee SJ
• Moon JI
• Lee SE
• Sung NS
• Kwon SU
• Bae IE
• Rho SJ
• Kim SG
• Kim MK
• Yoon DS
• Choi WJ
• Choi IS

• KMID: 2567924
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4174/astr.2025.108.5.310

Abstract

Purpose
Common bile duct (CBD) stone recurrence after laparoscopic CBD exploration (LCBDE) is relatively common. No studies have been conducted evaluating the safety and feasibility of re-do LCBDE in the treatment of recurrent CBD stones.
Methods
This single-center retrospective study reviewed 340 consecutive patients who underwent LCBDE for CBD stones between January 2004 and December 2020. Patients with pancreatobiliary malignancies and those who underwent other surgical procedures were excluded.
Results
Of the 340 included patients, 45 experienced a recurrence after a mean follow-up period of 24.2 months. Of them, 18 underwent re-do LCBDE, 20 underwent endoscopic intervention, 2 underwent radiologic intervention, and 5 underwent observation. Re-do LCBDE and initial LCBDE showed similar surgical outcomes in terms of operative time (113.1 minutes vs. 107.5 minutes, P = 0.515), estimated blood loss (42.5 mL vs. 49.1 mL, P = 0.661), open conversion rate (2.9% vs. 0%, P = 0.461), postoperative complication (15.3% vs. 22.2%, P = 0.430), and postoperative hospital stay (6.5 days vs. 6.4 days, P = 0.921). Comparing re-do LCBDE and nonsurgical treatment (endoscopic or radiologic), no statistically significant differences were noted in posttreatment complication (22.2% vs. 13.6%, P = 0.477), hospital stay (6.4 days vs.7.3 days, P = 0.607), and recurrence (50.0% vs. 36.4%, P = 0.385). The clearance rate was higher in the re-do LCBDE group than in the nonsurgical group (100% vs. 81.8%, P = 0.057).
Conclusion
Compared to initial LCBDE and endoscopic or radiological treatments, re-do LCBDE for recurrent CBD stones is a treatment option worth considering in selected patients.

Keyword

Common bile duct; Choledocholithiasis; Gallstones; Laparoscopy; Recurrence