Objective: To compare the clinical efficiency of two strategy in the treatment of secondary common bile duct stones: laparoscopic cholecystectomy with transcytotic common bile duct exploration (LC + LTCBDE), or laparoscopic cholecystectomy after endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST + LC).
Methods: According to the screening standard, 88 patients with secondary bile duct stones (43 cases in LC + LTCBDE group, 45 cases in EST + LC group) who were treated from June 2005 to November 2007 were analyzed retrospectively. The achievement ratio, complications, average hospital stay and cost between two groups were compared. And all patients were followed up.
Results: There were no significant differences on achievement ratio and complications between two groups (P > 0.05). The LC + LTCBDE group has significantly shorter hospital stay and lower cost (P < 0.05). There were no recurrence in 1 year.
Conclusions: LTCBDE is a promising strategy which has more advantages in the minimal invasive treatment of secondary common bile duct stones.