ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of laparoscopy combined with cholangioscopic FREDDY laser lithotripsy for the treatment of difficult central type bile duct calculi.Methods Fifty-five patients with difficuh central type bile duct calculi undergoing laparoscopy combined with cholangioscopy were analyzed retrospectively.There were 31 patients in FREDDY laser lithotripsy group (FREDDY group) and 24 patients in routine instrunent group (routine group).Operative time,intraoperative blood loss,conversion rate,time to first flatus,incidence of postoperative complications (such as pancreatitis,hemobilia and biliary leak),postoperative hospital stay and first session bile duct clearance rate were compared.Results Operative time,intraoperative blood loss,time to first flatus,postoperative hospital stay in FREDDY group [( 106.2 ± 49.4) min,(37.7 ± 28.6) ml,(25.8 ± 19.3 ) h,(5.9 ± 3.3 ) d]were significantly lower than those in routine group[( 142.2 ± 64.8 ) min,(60.3 ± 32.1 ) ml,(37.2 ± 21.6 ) h,(8.4 ±4.9) d] (P＜ 0.05 or ＜0.01 ).There were no statistically significant differences in conversion rate,incidence of postoperative complications and first session bile duct clearance rate between the two groups (P ＞ 0.05).There were no dead in both groups.Seven patients with residual bile duct stones were cured by cholangioscopy through T-tube sinus 6 weeks after prior surgery.Forty-three patients were followed up 6 to 12 months with no recurrent bile duct stones and bile duct stenosis.Conclusions Laparoscopy combined with cholangioscopic FREDDY laser lithotripsy is recommendable to treating difficult central type bile duct calculi with good short-term results and has the advantages of minimal invasiveness,safety,efficiency and rare complications.