importance of stone size on success rate of endoscopic extractions of common bile duct stones

ABSTRACT

To evaluate the importance of common bile duct stone size on success rate of extraction. A retrospective analysis of medical records of patients with common bile duct stones. Gastroenterology unit at King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh. Patients were admitted from our clinics or referred from the medical and surgical wards or from other hospitals. All medical records of patients with choledocholithiasis diagnosed by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography between 1985 and 1992 were reviewed. Patients' age, sex, nationality, number and size of bile duct stones and success rate of extraction were recorded. A total of 211 patients, 86 males and 125 females. Mean age 53.2+17.4 years were included in the study. Endoscopic sphincterotomy was successful in 97.6%. Endoscopic common bile duct clearance was achieved in 75.4% [group one], while 24.6% of stones could not be retrieved [group two]. There was no significant difference between stone number in both groups. However, stone size was significantly larger in group two [p<0.0001]. Ninety five percent of stones <10 mm were extracted compared to 69% of stone size less than 15 and greater than 10 mm and 31% of stones >/= 15 mm in size. Stone size has significant impact on success rate of extraction