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PubMed1992

Evaluation of pulmonary function in laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Historically, values of pulmonary function tests, when taken on the day after open upper abdominal surgery and cholecystectomy, show decreases of 45% to 60% compared with preoperative determinations. In a group of 54 consecutive patients in whom many pulmonary function parameters were studied, forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), measured the morning after laparoscopic cholecystectomy, revealed a 22% decrease (3.31/2.59 L) and a 21% decrease (2.68/2.11 L), respectively, on average compared with preoperative values, demonstrating better pulmonary function after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Furthermore, there was no difference between patients above or below 60 years of age and between smokers and nonsmokers. Improved pulmonary function after laparoscopic cholecystectomy may account for the observed reduced rate of pulmonary complications after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Modified subtotal cholecystectomy: a procedure for the difficult gall bladder.

Modified subtotal cholecystectomy involves removal of the gall bladder after circumferential division of the neck. Either the impacted stone or the surgeons finger was used as a guide to identify the neck. The stump cavity in the neck is obliterated with interrupted sutures to prevent recurrent stone formation. Indications for this procedure are obscure anatomy, due either to the severe inflammation in acute cholecystitis or dense adhesions in the small fibrosed gall bladder. The decision to perform modified subtotal cholecystectomy is taken during the operation. Forty three patients (14%) underwent this procedure during the period between August 85 and April 90. Out of 289 cholecystectomies performed seven were emergency and thirty-six were early cholecystectomies. With the increasing trend towards urgent and early cholecystectomy in acute cholecystitis the author has found this to be a safe and definitive procedure.

Cholecystectomy↗
PubMed1992

Laparoscopy: the preferred method of cholecystectomy in the morbidly obese.

BACKGROUND: Morbid obesity has been considered a contraindication to laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). METHODS: To evaluate this we reviewed our first 201 patients undergoing LC and compared the operative procedure and outcome in morbidly obese (greater than or equal to 100 pounds over ideal body weight [IBW]) and nonobese patients. We also compared a group of morbidly obese patients who underwent standard open cholecystectomy (n = 11) with the obese group undergoing LC (n = 21). All groups were comparable in terms of age, sex, and symptoms (acute vs chronic). The obese groups undergoing LC and open cholecystectomy had similar weights (134.0 +/- 9.4 pounds over IBW [range, 100 to 286 pounds] and 133.8 +/- 6.0 pounds over IBW [range, 108 to 170 pounds], respectively) and were significantly different from the nonobese group undergoing LC (28.3 +/- 2.0 pounds over IBW [range, 23 to 98 pounds]). Parameters evaluated included operative time, resumption of normal diet, length of postoperative hospitalization, complications, conversion to open procedure, and ability to perform cholangiography. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between the obese and nonobese groups undergoing LC in any parameters studied (operative time, 151.7 +/- 4.0 minutes vs 160.7 +/- 9.9 minutes; tolerance of diet, 1.2 +/- 0.1 days vs 1.1 +/- 0.1 days; time to discharge, 2.0 +/- 0.1 days vs 1.8 +/- 0.2 days; complications, 7.0% vs 0.0%). Operative time (117.6 +/- 11.6 minutes) was shorter (p = 0.45) in obese patients undergoing open cholecystectomy. However, time to normal diet and length of postoperative hospitalization were significantly longer (3.1 and 4.6 days, respectively; p less than 0.01), and there were more complications (18.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Rather than being contraindicated in the morbidly obese, LC appears to be the preferred method of cholecystectomy.

Body Weight↗
PubMed1992

Laparoscopic laser cholecystectomy: our first 200 patients.

A series of 200 consecutive patients were considered for laparoscopic laser cholecystectomy. Laparoscopic laser cholecystectomy was attempted in 195 cases and was performed in 192 cases. Laparoscopy was performed in five patients, but laparoscopic cholecystectomy was not attempted owing to dense adhesions (3), cholangiocarcinoma (1) and an absent gallbladder (1). The indications for operation were symptomatic gallstones which included biliary colic (142), acute cholecystitis (49) and gallstone pancreatitis (9). The median duration of operation was 75 min. Operative cholangiography was attempted in 151 (77%) of cases, and was successful in 85% of attempts. Laparoscopic common bile duct visualisation was performed three times with successful stone extraction twice. The other common bile duct was normal. The median duration of postoperative hospital stay was 2 days, for return to normal activity 6 days, and for return to work 10 days. Mean analgesic and antiemetic requirements were approximately one-third of those for open cholecystectomy. Of the patients, 94% reported good or excellent overall satisfaction and 96% reported excellent cosmetic results. Seven complications occurred (4%). Three patients had immediate conversion to laparotomy owing to haemorrhage (2) and gallbladder rupture (1). Four patients required laparotomy for postoperative complications (common bile duct damage, slipped clips from cystic duct, perforated duodenum and leaking accessory hepatic duct). No complications occurred in the last 140 cases. These data suggest that laparoscopic laser cholecystectomy reduces the discomfort of laparotomy and allows a shorter postoperative recovery. The operation has a learning curve, but will ultimately be applicable to the majority of patients with symptomatic gallstones.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

[Bile duct injuries in laparoscopic cholecystectomy].

UNLABELLED: The aim this study was to analyse our management bile duct injuries following laparoscopic cholecystectomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective-retrospective study presents six cases of major bile duct injuries that occurred in our first 1000 laparoscopic cholecystectomies. Neuhaus et al. classification was used in this study. RESULTS: Bile duct injuries following laparoscopic cholecystectomy were identified at 6 patients, on 2 patients the lesions were identified during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Four types of lesions were identified: 2 patients with peripheral bile leak from the cystic duct (A2), 1 patient with the complete occlusionn of the common bile duct (B2), 1 patient with lateral injury of the common bile duct(C2) and one with the right hepatic duct injury (C1), 1 patient with transection of the common bile duct (D1). A total of 6 patients with biliary injuries following laparoscopic cholecystectomy were treated at our institution: a hepaticojejunostomy was performed in 2 patients, the sutures with the use of a T-tube was performed in 2 patients, occlusion the cystic duct was performed in 2 patients. One patient after primary hepaticojejunostomy required secondary hepaticojejunostomy because of the late stricture of the anastomosis. At this writing, all the patients are well and without problems after 1 to 4 years of follow-up evaluation. CONCLUSION: The small lateral injuries of the common bile duct and peripheral leakages can be treated endoscopically, the extended lateral injuries and complete bile duct transection require surgical repair. The treatment plan must be individualized for every patient, depending on the injury type and condition of the patient.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Difficult cholecystectomies: validity of the laparoscopic approach.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this work was to determine the outcome of "difficult cholecystectomy" caused by acute cholecystitis or cirrhosis, in relation to the number of conversions, principal biliary duct injuries, the length of the operation, and of postoperative hospitalization. METHODS: From 1998 through 2000, 51 patients, 38 females and 13 males, underwent cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis and cholecystitis associated with liver cirrhosis; the average age was 58.8 years (range, 24 to 86 years). No preoperative selection was made for video laparoscopic treatment. An open laparoscopy was performed in all cases. RESULTS: All interventions were completed by video laparoscopy. No injury of the major bile ducts occurred in the 51 cases. The average time of operation was 110 minutes. The average length of hospitalization was 3 days. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that the results after "difficult laparoscopic cholecystectomy" are comparable to those after "open cholecystectomy." Difficult cholecystectomy executed with video laparoscopic methodology is safe and effective if performed with appropriate equipment and by experienced surgeons.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Is cholecystectomy by celiovideoscopy dangerous in the initial period? Prospective study of 100 initial cases].

The aim of this study was to prospectively study the complication rate of our 100 initial laparoscopic cholecystectomies. The ultimate goal was to obtain a morbidity rate comparable to open cholecystectomy. No major complications were noticed. The conversion rate to open cholecystectomy was 8%, slightly higher in comparison with the literature. Absence of major complications could be explained by: a) indications limited to symptomatic non complicated cholelithiasis; b) assistance at the beginning of our experience of gynecologists used to laparoscopic techniques; c) conversion to open cholecystectomy in case of technical difficulties. Application of these principles allows the digestive surgeon to start laparoscopic cholecystectomy without submitting the patient to additional risks.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Timing of laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis with cholecystolithiasis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is now used in the treatment of acute cholecystitis. The aim of this study is to define the optimal timing for laparoscopic cholecystectomy treated with cholecystolithiasis in patients with acute cholecystitis. METHODOLOGY: A retrospective analysis of 73 patients with acute cholecystolithiasis who were treated by either early laparoscopic cholecystectomy within 72 hours after initial onset or initial conservative treatment followed by delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy 4 days later. RESULTS: There were 31 patients in the early group and 42 in the delayed group. There was no significant difference in the rate of conversion from laparoscopic to open surgery (6.4% vs. 20.0%), postoperative complications. However the early group had significantly shorter operation time (103 vs. 135 min, p<0.01) and shorter postoperative hospital stay (6.2 vs. 9.6 days, p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: We advocate early laparoscopic cholecystectomy within 72 hours of onset of symptoms to decrease conversion rates from laparoscopic to open surgery. This decreased conversion rate results in decreasing the length of operation time and postoperative and total hospital stay.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1992

Initial experience with laparoscopic cholecystectomy in a teaching hospital.

The safety of laparoscopic cholecystectomy and the necessary training are serious concerns. This report describes both the surgical experience and the training and credentialling process at a private community-based teaching hospital. All 140 laparoscopic cholecystectomies attempted during the initial 9-month experience (March to December 1990) of 11 surgeons are detailed. There were no deaths. Eight patients subsequently underwent open cholecystectomy, and another two patients required reoperation for complications, which included one common-duct transection. The mean operating time was 106 minutes, the mean hospital stay was 1.6 days and most patients resumed unrestricted activity within 1 week. Use of the laser in 49% of patients was of no discernible benefit. This early experience indicates that laparoscopic cholecystectomy is both safe and effective and should be considered the technique of choice for elective cholecystectomy.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Cholecystectomy using celioscopy: analysis of 368 operations].

The management of calculous disease of the biliary tract has undergone significant changes during the past decade. Yet, the only radical method of treatment remains cholecystectomy. The surgical option has been improved by the development of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. From February 1990 to February 1991, we performed 368 laparoscopic cholecystectomies, with no mortality and a morbidity rate of 3.8%. There were 283 women and 85 men, with a mean age of 56.2 years (range 18 to 92 years). Two patients were asymptomatic but presented with a growing gallbladder polyp. All the other patients were symptomatic: biliary colic (63.8%), dyspepsia (18.6%), or acute cholecystitis (17.6%); 36 patients had an history of stone migration to the main biliary tract. Mean operating time was 58.3 minutes (22 to 180 minutes) and mean postoperative stay was 3.4 days. There were four systemic complications and 10 local technically related complications: two have been controlled by a laparoscopic approach (one hemorrhage and one biliary leak), one by laparotomy (bile duct injury). The other 7 local complications resolved spontaneously (4 biliary fistulas) or by percutaneous punction (3 subphrenic abscesses). Twenty-six patients (7%) required conversion to open cholecystectomy because of technical difficulties with the dissection or main biliary tract stones. We conclude that laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a safe and effective procedure.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

[Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in The Netherlands: early national results].

The results of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in 58 of the 66 hospitals in which surgeons introduced this method after attending a practical course are evaluated. Data of 546 patients were collected. The indication for laparoscopic surgery was symptomatic gallstone disease without evidence of common bile duct stones, cholecystitis or previous upper abdominal surgery. In 70% of the 58 hospitals fewer than 10 laparoscopic cholecystectomies were performed nine months after the first practical course because of shortage of equipment. The mean age was 50 years (range 20-80) with a male:female ratio of 1:4. The average operation time was 95 minutes. In 8.2% of the patients the laparoscopic procedure was converted to laparotomy. Adhesions, cholecystitis or difficulty in recognition of the anatomy was responsible for the conversion in 31 of the 45 patients. In the remaining 14 patients bleeding or bile leakage during the procedure compelled the surgeon to perform a laparotomy. One patient died because of bleeding from the cystic artery. Eleven patients underwent laparotomy postoperatively because of bleeding (3), bile leakage (6) and lesion of the ductus choledochus (2). Minor complications occurred in 30 patients. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is expanding rapidly in the Netherlands. The early results are encouraging, although the experience is limited. Further registration is necessary to be able to compare the results of laparoscopic cholecystectomy more critically with those of conventional cholecystectomy.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Outcome and patient acceptance of outpatient laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate patients' experience and the outcome of outpatient laparoscopic cholecystectomy performed by a single upper gastrointestinal surgeon at a district hospital. METHODS: Between November 1999 and May 2003, 100 patients underwent outpatient laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Patients were followed up at 2 weeks as outpatients, and a questionnaire was mailed to all patients to assess their experiences. RESULTS: None of the patients required conversion to open cholecystectomy. One patient required admission to the hospital following drain insertion, and one patient was readmitted for pain control. One patient developed an epigastric port infection that resolved with antibiotics. Sixty-eight of the 100 patients completed the postal questionnaire. Thirty-five patients rated their overall experience as excellent. Twenty-three patients experienced very mild or no pain. All patients' right upper quadrant pain subsided or improved following surgery except one patient who stated that it became worse. Sixty-three patients (92.7%) stated they would recommend outpatient laparoscopic cholecystectomy to a friend or relative. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy can be performed safely as an outpatient procedure with a high acceptance and satisfaction rate in select patients.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Evaluation of fundus-first laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

OBJECTIVES: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the gold standard for gallbladder surgery. Cholecystectomy from the fundus to the cystic duct may be advantageous when cystic duct exposure becomes difficult due to adhesions on Calot's triangle. The aim of this study was to compare conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy with the fundus-first procedure and to evaluate whether the fundus-first technique can prevent conversion in difficult cases. METHODS: The study included 145 patients treated over 18 months. The inclusion criterion was the presence of ultrasound proven gallstones. Patients were excluded from the study if there was evidence of common bile duct stones, a bilioenteric fistula, or carcinoma of the gallbladder. RESULTS: The fundus-first approach was started in 45 patients; all procedures were completed laparoscopically. Conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy was begun in 100 patients. Twenty-seven of the 100 patients were converted to fundus dissection (adhesions within Calot's triangle). Four of the 27 were further converted to open surgery. One patient had a drop in blood pressure on creation of pneumoperitoneum. Time taken for severely inflammatory and noninflammatory cases was significantly greater (P<0.05) in the fundus-first group. The average hospital stay was 48 hours in both groups. No major complications were observed. CONCLUSION: The rate of conversion in the conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy group decreased from 18.75% (27/144) to 2.08% (3/144). The fundus-first technique has the potential to decrease conversion in difficult cases.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

[The assessment of hepatic portal flow using Doppler's technique in patients after laparoscopic cholecystectomy].

UNLABELLED: A decrease in hepatic portal flow was observed within two days after open cholecystectomy but such an analysis was not done for laparoscopic cholecystectomy. OBJECTIVE: To answer the following problems: 1. Is there any difference between the volume of hepatic portal flow in patients with cholecystolithiasis and without it. 2. Does hepatic portal flow change within two days after laparoscopic cholecystectomy compared with its preoperative value. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 30 patients without hepatic parenchyma diseases were qualified for the study (21 cases of cholecystolithiasis and 9 cases without cholecystolithiasis). In the group of patients with cholecystolithiasis a maximal portal velocity (Vmax) was measured by Doppler's technique and the diameter of the portal vein (D) before laparoscopic cholecystectomy and 1 and 2 days postoperatively. In the group without cholecystolithiasis these values were measured once. On the basis of Vmax a mean velocity (Vmean = 0.57 x Vmax) of portal flow was calculated. Using Vmean and D values a volume of portal flow was calculated. RESULTS: A mean hepatic portal flow volume in patients with cholecystolithiasis was 725+/-187 ml/min and without it 792+/-229 ml/min. The difference between these values was not statistically significant. No statistically significant differences were also found between values of preoperative and postoperative hepatic portal flow volume. CONCLUSIONS: No statistically significant difference was found between hepatic portal flow volume in patients with and without cholecystolithiasis. Hepatic portal flow does not change significantly within 2 days after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Blood Flow Velocity↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Portal vein thrombosis: an unusual complication of laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

BACKGROUND: Complications following laparoscopic cholecystectomy are encountered infrequently due to increasing proficiency in laparoscopic surgery. The occurrence of portal venous thrombosis following laparoscopic cholecystectomy has not been previously described and forms the basis of this report. METHODS: A healthy, 32-year-old, female on oral contraceptives underwent an uneventful laparoscopic cholecystectomy for symptomatic gallbladder disease. Sequential compression devices and mini-dose unfractionated heparin were used before the procedure. The patient was discharged home on the first postoperative day without complaints. She returned 1 week later with nausea, bloating, and diffuse abdominal pain. RESULTS: Ultrasonography of the abdomen revealed thrombosis of the portal vein not seen in the preoperative ultrasound and the superior mesenteric vein. Computer tomography of the abdomen and pelvis on the same day confirmed this finding and showed a wedge-shaped infarction of the right lobe of the liver. The patient was anticoagulated with intravenous heparin. An extensive coagulation workup revealed elevation of the Immunoglobulin G anticardiolipin antibody. A percutaneous transhepatic portal vein thrombectomy was performed. A postprocedure duplex ultrasound of the abdomen demonstrated recannalization of the portal venous system with no flow voids. Anticoagulation therapy was continued, and the patient was discharged home with resolution of her ileus. She was maintained on a therapeutic dose of warfarin. CONCLUSIONS: This case demonstrates an unusual complication of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. It may have resulted from the use of oral contraceptives, elevation of the Immunoglobulin G anticardiolipin antibody, unrecognized trauma, and was accentuated by the pneumoperitoneum generated for the performance of the laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Our case report provides insight and poses questions regarding necessary perioperative measures for thromboprophylaxis in young females on oral contraceptives undergoing elective laparoscopic abdominal surgery.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

[Prevention, diagnosis and treatment of iatrogennic lesions of biliary tract during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Management of papila injury after invasive endoscopy. Part 1. Prevention and diagnosis of bile duct injuries].

INTRODUCTION: Endoscopic invasive procedures in 70th and 80th years leaded to decrease reoperations on biliary tree. Iatrogenic injury of the biliary tract have increased in incidence in the first decade with the introduction of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Athough a number of factors have been identified with a high risk of injury ( and number of technical steps have been emphasized to avoid these injury, the incidence of the bile duct injury has reached at least double the rate observed with open cholecystectomy. Cholecystectomy is most frequently performed abdominal operation and the most serious complication associated with this procedure is accidental injury to the common bile duct (0.3-0.4%). This preventable technical error has tradicionally been thought to occur in one or more of three situations: 1. When the operator attempts to clip or ligate a bleeding cystic artery and also clips the common hepatic duct (Fig. 3a). 2. When too much traction has been exerted on the gallbladder so that the common bile duct has tented up into an albow, which was either tied off with ligature or clipped (Fig. 3b). 3. When anatomic anomalies were not recognized and the wrong structure is divided, for example, when the cystic duct winds anterior to the common bile duct and enters on the left side, or when the cystic duct joins the right hepatic duct rather than the junction of the common hepatic and the common bile ducts (Fig. 1, 2, 3cd). In anatomical incertain cases is discussed about cholangiography and cholecystocholangiography during laparoscopy cholecystectomy. Most patients sustained a bile duct injury are recognized in the weeks folloving laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Careful preoperative preparation should include control of sepsis by draining any bile collections or fistulas and komplete cholangiography. Long-term results are best achieved in specialized hepatobiliary centres performing biliary reconstruction with a Roux-Y hepaticojejunostomy. Success rates over 90% have been reported from several centres to date with intermediate follow-up. Papila injury increased with introduction of a invasive endoscopy. Risk of deadly retroperitoneal inflamation is very high. Injury require same surgery procedure as duodenum injury. OWN EXPERIENCES: In an article a review of experiences of the 1st surgery department of General hospital in Prague since 1971 in 1 017 reoperations on biliary tree was carried out. There was in 311 patients 164 hepatohepatostomies and 147 hepaticojejunostomies used (Tab. 1). By laparoscopic injuries were high hilar injuries (Bismuth IV) in last decade and hepaticojejunostomy was done in all cases. Died 6%, long term results are acceptable by injured patients with hepaticohepaticostomies in 70%, by hepaticojejunostomies in 90%. Reoperated were 10% patients (Tab. 1). Remnant patients were dilated endoscopicaly. Postoperatively morbidity was high, above 26%. In years 1995-2003 were 8 patients with papila injury and inflamation in retroperitoneum operated as a injured duodenum (Tab. 2). CONCLUSIONS: Better experiences with treatment of injured biliary tree and papila are in centres interested in hepatobilliary surgery which knowledge anatomy of hilus of liver and can make wide hepaticojejunostomy. Transfer of drained injured patient to centre is possible.

Ampulla of Vater↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Surgical treatment of iatrogenic bile duct injuries following laparoscopic cholecystectomy: analysis of long-term results. Retrospective clinical study in 51 patients operated in the Campania region from 1991 to 2003].

An higher incidence rate of iatrogenic bile duct injuries is reported in cholecystectomy performed with the laparoscopy than with the laparotomy approach. The aim of this study was to provide a multicentre report on surgical treatment and the outcome of biliary complications during and following laparoscopic cholecystectomy. A questionnaire was mailed to all surgeons with experience in laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the Campania region. Data were collected from January 1991 to December 2003. Each patient was requested to indicate age, gender, associated diseases, site and type of lesion, surgical experience, diagnosis, treatment and complications. Twenty-six surgeons answered the questionnaire. Fifty-one patients (36 F/15 M; mean age: 42.5 +/- 11.9, range 13-91 years) with bile duct injuries following laparoscopic cholecystectomy were reported. The most frequent lesions were main bile duct partial or total transection. The intraoperative mortality rate was 1/51 (1.9%) due to a complex biliary and vascular injury. The postoperative mortality rate of revision surgery was 5/50 (10%). T-tube positioning (n = 20) and Roux-en-Y hepato-jejunostomy (n = 20) were the procedures most frequently performed. The complication rate in patients treated with the T-tube was significantly higher than in those treated with hepatico-jejunostomy. Surgical treatment of biliary injuries following laparoscopic cholecystectomy was characterized by unusually high mortality and morbidity for a non-neoplastic disease. Roux-en-Y hepato-jejunostomy remains the procedure of choice for these injuries.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Prospective follow-up of patients with bile duct strictures secondary to laparoscopic cholecystectomy, treated endoscopically with multiple stents.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The frequency of iatrogenic postoperative benign strictures has substantially increased in recent years and this is thought to be because of the widespread use of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Our study was performed prospectively with the goal to investigate the short-term and long-term outcome for endoscopic treatment with insertion of multiple stents in patients with postoperative benign common bile duct stricture after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. METHODOLOGY: Overall 43 consecutive patients with history of laparoscopic cholecystectomy were enrolled and followed prospectively between December 1998 and December 2003. In all patients a maximum possible number of stents, in relation to the tightness of the stricture and diameter of the bile duct for a period of one year was inserted endoscopically. Patients entered in the follow-up phase after first ERCP procedure with insertion of a biliary plastic stent and continued to be followed after extraction of all stents. RESULTS: Successful endoscopic dilatation of benign biliary stricture after laparoscopic cholecystectomy with placement of multiple biliary plastic stents was achieved in all 43 patients (100%), with a mean follow-up of 16.0+/-11.1 months (range 1 to 42 months) after stent removal. The mean number of multiple plastic stents inserted in one patients with the goal to achieve maximum stricture dilation was 3.4+/-0.6 (range 3 to 5). No recurrence of biliary stricture during or at the end of follow-up was noticed in any patients (100% success rate). CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic insertion of maximum number of stents in relation to the tightness of the stricture and diameter of the bile duct is highly effective and may improve long-term results for patients with biliary strictures secondary to laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Bile Ducts↗