Management of Common bile duct stones: Evaluation of the effect of size of stones as the determinant for the procedure for treatment in era of laparoscopic and endoscopic surgery

Abstract

Common bile duct stones are estimated to be present in 10–20% of individuals with symptomatic gallstones. A variety of imaging modalities can be employed to identify the condition while management of confirmed cases of common bile duct stones may involve endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, surgery and radiological methods of stone extraction. Clinicians are therefore confronted with a number of potentially valid options to treat individuals with suspected common bile duct stones. Extraction of ductal stones via an endoscopic biliary sphincterotomy or laparoscopic route may be difficult for a variety of reasons. In most situations, size, shape and number of stones are the key determinants of whether extraction will be easy or not. The likelihood of successful extraction can also be reduced in patients who have altered anatomy as result of previous surgery. In this study, the data of thirty patients with common bile duct stones who presented for the first time to the department of General surgery at Ain Shams University hospitals, Cairo, Egypt. Were collected during the period of August 2021 to February 2022.