Introduction.

Choledocholithiasis is the presence of stones in the bile ducts. In most cases it is treated by endoscopic retrograde cholangio pancreatography and less commonly by laparoscopic surgery. The objective of this study was to describe a retrospective cohort of patients who underwent laparoscopic exploration of the bile duct.

Methods.

The study included patients operated between 2014 and 2018, in two level III institutions in Cali, Colombia, referred for evaluation for hepato-biliary surgery, due to difficulty in removing stones by endoscopic retrograde pancreatography cholangiography, due to the size, quantity, or difficulty of identifying or cannulating the duodenal papilla.

Results.

Out of the 100 patients included, it was found that 72% were women, with an age range between 14 and 92 years. A single stone was removed from 39% of patients and 10 stones from 16%; 12% had giant stones (greater than 2.5 cm wide), and 44% had multiple stones; 69% of the patients underwent cholecystectomy. Laparoscopic bile duct cleaning success rate was 95%.

Discussion.

Laparoscopic exploration of the bile duct is a possible, reproducible, and a safe technique with excellent results for the management of choledocholithiasis.

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