Endoscopic approach in diagnosis and treatment of biliary complications after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this retrospective study is to follow the main parameters such as the success of performing diagnostic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and to determine the effectiveness and morbidity of therapeutic ERCP.

METHODOLOGY

The study of the group took 12 years (January 1997-December 2008). The paper assesses in retrospect 138 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LCE). Signs leading to the suspicion of possible biliary complications (BC) after previous LCE appeared in these patients in the postoperative period, indicating the performance of ERCP.

RESULTS

Diagnostic ERCP was successful in all 138 patients (i.e. in 100% of cases). There were normal ERCP results in 8 patients and pathological results in the sense of some of the BC in the remaining 130 patients. Endoscopic therapy was performed after diagnostic ERCP in 115 of 130 patients with proved BC. Therapeutic ERCP was absolutely successful in altogether 111 of 130 patients (85.38%) with BC after LCE.

CONCLUSIONS

The success rate of therapeutic ERCP in our group was 85.38%. Morbidity in relation to therapeutic ERCP was 4.2%. ERCP appears to be highly effective diagnostic and primarily therapeutic method in solving BC after LCE.