Abstract:Background and Aims Laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LCBDE) is the main method for the treatment of common bile duct stones. However, due to the lack of sinus tract support, the traditional laparoscopic choledocholithotomy using basket forceps under choledochoscopic guidance is relatively difficult with high technical requirement. Repeated stone extraction may easily cause the damage of the choledochoscopy or injury of the bile duct wall. For the purpose of achieving a high stone extraction rate and low technical requirement, the authors modified the choledochoscopic stone removal procedure by using a self-designed laparoscopic bile duct irrigator to assist choledochoscopic lithotripsy during LCBDE. This study was conducted to summarize the clinical effect of using this method in two centers.Methods The clinical data of 313 eligible patients with common bile duct stones treated with self-designed laparoscopic bile duct irrigator during LCBDE in Fujian Provincial Hospital and Fujian Pucheng County Hospital from January 2017 to January 2021 were reviewed. The perioperative data and short-term outcomes of the patients were analyzed.Results Of the 313 patients, 132 cases were males and 181 cases were females with a mean age of (56.3±13.2) years, 173 cases had solitary stone and 140 patients had multiple stones (the maximum number of stone amount was 10); The median diameter of the stones was 0.5 (0.2-3.1) cm and the median common bile duct diameter was 1.2 (0.6-3.3) cm. All the 313 cases were successfully performed without conversion to open surgery. The stones were completely removed by laparoscopic bile duct irrigator in 281 cases (89.8%), and in 32 cases were extracted in combination with a stone basket. The stones were completely removed in one session in 307 patients (98.1%) while residual stones were found in 6 patients; 157 patients received primary closure and 156 patients underwent T-tube drainage of the common bile duct after operation. The mean operative time was (109.3±29.4) min, the mean intraoperative blood loss amount was (42.5±8.4) mL, and the average length of postoperative hospital stay was (7.6±3.2) d. There were 12 cases of bile leakage, 12 cases of abdominal infection, 9 cases of pulmonary infection, 7 cases of incision infection, and 1 case of postoperative bleeding after operation. All of them were cured after non-surgical approach. The residual stones in all the 6 patients with failure of complete stone removal in the first session were completely cleared by choledochoscopic lithotripsy through the T-tube tract 1.5 months after the operation. Postoperative follow-up was conducted for 6 to 12 months, and no recurrent bile duct stones and biliary stenosis or other complications were noted.Conclusion Using self-designed laparoscopic bile duct irrigator in LCBDE is safe and reliable with high efficiency. It is recommended to be used.