The safety and efficacy of primary duct closure after laparoscopic common bile duct exploration in patients with mild-to-moderate calculus-associated acute cholangitis: a retrospective cohort study

While laparoscopic common bile duct exploration with primary duct closure (LCBDE + PDC) has been considered a feasible and safe treatment for cholecystocholedocholithiasis, uncertainties remain regarding its effectiveness and safety in patients with mild-to-moderate calculus-associated acute cholangitis. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the safety and efficacy of LCBDE + PDC specifically in patients with mild-to-moderate acute cholangitis (AC). Patients with cholecystocholedocholithiasis who underwent LCBDE + PDC treatment at our hospital between July 2020 and September 2022 were included. The patients were divided into two groups based on the presence of cholangitis: acute cholangitis (AC group) and non-acute cholangitis (non-AC group). A total of 136 patients underwent LCBDE + PDC treatment, with 65 in the AC group and 71 in the non-AC group. No deaths occurred after surgery in either group. The AC group had longer drainage tube retention time (5 (4-7) days vs. 4 (3-5) days, P < 0.001), postoperative hospital stay (8 (6-9) days vs. 6 (5-7) days, P < 0.001), and total hospital stay (12 (9.5-15) days vs. 10 (8-13) days, P < 0.001) compared to the non-AC group. However, there were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of operation time, estimated blood loss, and the rate of using holmium laser lithotripsy. The incidence of postoperative complications was similar between the two groups. Our study demonstrates that LCBDE + PDC is a safe and feasible treatment for patients with mild-to-moderate calculus-associated acute cholangitis who meet the criteria for primary duct closure.