BACKGROUND: This study reviews short and medium follow up results and complications of the choledochoduodenostomy (CDD) by laparoscopic procedure. METHODS: Prospective study of 20 patients with indication for laparoscopic CDD operated on at DIGEST (private clinic) , for 1991 at 2003. RESULTS: Of the twenty patients with indication to laparoscopic CDD four had choledocholitiasis with gallstones, eight residual choledocholithiasis, two benign stenosis and six periampullary cancer. Two conversions for common bile duct resection were required. From the 18 CDD, all of them had a bile duct diameter greater than 1.5 cm. Bile leakage through the drain (maximum duration of four days) in four cases that resolved spontaneously, one wound infection and one sudden death in the 2nd. postoperative day were observed . The six periampullary cancer had medium survival of 7.2 months without itch or jaundice recurrence until the death. CONCLUSION: Besides the demonstration of the laparoscopic procedure feasability in the CDD, it was evidenced that positioning with one more trocar was better. It is believed that, the leakage index will decrease with the experience and that CDD is an interesting alternative for the palliative treatment of periampullary cancer.
Laparoscopy; Choledochostomy; Jaundice; Obstructive; Choledocholitiasis; Common bile duct neoplasms; Postoperative complications
