Laparoscopic treatment for common bile duct stones by transcystic papilla balloon dilatation technique.

The laparoscopic transcystic common bile duct (CBD) approach is becoming increasingly more refined as an ideal technique to deal with gallbladder stones (GBS) and common bile duct stones (CBDS) during a single operation. Our method, transcystic CBD exploration and papilla balloon dilatation (PBD), is an easier, safer, and less invasive technique than the transcystic approaches that have previously been reported. With our method, a sheath is introduced through the cystic duct into the CBD in order to allow catheter exchange, and the CBDS is flushed out through the papilla into the duodenum after PBD. We applied our new technique, without complication, to a patient with GBS and CBDS. Our technique is one of the safest, easiest, and least invasive methods for the treatment of patients with GBS and CBDS.