Enhanced recovery after surgery combined with laparoscopic common bile duct exploration in the treatment of choledocholithiasis: a prospective study

Objective To investigate the application value of perioperative enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) combined with laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LCBDE) in the treatment of choledo-cholithiasis. Methods The clinical data of 84 patients with choledocholithiasis who were admitted to the Yijishan Hospital from January 2011 to December 2013 were prospectively analyzed. A single-blind, randomized, controlled study was performed in the 75 patients who were allocated into the control group and the enhanced recovery after surgery group (ERAS group) based on a random number table. All the patients underwent LCBDE, the patients in the control group received conventional perioperative management and the patients in the ERAS group received perioperative management according to enhanced recovery rehabilitation program. All the patients were followed up by outpatient interview till postoperative month 6. The clinical features, liver function and residual stones in the patients were observed. The operation time, postoperative complications, postoperative intestinal function recovery, duration of hospital stay and hospital expenses in the two groups were compared. Measurement data with normal distribution were presented as ±s.Comparison between groups were evaluated with an independant sample t test. Count data were analyzed using the chi-square test. Results All the 75 eligible patients undergoing successful operation were randomly divided into the control group (35 patients) and the ERAS group (40 patients). The operation time and volume of intraoperative blood loss in the control group and the ERAS group were (185±46) minutes and (124±28) mL, (178±37) minutes and (114±32) mL, respectively, with no significant difference (t =0. 729, 1. 431, P >0.05). There were 12, 14 and 10 patients in the control group and 5, 6 and 4 patients in the ERAS group with postoperative incision pain, vomit and infection, showing a significant difference (χ2=5. 054, 5. 966, 4. 241, P 0.05). The postoperative first flatus day, time of food intake, time of postoperative infusion and duration of hospital stay were (42±13) hours, (45±14) hours, (6.8±2.3) days and (11.3±4.5) days in the control group, and (35±11) hours, (19±7) hours, (4.2±1.8) days and (9.6±2.4) days in the ERAS group, with a significant difference between the 2 groups (t = 2. 741, 10. 524, 5. 485, 2. 077, P <0.05). The total hospital expenses was (18 729±3 127) yuan in the control group, which was significantly greater than (16 981±2 756) yuan in the ERAS group (t =2. 574, P <0.05). The liver function of all the patients was recovered at the postoperative month 1. Four patients with residual stones in the 2 groups were detected by T-tube cholangiography, and were cured by removal of gallstones by choledochos-copy. There were no complications of the abdominal pain, jaundice and fever in all the patients till the end of follow-up. Conclusion ERAS combined with LCBDE for the treatment of choledocholithiasis is safe and feasible, with the advantages of low morbidity, quick recovery, short duration of hospital stay and less hospital expenses. Key words: Cholelithiasis, common bile duct; Enhanced recovery after surgery; Common bile duct exploration; Laparoscopy