老年结石性急性胆囊炎经皮肝胆囊穿刺引流联合腹腔镜胆囊切除术与单纯行腹腔镜胆囊切除术的比较分析

目的 探讨对老年结石性急性胆囊炎患者应用B超引导下经皮肝胆囊穿刺引流术（percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage,PTGD）联合腹腔镜胆囊切除术（laparoscopic cholecystectomy,LC）的临床意义.方法 回顾分析2004年1月到2011年12月我科室收治的130例老年结石性急性胆囊炎患者资料,其中行PTGD后联合LC的70例,单纯行LC的老年结石性急性胆囊炎患者60例,对两组进行对比分析.结果 在B超引导下PTGD联合LC组中,无并发症发生病例,中转开腹1例,腹腔引流10例,平均LC手术时间46min,术后平均住院时间7.7d;在单纯LC组中,并发症发生1例,中转开腹3例,腹腔引流36例,平均LC手术时间91 min,术后平均住院时间13.6d.两组比较,在中转开腹率、腹腔引流率、LC手术时间、腹腔镜胆囊切除术后住院时间,差异均有统计学意义（P＜0.05）,LC术后并发症率差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）.结论 PTGD联合LC治疗老年胆囊结石伴急性胆囊炎较LC更具优势.     

急性胆囊炎腹腔镜胆囊切除术53例临床分析

目的探讨急性胆囊炎行腹腔镜胆囊切除术（LC）的手术技巧。方法急性胆囊炎行LC 53例,中转开腹3例。回顾53例LC操作经验并进行总结分析。结果 50例LC手术成功,手术时间30～180 min,平均79 min,术中出血5～200 ml,平均住院6.5d（3～16 d）。结论急性胆囊炎首选LC。腹腔镜下顺行切除胆囊更加安全、快捷。     

早期腹腔镜胆囊切除术治疗急性非结石性胆囊炎的效果

目的比较早期(≤72 h)腹腔镜胆囊切除术治疗急性非结石性胆囊炎(AAC)及急性结石性胆囊炎(ACC)的临床疗效。方法2010年11月至2014年9月,该院采用早期(≤72 h)腹腔镜胆囊切除术对125例急性胆囊炎患者行手术治疗,其中AAC 28例,ACC 97例,观察两组患者术后并发症发生率、手术时间、住院时间、中转开腹率、围术期死亡率,并作对比分析。结果两组手术时间,住院时间,围术期死亡率及其他术后并发症未见明显差异(P0.05)。AAC组术中中转开腹率明显高于ACC组(P0.05),胆囊坏疽率明显高于ACC组(P0.05)。结论早期(≤72 h)腹腔镜胆囊切除术治疗AAC效果与ACC相似,可作为AAC治疗的可靠选择。     

急诊开腹胆囊切除术与急诊腹腔镜胆囊切除术治疗急性胆囊炎的成本-效益分析

目的分析急诊开腹胆囊切除术(OC)与急诊腹腔镜胆囊切除术(LC)治疗急性胆囊炎的临床效果和疾病负担成本。方法选取2015年1—9月在上海市长宁区天山中医医院和上海交通大学医学院附属同仁医院就诊并住院的急性胆囊炎患者42例,其中行急诊LC者31例(LC组)、行急诊OC者11例(OC组)。比较两组患者一般资料、临床效果及疾病负担成本。结果两组患者性别和月收入比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);LC组患者年龄小于OC组,文化程度高于OC组(P<0.05)。两组患者发病至手术时间、手术时间和术中出血量比较,差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05);LC组患者术后下床时间、排气时间、进食时间、住院时间及总住院时间均短于OC组(P<0.05)。两组患者总费用比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);LC组患者自负费用和西药费用少于OC组(P<0.05)。LC组患者出院后误工费用、总误工费用、家属照护费用及雇佣护工费用少于OC组(P<0.05)。LC组退休患者和非退休患者疾病总负担费用和个人承担费用均少于OC组(P<0.05)。结论急诊LC治疗符合LC指征的急性胆囊炎患者的临床效果和疾病负担成本均优于急诊OC。     

急性胆囊炎腹腔镜胆囊切除术中转开腹危险因素Logistic分析

目的探讨急性胆囊炎行腹腔镜胆囊切除术（LC）导致中转开腹的危险因素。方法回顾性分析我院急性胆囊炎患者行LC治疗的临床指标,运用Logistic多因素回归分析方法分析中转开腹的危险因素。结果急性胆囊炎行LC 214例,中转开腹15例。Logistic回归分析结果显示,胆囊壁厚度、血清总胆红素、发作至手术时间、右上腹肌紧张是中转开腹的危险因素。结论急性胆囊炎行LC是安全可行的。根据4种危险因素即胆囊壁厚度、血清总胆红素、发作至手术时间、右上腹肌紧张可以预测中转开腹概率。     

不同手术方法治疗老年急性化脓性胆囊炎患者临床疗效和安全性分析

目的 分析腹腔镜胆囊切除术与传统开腹胆囊切除术治疗老年急性化脓性胆囊炎患者的疗效和安全性,为急性化脓性胆囊炎的治疗提供经验依据。方法 选取2010年2月～2015年6月就诊于我院的老年急性化脓性胆囊炎患者67例,行腹腔镜胆囊切除术治疗者34例,行传统开腹胆囊切除术治疗者33例。在Excel表格记录患者切口长度、手术时间、术中出血量、中转开腹、术后首次肛门排气时间、引流管拔除时间、术后不同时间疼痛程度、术后住院时间、并发症发生情况,应用SPSS 20.0软件行统计学分析。结果 1例接受腹腔镜手术患者因腹腔粘连和术中出血难以控制而中转开腹,开腹组1例术后因感染性休克死亡,66例患者获得治愈;腹腔镜组手术时间、术中出血量、住院天数、引流管拔除时间分别为（55.6±15.4） min、（65.6±23.6） ml、（7.5±2.3） d、（2.4±1.3） d,显著优于开腹组的【（61.8±16.49) min、(103.9±35.6） ml、（14.3±2.9） d、（3.7±1.5） d,P<0.05】;术后第1、3、5、7 d,腹腔镜组疼痛评分分别为（5.9±1.3）、（4.4±1.1）、（3.1±0.8）、（1.5±0.8）,显著优于开腹组的【（7.5±1.8）、（6.6±1.5）、（3.9±1.1）、（2.8±0.9）,P<0.05】;腹腔镜组并发症发生率为18%,显著低于开腹组的39%（P<0.05）。结论 腹腔镜胆囊切除术与传统开腹胆囊切除术均是老年急性化脓性胆囊炎安全有效的治疗方法,但腹腔镜胆囊切除术具有切口小、出血少、疼痛轻、恢复快、并发症少等优势。     

老年患者腹腔镜胆囊切除术围手术期的创伤反应

目的 探讨腹腔镜胆囊切除术（LC）在治疗≥65岁老年胆囊良性病变患者围手术期的创伤反应。方法 选择在我院行LC≥65岁患者30例，和同期行常规开腹胆囊切除术（OC）6S岁以上患者27例，围手术期分别检测血常规、体温、血气分析、术后进食时间、术后并发症和住院时间等。结果 LC组治愈30例，术前术后发热、发热持续时间、PaCO2等的差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05），平均住院时间7．3d。OC组治愈26例，术前术后白细胞计数、发热持续时间的差异有显著性（P〈0．05），术后并发大出血1例，死亡1例，术后并发肺部感染4例，平均住院时间13．4d。结论 LC组的创伤应激反应较OC组轻，住院时间短，恢复快，腹腔镜胆囊切除术仍是高龄患者胆囊切除术首选的治疗方法。     

急性结石性胆囊炎腹腔镜手术的可行性及安全性探讨

目的探讨急性结石性胆囊炎患者行腹腔镜胆囊切除术（laparoscopic cholecystectomy,LC）的可行性及安全性。方法回顾分析278例急性结石性胆囊炎患者的临床资料,总结患者在手术时间、并发症发生率及中转开腹率等方面的情况。结果本组278例中完成LC274例（98.56%）,其中中转开腹4例（1.44%）。手术时间（21-115）min,平均42min;1例出现胆总管损伤中转开腹。结论急性结石性胆囊炎行LC是安全可行的。手术成功的关键是胆囊三角的正确处理,减少并合理止血是减少胆管损伤和中转开腹率的重点。     

结石性胆囊炎急性炎症期行LC手术的临床探讨

对63例结石性胆囊炎急性炎症期经腹腔镜胆囊切除术（LC）患者的临床资料进行分析。除3例中转开腹手术外,余均顺利完成LC手术,术后发生胆瘘2例。证明结石性胆囊炎急性炎症期行LC是可行的;遵循个体化、技巧正确、耐心操作、仔细解剖、适时中转开腹手术的原则可降低并发症发生率。     

腹腔镜、开腹胆囊切除术治疗急性胆囊炎疗效比较

以往对急性胆囊炎多采取先控制炎症,再行传统的开腹胆囊切除术(OC)治疗.2003年9月～2007年8月,本院采用腹腔镜胆囊切除术(LC)治疗急性胆囊炎,效果满意.现对LC、OC两种术式治疗急性胆囊炎的疗效作对比分析.     

A population-based cohort study comparing laparoscopic cholecystectomy and open cholecystectomy

OBJECTIVES: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) has become a popular alternative to open cholecystectomy (OC). Previous studies comparing outcomes in LC and OC used small selected cohorts of patients and did not control for comorbid conditions that might affect outcome. The aims of this study were to characterize the morbidity, mortality, and costs of LC and OC in a large unselected cohort of patients. METHODS: We used the population-based North Carolina Discharge Abstract Database (NCHDAD) for January 1, 1991, to September 30, 1994 (n = 850,000) to identify patients undergoing OC and LC. We identified the indications for surgery, complications, and type of perioperative biliary imaging used. We compared length of stay, hospital charges, complications, morbidity, and mortality between OC and LC patients. To account for variations in outcomes from differences in age and comorbidity between the OC and LC groups, we used the age-adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index in regression analyses quantifying the association between type of surgery and outcome. RESULTS: Our cohort consisted of 43,433 patients (19,662 LC and 23,771 OC). The mean age-adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index score was slightly higher for the OC compared to the LC group (4.3 vs 4.1, p < 0.05). The OC patients had longer hospitalizations, generated more charges ($12,125 vs $9,139, p < 0.05), and required home care more often. The crude risk ratio comparing risk of death in OC to LC was 5.0 (95% CI = 3.9-6.5). After controlling for age, comorbidity, and sex, the odds of dying in the OC group was still 3.3 times (95% CI = 1.4-7.3) greater than in the LC group. In the LC group, the number of patients with acute cholecystitis rose over the study period, whereas the number of patients with chronic cholecystitis declined. In the OC group, the number of patients with acute and chronic cholecystitis declined. The use of intraoperative cholangiography was greater in the OC group but declined in both groups over the study period. The use of ERCP was greater in the LC group and increased in both groups over time. CONCLUSIONS: The introduction of LC has resulted in a change in the management of cholecystitis. Despite a higher proportion of patients with acute cholecystitis, the risk of dying was significantly less in LC than in OC patients, even after controlling for age and comorbidity. Based on lower costs and better outcomes, LC seems to be the treatment of choice for acute and chronic cholecystitis.     

Outcome of cirrhotic patients undergoing cholecystectomy: applying Bayesian analysis in gastroenterology

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Cholelithiasis is a common finding in patients with cirrhosis. Previous studies showed that open cholecystectomy (OC) carries a high risk of postoperative complications and deaths in cirrhotic patients. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) has significantly decreased hospital stay and postoperative morbidity in non-cirrhotic patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of cirrhotic patients after LC and OC in a tertiary center. METHODS: The outcomes of 33 cirrhotic patients matched by age and sex to 66 non-cirrhotic controls who underwent cholecystectomy were assessed using Bayesian analysis. Both non-informative and informative priors were used to calculate posterior distributions for parameters under investigation. RESULTS: Twenty-four (72%) cirrhotic patients had LC and 9 (27%) OC. A similar percentage of patients in the control group underwent LC (78%) and OC (21%). Emergent cholecystectomy was not different between cirrhotic and controls (95% credible interval [CrI]-0.35, 0.02). Mean blood loss, duration of surgery and conversion rate was not different between cirrhotic and controls, but cirrhotic patients had a longer length of hospital stay than controls (CrI 0.88, 4.71). Cirrhotic patients undergoing LC had lower volume of blood loss (CrI -363.85 mL, -49.28 mL), shorter duration of surgery (CrI -79.82 min, -19.74 min), lower amount of intravenous fluid during surgery (CrI -1532.9 mL, -495.4 mL) and shorter hospital stay (CrI -11.14 days, -1.20 days) than cirrhotic patients undergoing OC. Child-Pugh class B class and admission diagnosis of biliary pancreatitis were associated with a longer hospital stay. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a safe and effective alternative to OC in Child-Pugh class A and B cirrhotic patients undergoing elective or emergent cholecystectomy. Although outcomes of cirrhotic patients undergoing LC and OC in a tertiary center are not different, LC is associated with less intraoperative bleeding, shorter duration of surgery and fewer days of in-hospital care.     

A randomized controlled trial of laparoscopic versus open cholecystectomy in patients with cirrhotic portal hypertension

AIM: To evaluate the characters, risks and benefits of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) in cirrhotic portal hypertension (CPH) patients. METHODS: Altogether 80 patients with symptomatic gallbladder disease and CPH, including 41 Child class A, 32 Child class B and 7 Child class C, were randomly divided into open cholecystectomy (OC) group (38 patients) and LC group (42 patients). The cohorts were well-matched for number, age, sex, Child classification and types of disease. Data of the two groups were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: In LC group, LC was successfully performed in 36 cases, and 2 patients were converted to OC for difficulty in managing bleeding under laparoscope and dense adhesion of Calot's triangle. The rate of conversion was 5.3%. The surgical duration was 62.6±15.2 min. The operative blood loss was 75.5±15.5 mL. The time to resume diet was 18.3±6.5 h. Seven postoperative complications occurred in five patients (13.2%). All patients were dismissed after an average of 4.6±2.4 d. In OC group, the operation time was 60.5±17.5 min. The operative blood loss was 112.5±23.5 mL. The time to resume diet was 44.2±10.5 h. Fifteen postoperative complications occurred in 12 patients (30.0%). All patients were dismissed after an average of 7.5±3.5 d. There was no significant difference in operation time between OC and LC group. But LC offered several advantages over OC, including fewer blood loss and lower postoperative complication rate, shorter time to resume diet and shorter length of hospitalization in patients with CPH. CONCLUSION: Though LC for patients with CPH is difficult, it is feasible, relatively safe, and superior to OC. It is important to know the technical characters of the operation, and pay more attention to the meticulous perioperative managements.     

急性结石性胆囊炎腹腔镜手术252例

目的:探讨急性结石性胆囊炎腹腔镜胆囊切除术(laparoscopic cholecystectomy,LC)的手术操作要点．方法:回顾性分析本院1995-10／2005-10收治的252例胆囊结石并急性胆囊炎LC病例．结果:应用熟练的镜下操作技术,仔细解剖 Calot三角、近胆囊断离胆囊动脉、恰当处理术中出血、灵活应用电凝止血与钛夹止血相结合,顺利完成腹腔镜胆囊切除术244例,中转开腹胆囊切除术8例,系因合并胆囊癌、十二指肠球部巨大溃疡、Mirizzi综合征、胆囊壶腹部与胆总管粘连严重、胆囊十二指肠致密粘连及内瘘形成等原因而中转开腹,无术中大出血、肝外胆管损伤而中转开腹的病例．无术后胆漏、腹腔内出血等严重并发症发生．近期随访无胆管狭窄并发症发生．结论:急性胆囊炎行LC安全可行,关键是术者必须充分了解LC操作要点和熟练掌握操作技术．     

Gallstones in elderly patients: impact of laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

The use of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) in elderly patients may pose problems because of their poor general condition, especially of cardiopulmonary function. Moreover, these patients present with acute cholecystitis and associated common bile duct stones more often than their younger counterparts. From 1990 to 1999, the authors performed 943 LCs; 31 (3.2%) were attempted on elderly patients, 11 (35%) of which were on an emergency basis because of acute cholecystitis, cholangitis or acute biliary pancreatitis. Ten per cent of LCs needed to be converted to an open cholecystectomy, most often because of an increase in the partial pressure of carbon dioxide in the blood produced by excessive operative time. A gasless procedure was used in the last three years of the study on eight cases; the overall rate of conversion from LC to open cholecystectomy in this group was 0%. Associated gallbladder and common bile duct stones were found in five (16%) patients (four preoperative LC endoscopic sphincterotomy and one transcystic approach). The success rate in both of these cases was 100%, overall morbidity was 29% and there was no mortality. These results show that LC is a feasible and safe procedure for use in elderly patients. Gasless LC should be preferred in patients classified as American Society of Anesthesiologists' class III because an excessive duration of operation is the most common reason for converting to an open cholecystectomy.     

Postoperative pulmonary function in laparoscopic versus open cholecystectomy: prospective, comparative study.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary complications remain a leading cause of morbidity after major abdominal operations. OBJECTIVE: To compare pulmonary function and the frequency of pulmonary complications after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) and open cholecystectomy (OC). METHODS: Fifty-five patients with symptomatic gallstone disease undergoing elective cholecystectomy (LC 40, OC 15) under general anesthesia were evaluated using pulmonary function tests (forced vital capacity [FVC], forced expiratory volume at 1 second [FEV1], and forced expiratory flow at 25% to 75% [FEF25% -75%], chest X-ray and pulse oximetry before and after surgery. RESULTS: FVC, FEV1 and FEF25% -75% decreased by 21.5%, 21.2% and 30.3%, respectively, on postoperative day 1 following LC, and by 44.3%, 46.2% and 58.3%, respectively, after OC. Chest X-ray showed atelectasis in 15% of patients undergoing LC and 45% of those with OC. CONCLUSION: Impairment in pulmonary function after LC was less marked than after OC.     

腹腔镜胆囊切除术与开腹胆囊切除术治疗胆囊结石患者外周血淋巴细胞和细胞因子水平的变化

目的 比较腹腔镜胆囊切除术（LC）与开腹胆囊切除术（OC）治疗胆囊结石患者的疗效及术后外周血淋巴细胞和细胞因子水平的动态变化。方法 回顾性分析57例行LC和57例行OC治疗的胆囊结石患者的临床资料,使用FACSCalibur流式细胞仪检测外周血CD3+、CD4+、CD8+T细胞亚群百分比;采用ELISA法检测血清白细胞介素-6（IL-6）、肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）和C-反应蛋白（CRP）水平。结果 LC组术中出血量为（66.4±17.6）ml,显著低于OC组［（103.5±15.5）ml,P<0.05］,术后通气时间为（1.5±0.5） d,显著低于OC组［（3.0±1.0）d,P<0.05］,住院时间为（5.0±1.0）d,显著低于［（8.0±2.0）d,P<0.05）］;术后OC组第1天、第3天和第7天外周血CD3+淋巴细胞分别为（29.4±5.6）%、（38.9±6.3）%和（52.1±7.7）%,均显著低于LC组［分别为（36.0±6.1）%、（46.5±7.5）%和（63.8±8.8）%,P<0.05］,CD4+淋巴细胞分别为（21.9±4.2）%、（28.8±4.4）%和（36.0±8.3）%, 均显著低于LC组［（27.7±6.4）%、（34.9±8.0）%和（44.9±8.0）%,P<0.05］, CD8+淋巴细胞分别为（37.1±6.8）%、（32.3±7.0）%和（29.5±7.4）%,均显著高于LC组［（32.4±7.4）%、（29.5±6.9）%和（25.3±7.0）%,P<0.05］;术后OC组第1天、第3天和第7天血清IL-6水平分别为（95.9±10.1） pg/L、（58.4±8.1） pg/L和（33.8±4.6） pg/L,显著高于LC组［（72.0±9.4） pg/L、（35.9±5.2） pg/L和（19.0±3.4） pg/L,P<0.05］,血清TNF-α为（49.0±10.2） ng/L、（65.8±14.1 ng/L）和（41.5±8.8） ng/L,均显著高于LC组［（34.0±9.9） ng/L、（40.7±10.6） ng/L和（19.8±7.7） ng/L,P<0.05］,血清CRP为（32.4±3.6） mg/L、（25.8±2.7） mg/L和（15.4±4.2） mg/L,均显著高于LC组［（20.5±3.0） mg/L、（12.4±2.0） mg/L和（6.6±1.1） mg/L,P<0.05］;术后LC组出现不良反应发生率为17.5%,显著低于OC组的31.6%（P<0.05）。结论 与传统开腹胆囊切除术相比,腹腔镜胆囊切除术创伤小,应激反应和免疫功能抑制轻,术后恢复快,不良反应少,综合疗效优。     

Laparoscopic versus open treatment of patients with acute cholecystitis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The studies published so far mention a high rate of complication and conversion in laparoscopic surgical treatment of acute cholecystitis. Considering the relatively high conversion rate in cases of acute cholecystitis, it is necessary to pre-operatively estimate the chance of successful laparoscopic cholecystectomy. One of the aims of this study was to determine the factors that influence the chance of success of this technique. Another aim was to define possible advantages of the method. METHODOLOGY: From 1991 through to 1995, a total of 295 patients in whom acute cholecystitis had been diagnosed on the basis of clinical examination, laboratory data, ultrasonography and pathohistological examination, underwent operative therapy. The laparoscopic approach was attempted in 49 of these patients. Since the patients who underwent primary open surgery were markedly handicapped with regard to severity of inflammation and co-morbid factors, we identified a sub-group of these patients who were comparable to those who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy in accordance of the above-mentioned criteria. RESULTS: The rate of conversion (44.9%) correlated with the severity of inflammation, which was determined on the basis of leukocytosis > 10 x 10(9)/l (p = 0.004) and the pathohistological diagnosis (p = 0.005). Hence, the rate of conversion was 71.4% in cases of empyema of the gallbladder but only 29.2% in cases of edematous cholecystitis. In patients whose leukocyte count decreased within 4 days of conservative treatment, a successful laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) was performed in 91.7% (11/12) of cases, while 8 patients whose leukocyte count increased or showed no reduction during this time required conversion to open cholecystectomy (p = 0.0001). In cases of acute cholecystitis, the complication rate after LC is lesser in respect of wound infection (p = 0.07) and pneumonia (p = 0.04). In all patients, obesity was a risk factor for wound infection (p = 0.04). Injury to the small intestine was registered in 1 case but in no case was LC associated with injury to the bile duct. CONCLUSIONS: The degree of inflammation and its response to conservative treatment, which are determined on the basis of leukocytosis and clinical improvement, are clear indications of the chance of successful delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy within the first week. Hence, all patients whose leukocyte count does not decrease after antibiotic treatment should be treated with open cholecystectomy (OC). The complication rate following LC is less than that following OC. Although no injury to the bile duct has been observed in cases of acute cholecystitis, major complications are possible and should not be excluded.     

Endoscopic naso-gallbladder drainage in the treatment of acute cholecystitis: alleviates inflammation and fixes operator's aim during early laparoscopic cholecystectomy

In 1984, Kozarek first reported the use of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) to perform selective cannulation of the cystic duct, and since then this procedure has also been reported by others. With this procedure, disorders in the gallbladder can be examined in detail, using, for example, selective cytology, and drainage for acute cholecytitis can also be performed. With this procedure, we were able to successfully perform early laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). Although surgery is often problematic in patients with acute cholecystitis because of inflammation, making Callot's triangle difficult to distinguish, the use of endoscopic naso-gallbladder drainage (ENGBD) during surgery enables us to identify the cystic duct for catheter cannulation. We performed early LC for acute cholecystitis in 18 of 22 patients, while 18 other patients underwent open cholecystectomy during the same period (retrospective study). These two groups were then compared. The LC group had shorter pre- and postoperative periods and shorter hospitalization (P < 0.05). ENGBD resulted in very little bleeding. None of the ENGBD patients required conversion to open surgery, whereas 11.1% of the non-ENGBD patients were converted. ENGBD was successfully employed in 18 of the initial 22 (81.8%) patients. The favorable points in using ENGBD with LC were that (i) the gallbladder inflammation was alleviated even if patients had ascites, and (ii) use of ENGBD normally improved visualization and made cystic duct identification easier. However, if ERCP cannot be carried out, the performance of ENGBD must also be ruled out.