Symptoms: Characteristically, the symptom complex of choledocholithiasis consists of right upper abdominal colicky pain, radiating to the right shoulder with intermittent jaundice accompanied by pale stools and dark urine[45], whereas cutaneous itching is rarely present[46]. In contrast with patients with neoplastic obstruction of the CBD or ampulla of Vater, the gallbladder is usually not distended (Courvoisier’s law)[45]. Scholastically, Charcot’s triad[47] (jaundice associated to biliary colic pain and sepsis - hyperpyrexia and chills), indicates acute cholangitis; as choledocholithiasis is the most frequent aetiology of such a clinical picture, it should prompt immediate diagnostic confirmation and CBD drainage[38]. Acute pancreatitis, showing with transversal abdominal pain potentially irradiated to the back and associated to an increase of serum level of amylase/lipase, in the presence of gallstones, is a priori considered as being of biliary origin. Hepatic abscess(es) may also be a rarer infectious complication of CBDS whereas chronic CBD obstruction may also cause biliary cirrhosis[38]. All the reported clinical pictures should lead us to focus on the right upper quadrant in order to identify biliary lithiasis as possible aetiology.

Serology: Traditionally, an alteration of the so-called cholestasis indexes (direct bilirubin, gamma-glutamil-transpherase, alkaline phosphatase)[44,48] was considered as potentially due to CBDS. Indeed, also liver cytolysis indexes were also found to be associated to unknown CBDS[3,44,49]. Nowadays, although total bilirubin is considered the main laboratory index related to the risk of synchronous CBDS (“very strong predictor”)[29] and its ensuing management, all liver biochemical tests other than bilirubin deserve a careful evaluation (“moderate predictors”)[29].

Transabdominal US: Transabdominal US represents the first line, non-expensive, non-invasive imaging examination available in virtually any environment[29,50,51], performed for any sign/symptom/condition possibly referring to liver disease. The small distance of the gallbladder from the abdominal wall and the absence of interposed gas make transabdominal US the ideal examination to study gallbladder morphology and to ascertain the presence of gallstones, where sensitivity of US is 96%[52].

Unfortunately, US accuracy in detecting CBDS drops to less than 50%[52,53], since CBDS often do not show acoustic shadowing or are located in the distal part of the CBD, where they are often obscured by gas[53]. In those cases, CBDS diagnosis often relies on indirect signs of CBD obstruction, such as CBD dilation. The definition of CBD dilation is also a matter of discussion, as suggested “normal limits” vary widely, ranging from 5 to 11 mm[7,54,55], partly because CBD diameter may increase with age and after cholecystectomy. The accuracy of US in visualizing the gallbladder and its content may allow us to identify another indirect sign of increased CBDS risk: the number and size of gallbladder stones[51,56]. As multiple, small-sized gallstones are more likely to migrate into the CBD[43,57], this US finding should be considered during CBD assessment.

Scoring systems and algorithms: The above mentioned “first-line” diagnostic criteria have been variously associated to identify patients at high risk of carrying CBDS[3,43,44,48,49,58,59]. Although they mostly showed the statistical significance of clinical, laboratory and US findings, nevertheless, the extreme variability of proposed models and the doubtful results of some studies[60] have limited the use of scoring systems and algorithms.

Although none of those scoring systems have ever really entered clinical practice on a large scale, they[41,42,48] have somewhat paved the way to recent guidelines[29], which have identified three classes of risk of CBDS based on symptoms, liver serology and transabdominal US. The risk of carrying CBDS is defined as low where no other examination is needed, intermediate where preoperative EUS/MRC or laparoscopic intraoperative colangiography (IOC)/US is requested, and high where patients should be directly referred to preoperative ERC (and possibly ES). The proposed algorithm based on the predictors listed in Figure 3 and is reported in Figure 4.

Figure 3 The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy estimation of risk of carrying common bile duct stones in patients with symptomatic cholelithiasis based on clinical predictors[39]. US: Ultrasounds; CBD: Common bile duct. With the permission of the journal Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.

Figure 4 The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy algorithm for the management of patients with symptomatic cholelithiasis based on the degree of probability for choledocholithiasis[39]. CBD: Common bile duct; IOC: Intraoperative cholangiography; EUS: Endoscopic ultrasounds; MRCP: Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatographygraphy; ERCP: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. With the permission of the journal Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.

CT scan: CT scan is a “second line examination” for many abdominal diseases/conditions, partly owing to patients’ exposure to X-rays and higher costs compared to US. Traditionally considered more accurate than trasparietal US in identifying CBDS[61] but still inferior to MRC[62], recent advances, such as the “helical” CT scan[29,63] and CT cholangiography[46,62], have increased its accuracy. CT-cholangiography, performed after the administration of iodinated contrast agent excreted into the bile, has shown a sensitivity (88%-92% vs 88%-96%) and specificity (75%-92% vs 75%-100%) comparable to MRC[46,62]. New generation 64-detector CT at the portal venous phase is reported to have a 72%-78% sensitivity and a 96% specificity in identifying CBDS[63]. Very recently, 64-sliced CT was reported not to detect CBDS in 17% of cases, stone size < 5 mm, color black/brown and patient’s age being related to non-detectability at multivariate analysis[64]. Although the intrinsic higher “invasiveness” of CT compared to MRC makes the latter preferable nowadays, the extreme availability and diffusion of CT scan may possibly lead to its rediscovery in this field.

MRC: MRC is considered nowadays to be the most accurate non-invasive (non-endoscopic) procedure for the detection of CBDS, with 85%-92% sensitivity and 93%-97% specificity in large series[12,65,66]. A recent meta-analysis showed that the aggregated sensitivities of EUS and MRC were 93% and 85% respectively, whereas their specificities were 96% and 93% respectively, with no significant differences[12]. Regardless of overall effectiveness, it should be pointed out that MRC is a non-invasive technique, which may allow for providing a higher spatial resolution than EUS, but is probably less sensitive than EUS for detecting CBD stones smaller than 6 mm[66]. Other drawbacks of MRC are its suboptimal availability in non-tertiary care centers, and non-therapeutic purpose of the technique, which involves a further procedure to eventually treat CBDS. The impossibility of its use in specific situations (morbid obesity or claustrophobic patients, the presence of metal foreign body/device) is also a specific issue of this technique.

All endoscopic procedures share the pros and cons of peroral endoscopy. Although endoscopically reaching the second duodenum is widely considered to be an easy task for average endoscopists in average patients, some conditions can make this manoeuvre a difficult one. In some cases, the papilla major is difficult to identify and to cannulate, resulting in a challenging situation for the endoscopist (and dangerous for the patient), as it is for example when it is placed in a duodenal diverticulum[67]. Previous surgical procedures on the stomach, such as Roux-en-Y gastric by-pass[68] or gastrectomy with duodenal stump closure and Billroth II reconstruction[69], are another frequent cause of ERC failure and complications[70]. In particular, endoscopically reaching the second duodenum is difficult after a Roux-en-Y reconstruction, but also after an “Ω”-shaped anastomosis. In those cases, both CBDS diagnosis and management have to be carried out surgically (open surgery or laparoscopy).

ERC: After having been widely used for CBDS diagnosis in the late eighties/nineties, with a 75%-93% sensitivity and 100% specificity[14,71,72], ERC is nowadays being progressively abandoned as a diagnostic tool for patients with moderate to intermediate risk of carrying CBDS, as most cholangiograms result as being normal[73] and ERC is not cost-effective[74]. Compared to EUS and MRC, accuracy of ERC is suboptimal, being reduced in the case of CBD dilation and small CBDS[14]. Moreover, ERC not only involves X-ray exposure and the intrinsic invasiveness of endoscopy, but it also has non-negligible procedure-related morbidity/mortality[26,75-77], with a 2%-11% acute pancreatitis rate[13,14,78]. Moreover, once ERC is performed, endoscopic sphincterotomy is frequently associated regardless of CBDS presence, both for the risk of a post-ERC ascending cholangitis and for the possible false negatives of ERC itself. Such a practice of performing endoscopic sphincterotomy systematically after ERC is obviously a good argument against a supposed lesser invasiveness of diagnostic ERC compared with “operative” ERC. Thus, while ERC remains indicated for patients with a high risk of presenting synchronous CBDS, MRC, EUS or IOC are nowadays preferred for intermediate risk cases[29].

EUS and EUS-guided ERC: EUS is increasingly performed worldwide as a diagnostic tool, often as the first step of a potential double-technique procedure (EUS and ERC/ES)[13,14]. On the basis of the scientific evidence of no statistically significant difference in sensitivity (93% vs 85%) and specificity (96% vs 93%) between EUS and MRC[12], ASGE guidelines[29] have proposed MRC or EUS in patients at intermediate risk of CBDS. Nevertheless, the two techniques have particular pros and cons. Although EUS optimizes the low impact of US associated with the potential therapeutic option of ERC (namely ES), it involves endoscopy under sedation/anesthesia, thus being intrinsically more invasive than MRC. Compared to ERC, EUS has shown the same specificity and higher sensitivity (91% vs 75%), mostly due to cases with CBDS smaller than 4 mm or dilated CBD, where ERC presented some false positives[14]. Moreover, EUS has very limited (2%-8%), low degree morbidity, with a virtually 0 post-procedure acute pancreatitis[13,14,79]; thus, it may enable us to avoid ERC-related morbidity/mortality whenever unnecessary, as it is in 2/3 of cases[80], without increasing the risk of further endoscopic procedures in patients with an intermediate risk of carrying CBDS[13,14]. The (moderately) invasive nature of EUS, and the need for an endoscopic theatre, including instrumentation, personnel and expertise, make this option optimal whenever the risk of having CBDS is high enough to allow patients to potentially take advantage of contextual EUS/ERC/ES. In the latter case, EUS and ERC done in a single session proved to be safe, with no increase in sedation- or procedure-related complications, nor need for further endoscopic procedures[14,81], whereas postponing treatment for symptomatic CBD stones exposes the patient to biliary complications, especially cholangitis[12]. Ideally, future guidelines should take into account the specific pros and cons of MRC and EUS, thus defining subgroups of patients as being candidates for one procedure or the other.

ERC-associated intra-, extra-ductal US and cholangioscopy: During the 2000s, high-frequency (12.30 MHz) intraductal US was proposed for a further increase of ERC accuracy[72,78]. As the procedure is wire-guided, the cannulation rate of papilla major is reported to be virtually 100%[72] and sensitivity 97%-100%[72,78]. In particular, intraductal US is reported to have a 100% sensitivity in identifying non-radio-opaque stones, which may pass undiagnosed by traditional imaging[78]. Intraductal US is also reported to identify 100% of CBDS undetected at ERC[82] and 24%-40% of post-ERC/ES residual stones[82,83], thus allowing for definitive CBD clearance, by saline solution irrigation[83], and reduced CBDS recurrence[83].

Recently, extraductal endoscopic ultrasonography has been reported to have the same sensitivity as traditional EUS (90% vs 92%); since it can be performed with a traditional duodenoscope using miniprobes, it presents the advantage that, if therapeutic intervention becomes necessary, there is no need to change the scope[84].

Endoscopic cholangioscopy has also been reported to potentially increase the accuracy of ERC by detecting undiagnosed residual CBDS in 23% of ERC-negative cases[85]. State-of-the-art, ultra-slim choledochoscopes allow for magnification of intraductal imaging, differential diagnosis and stone management by basket/balloon retrieval or lithotripsy[85,86]. Although promising, these latter technologies still have a limited role in CBDS management, partly because of the need for costly instrumentation and adequate training of teams, and the uncertain clinical relevance of undiagnosed residual CBDS after ES.

First reported in general surgery in the 1930s[89] and introduced in the laparoscopy armamentarium in the early nineties[18], IOC is still under debate regarding its cost-effectiveness when performed systematically or in a selected population[27,30]. IOC substantially relies on low cost laparoscopic instruments and the availability of a mobile roentgenography, and does not require advanced laparoscopic skills. Considering that it is reported to have a 59%-100% sensitivity and a 93%-100% specificity for CBDS[19], its cost-effectiveness is a strong argument in favour of its systematic use. In contrast, a recent systematic review of IOC did not show any benefit of performing IOC routinely[90], somewhat supporting ASGE Guidelines[29] indicating IOC for patients at intermediate risk of carrying CBDS, to eventually treat laparoscopically[22,27] or to refer for postoperative ERC[30]. Moreover, IOC involves the cannulation of the cystic duct to inject the CBD, which may become a difficult task in the case of intense inflammation/scarring (acute or chronic cholecystitis...), or anatomy variations, such as a short cystic duct or serrated Heister’s valves. As well as failure, such difficulties may favour specific complications of this technique, such as CBD perforation and biliary leakage, increased rates of post-surgical procedures and overall complications[91]. If we add that, whenever IOC shows CBDS, patients eventually referred to postoperative ERC and ES may possibly be exposed to the risk of a third surgical procedure for CBD clearance if ERC is unsuccessful, the greatest advantage of IOC is seemingly within a totally laparoscopic management of CBDS.

Laparoscopic US (LUS)[28,92], whose rationale is that the effectiveness of US is maximal when the probe is placed nearer to the CBD, represents the most recent tool to diagnose CBDS intraoperatively. The latter technique is obviously less invasive than IOC, although specific instrumentation and ultrasonographic skills are needed. In expert hands, LUS is reported to have a sensitivity of 92%-95%, and a specificity of 99%-100% for detecting CBDS[28,92,93]. In specialized environments, LUS has become the primary routine imaging method for evaluating the bile duct during laparoscopic cholecystectomy, thus relegating IOC to being performed in only 4%-23% of cases[28,92], whenever LUS imaging is inadequate, stronger clinical indicators of choledocholithiasis are present, or biliary anatomy remains uncertain[92]. Moreover, LUS success rate is higher than that of IOC (95%-99% vs 92%-97%)[19,92,93] and operative times are shorter (5-8 min vs 15-16 min)[19,93]. Furthermore, LUS does not subject the patient to the risk of bile duct injury, and it may be performed for pregnant patients because it involves no ionizing radiation[92]. Finally, the only equipment required for the study is the ultrasound machine and probe, making routine LUS significantly cheaper (less 46%) than routine IOC[94]. The main limitations of LUS are the learning curve associated with its initial usage[92,94] and the inability of LUS to identify bile duct anatomy in some cases, where surgeons should preferably have a low threshold for performing IOC[92]. For all these reasons, LUS has not yet become popular worldwide and, even if it finally does, IOC will probably not be abandoned, as it provides some additional information in difficult cases.

ERC + ES: First introduced in 1974[102], ERC followed by endoscopic sphincterotomy has become the most widely used method for imaging and treating CBD stones[103,104]. The technique consists of the endoscopic identification of the papilla major (Vater papilla), its cannulation in order to perform ERC and endoscopic sphincterotomy followed by CBDS extraction by Dormia Basket or balloon. Endoscopic sphincterotomy success rate is reported to exceed 90%[22,87,88,105,106]. Although regarded widely as a safe procedure, large series have recently shown 5%-9.8% morbidity and 0.3% to 2.3% mortality[26,75-77,106,107], mostly due to postoperative acute pancreatitis, bleeding and perforation; the latter, reported in 0.3%-1% of cases, carries a mortality rate of 16%-18%[77,106,108,109].

Timing for ERC is also a matter of debate, as ERC may be performed before, after, or even during cholecystectomy, according to the so-called “rendez-vous technique”.

Preoperative ERC[44,87,88,96] presents the drawback of needing a second surgical procedure to treat gallstones (cholecystectomy), but has the great advantage of allowing for a “strategy update” before surgery: if endoscopic sphincterotomy is successful, cholecystectomy will complete the mini-invasive management of cholecysto-choledochal lithiasis; if it is not, the “second step” will be a surgical procedure aimed at managing both gallstones and CBDS, which, in most environments, will be performed by laparotomy. The other major issue of this approach is patient selection to undergo ERC, since the systematic use of ERC is no longer acceptable in patients who are candidates for cholecystectomy (see above).

Performing ERC after cholecystectomy [22,31,75,110] is also a “two step management” of cholecysto-choledochal lithiasis, and has the great advantage of performing ERC in virtually only those cases really needing CBD clearance, thus reducing to a minimum any possible ERC-related complications and costs. Unfortunately, the main drawback of postoperative ERC is the need for a third surgical procedure whenever postoperative ERC fails.

The rendez-vous technique[87,88,111,112] avoids some of the critical issues of other techniques, since it involves CBDS diagnosis and the synchronous management of both gallstones and CBDS during the same procedure (“one step”), although it needs the systematic availability of dedicated instrumentation and a second team to perform intraoperative ERC whenever IOC/laparoscopic US shows CBDS.

Endoscopic papillary balloon dilatation: Endoscopic papillary balloon dilatation (EPBD) was first introduced with the purpose of extracting CBDS minimizing the damage to the sphincter of Oddi[113]. Several studies have shown that EPBD alone or in combination with small sphincterotomy and lithotripsy can be used for the management of difficult biliary stones[114-118]. The rationale of performing a minimal sphincterotomy before proceeding with EPBD is that it can provide a larger opening and prevent perforation and bleeding, thus making this technique especially attractive in patients who are at risk of bleeding or in those with altered anatomy in whom a full sphincterotomy cannot be achieved. After minimal sphincterotomy, a guidewire is inserted into the bile duct and a balloon catheter is guided over the wire. The balloon is inflated until it reaches a diameter of 15-20 mm. Endoscopic papillary dilation is performed slowly (approximately 1 min of balloon dilation time)[119]. The results of a Japanese multicentric trial with a mean follow up of 6.7 years demonstrated that there is a lower risk of stone recurrence following EPBD when compared with ES[120]. Nevertheless, despite its premises of lower invasiveness, a recent meta-analysis[121] including 15 randomized trials comparing endoscopic sphincterotomy and EPBD showed this latter to be associated to a lower rate of stone removal (RR= 0.90), a more frequent need for mechanical lithotripsy (RR = 1.34), and a higher risk of pancreatitis (RR = 1.96). Somewhat confirming its not so low invasiveness, more recently EPBD has been associated with higher morbidity and severe complications than sphincterotomy, including acute pancreatitis and perforation[115]. The rate of these complications can be reduced by strict patient selection, avoidance of forced procedures, optimal dilation duration and immediate conversion to an alternative procedure if any difficulty is encountered during EPBD[115]. Conversely, EPBD is associated with reduced risk of bleeding and early/long term infections, thus making this option especially indicated in older patients, those who are at risk of infection and those who are affected by coagulopathy[122].

Open surgery: Until the late 1980s, gallstones were treated by open cholecystectomy and CBDS were managed by open CBD exploration and clearance, which was performed by duodenotomy and sphincterotomy or bilio-enteric anastomosis[45,123].

Although open surgery is regarded nowadays as the last resource or obsolete therapy of CBDS, recent literature seems to show its superiority to ERC in achieving CBDS clearance[96,98], without increasing morbidity/mortality (20% vs 19% and 1% vs 3% for open surgery and ERC, respectively)[98]. An emerging issue regarding CBDS management and biliary surgery in general is that, while the treatment of gallstones is mostly performed mini-invasively by laparoscopy and/or endoscopy, open biliary surgery is performed increasingly less outside centers specialized in hepato-bilio-pancreatic surgery. Such a trend towards the “super-specialization” of surgeons, in accordance with centralization policies theoretically aimed to improve the quality of surgery and to reduce its costs, raises new issues regarding the most appropriate management of those patients, whose number is small but not negligible, presenting with complex cases or needing conversion/revision by open approach, with potentially disastrous consequences. The answer we will give to such a dilemma will definitely have an impact on the education of next generation’s general surgeons.

Laparoscopy: Since 1991[21], CBD exploration may be performed laparoscopically. After Calot’s triangle dissection, laparoscopic IOC and/or US are used in order to identify CBDS. Whenever CBDS are found, clearance is usually attempted by “water flush” by means of an irrigator. The latter procedure may be performed through the cystic duct, if it is adequately large, or through vertical choledochotomy. If this latter manoeuvre fails, choledochotomy may also allow for the introduction of a choledochoscope and CBDS retrieval by Dormia basket.

Laparoscopic CBD management, in expert hands, is reported to be at least as effective as ERC in clearing the CBD[22,75,98]. After clearance, in most cases choledochotomy is sutured without the need for any drainage (T-tube-Kehr -drain), whereas the latter may be required if the CBD is inflamed[32,124-126]. Finally, although the operating time is definitely longer than that needed to carry out a simple laparoscopic cholecystectomy, both gallbladder and CBDS are treated during the same intervention, thus avoiding a second hospitalization and procedure[22,96,100].

Conversely, laparoscopic exploration has particular drawbacks, which limit its diffusion outside specialized environments. CBD exploration/clearance needs costly instruments and adequate surgical skills. The feasibility of laparoscopic CBD exploration depends on several variables, including tissue status (inflammation, adhesions...), patient anatomy (length/size/insertion of cystic duct, size of CBD) and number/size/location of CBDS. Recently, our group proposed a “laparoscopy first” attitude in managing CBDS, involving a systematic laparoscopic exploration before deciding whether to proceed with CBD exploration or just cholecystectomy, in the latter case postponing CBDS management to postoperative ERC[32].

Some small series/case reports showed the feasibility of choledocho-jejunal anastomosis by laparoscopy for CBDS[127,128]. Nevertheless, the difficulty of the procedure, requiring very experienced surgeons, and the long operating time (300-358 min)[127,128] make this technique a late option of CBDS management in very specialized environments.

Emerging mini-invasive surgical techniques: Recent advances in minimally invasive surgery, including single incision laparoscopy (SILS), natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES), and robotics, to some extent show the possible future of biliary lithiasis management, although lesser dexterity on the part of surgeons, the need for dedicated devices/advanced skills and the intrinsically technical difficulty of CBD exploration limit the diffusion of these approaches to cholecystectomy at the moment.

Although SILS cholecystectomy has been increasingly reported[129-133], interestingly, very little information is reported regarding patient selection and CBD status. IOC has not been attempted systematically (5%-93%)[129-133], probably partly because of the difficult triangulation through the single access. When attempted, IOC had a success rate of 88%-93%[129,132,133]. Moreover, when IOC finally showed CBDS, only two of the relevant papers reported the accomplishment of laparoscopic CBD clearance[129,133]; of these, only Yeo[133] reports a single port CBD clearance (1 of 5 cases with CBDS), whereas Hawasli[129] “converted” the procedure to traditional laparoscopy. SILS is presently reserved for specially selected, non-obese patients undergoing cholecystectomy[133].

NOTES has also been used for cholecystectomy, in 92%-97% of cases with a transvaginal access and in 3%-8% of cases with a transgastric one[134,135]. Interestingly, neither CBD preoperative work up nor IOC are reported in most articles[134-136], whereas others considered the need for an intraoperative diagnosis as being an exclusion criteria for NOTES[137,138]. In the only series reporting the IOC technique, significantly only 33 out of 83 of eligible patients (40%) underwent transvaginal cholecystectomy[138], 13 transvaginal IOC and 3 laparoscopic CBD clearance requiring one additional 12-mm port[138]. NOTES cholecystectomy is performed in non-complicated cases in non-obese patients, who are almost exclusively women, since it is mostly performed transvaginally.

First proposed for cholecystectomy in 1994[139], robotics may theoretically offer both the advantages of mini-invasive approach and the dexterity of open surgery, which should be useful in particular during demanding procedures such as CBD exploration. Nevertheless, few papers report any manoeuvre/procedure to diagnose/ treat CBDS. First described in 2004[140], small series of robotic laparoscopic exploration of CBD have recently been reported[141,142], showing a longer mean operating time (220 min vs 169 min) and a shorter median hospital stay (4 d vs 11 d) compared to open surgery[142]. These procedures involve the placing of five or more trocars. This technique may currently be considered at best an option for CBDS refractory to ERC[142] in order to avoid open surgery or percutaneous drainage in very specialized environments.

Single port robotics[143,144] intuitively present all the advantages of SILS and robotics. Unfortunately, switching from cholecystectomy to IOC (and potentially to CBD exploration) is not such an easy task to accomplish, owing to the difficult triangulation and the need to change instruments[144]. Single port robotic IOC involves another incision[143] and longer operating times[143,144], whereas CBD exploration has not yet been described by single port robotics.

Although papers reporting CBDS management by robotic choledocho-jejunostomy are extremely sporadic[145,146], the increasing evidence of an improved dexterity of the robotic hepatobiliary surgeon[147] seems to indicate a possible future management of complex cases.

First introduced in 1982[148], lithotripsy represents the theoretically ideal management of CBDS, as it may enable the clearing of the CBD without any interruption of the CBD wall or sphincterotomy. Although lithotripsy may technically fragmentize gallbladder stones too, it cannot be considered a radical treatment of synchronous cholecysto-choledochal lithiasis, as gallstone aetiology is considered as being due to lithogenic bile in the gallbladder (and therefore gallstones are destined to recur after lithotripsy). Moreover, since fragmentized gallstones are smaller, they may be supposed to have a higher risk of migration into the CBD, with choledocho-lithiasis recurrence. However, lithotripsy presents the advantage of being a one time (or few times) management of CBDS. For all these considerations, lithotripsy does not allow for avoiding cholecystectomy, thus becoming a very attractive option whenever cholecystectomy has already been performed or is not indicated. Reported to be performed in several ways (mechanical, electrohydraulic, laser, and extracorporeal shock wave)[23-25,149], lithotripsy also presents the drawback of needing dedicated instrumentation and skilled personnel, which are not always available, thus limiting its diffusion worldwide.

Endoscopic mechanical lithotripsy: endoscopic mechanical lithotripsy is usually performed after endoscopic sphincterotomy for CBDS that cannot be removed through a Dormia basket or balloon catheter. Introduced through the same scope utilized for ERC, lithotriptors consist of a large hard-wire basket with an additional metal spiral sheath, which is advanced over the basket into the CBD. When in position, the metal basket is opened to capture the stones and pulled back to the external hard-duct of the lithotriptor and lithotripsy is performed. The so-called “out of the scope” technique, where the endoscope is removed to introduce the Soehendra lithotriptor and crush the stones blindly[150,151], has been progressively replaced by the “through the scope” technique, where the lithotriptor is inserted in the endoscope itself and the whole procedure is performed under vision, reaching a CBD clearance in 80%-90% of cases[149,151-153].

Conditions associated to failure of lithotripsy are CBDS size exceeding 3 cm[154], since stones could not be captured, and stone impaction in the CBD[155]. Basket impaction or rupture of the basket traction wire are complications unique to mechanical lithotripsy[24,156]. Some patients cannot tolerate the prolonged lithotripsy operating time, thus, the procedure has to be conducted in several sessions[154,155], and general anaesthesia is recommended in selected cases[157]. According to several authors, a stent should be placed for bile drainage if the CBD stones could not be removed in the first session of mechanical lithotripsy[158-160].

Endoscopic electrohydraulic lithotripsy: Endoscopic electrohydraulic lithotripsy, using a “baby-mother” scope system[161,162], may also be used for difficult CBDS. The mother scope has a large operating channel to accommodate the baby scope carrying the 4.5 Fr calibre probe with an electrohydraulic shock wave generator set at an output of 2000 V, generating high-frequency hydraulic pressure waves. Because these shock waves can also destroy normal tissues, it is important that the probe is placed close to the stone. The CBDS removal rate ranges from 74% to 98%[161,162]. However, this procedure needs costly and fragile endoscopes[97] as well as the excellent coordination of two very experienced endoscopists. The latter problem has been potentially solved by the introduction of the so-called SpyGlass system[163,164], where the same endoscopist controls both duodenoscope and cholangioscope (SpyScope). After ES, the SpyScope is introduced through the therapeutic duodenoscope into the biliary tree, where electrohydraulic lithotripsy can be used via a 3-Fr electrohydraulic lithotripsy probe.

Endoscopic laser lithotripsy: Since the mid-nineties, laser-induced shock wave lithotripsy has been used in shattering huge stones under fluoroscopic visualization, which was reqested, because of the risk of heat-induced biliary perforation[165]. Nowadays, single-operator steerable cholangioscopy (SpyGlass) allows the safer use of laser lithotripsy under direct vision[166,167]. A 93%-97% removal rate of the bile duct stones has been reported, with mild complications in 4%-13% of cases[167-169]. Among the several types of laser lithotriptors developed, the holmium laser (holmium:yttrium aluminum garnet or Ho:YAG) is the newest one, but its use is still limited, also owing to the need for costly equipment[119]. Recent laser lithotriptors combine the advantages of dye and solid-state lasers at a reasonably low price[166], thus potentially allowing for a future progressive diffusion of laser lithotripsy worldwide[166,167].

Following the encouraging results of laser lithotripsy by endoscopy, laser lithotripsy has recently been proposed during laparoscopy[170], open surgery[171], or percutaneously[172].

Extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy: External shock wave using extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is also used for difficult CBDS under ultrasound control or fluoroscopic guidance, after nasobiliary tube placement for contrast instillation [97,173]. In the case of first generation lithotriptors, the patient needed to be immersed in a water bath, whereas modern lithotriptors employ water-filled compressible bags. General anaesthesia is usually needed as the discomfort produced may not be adequately controlled by conscious sedation. The critical determining factors for success of ESWL are stone size/structure[174] and CBD diameter[175]. ESWL has particular contraindications, such as portal thrombosis and varices of the umbilical plexus, and may be associated with adverse events such as transient biliary colic, subcutaneous ecchymosis, cardiac arrhythmia, self-limited haemobilia, cholangitis, ileus, pancreatitis[176,177], and, more rarely, biliary obstruction, bowel perforation, lung injury and splenic rupture[174]. Multiple ESWL sessions may be required. The recurrence rate of CBD stones during a 1 to 2 year follow up is around 14%[178]. In a randomized trial comparing fluoroscopy-guided ESWL and laser lithotripsy, the latter is preferable for a successful stone free rate (97% vs 73%)[173]. Therefore, ESWL is at present not considered as being the first line treatment of difficult bile duct stones[97].

Acute cholecystitis: Whether acute cholecystitis is associated with CBDS is a matter of debate, as some authors have found CBDS in 9.1%-16.5% of patients presenting with acute cholecystitis (vs 6.6%-7.7% of those with uncomplicated lithiasis[179,180]), while others did not[181]; we ourselves found acute cholecystitis to be related to the absence of CBDS, thus entering in our score system[44].

Diagnosis of CBDS may be difficult in the presence of acute cholecystitis, where various alterations in liver serology and hyperpyrexia may be observed, thus possibly ‘‘hiding’’ CBDS. Moreover, since the effectiveness of US and CT is suboptimal in diagnosing CBDS, they can pass undiagnosed. Recently, the systematic use of MRC has been proposed for the diagnosis of acute cholecystitis, coexistent choledocholithiasis, and possible complications such as gangrene and perforation in patients with inconclusive clinical, laboratory, and sonographic findings[182,183].

Since acute cholecystitis may include a wide variety of clinical pictures, ranging from asymptomatic cases presenting merely the doubling of the gallbladder wall at US, to those with abdominal pain/tenderness suitable for conservative treatment, or with life-threatening conditions needing emergency surgery, the management of synchronous acute cholecystitis and CBDS should be tailored considering gallbladder status and the patient’s general conditions. In general, the presence of acute cholecystitis may increase the difficulty of dissecting Calot’s triangle by laparoscopy, as well as of cannulating the cystic duct to perform IOC or proceed with CBD laparoscopic exploration. Therefore, CBDS associated with acute cholecystitis are generally considered an indication for ERC[184], as confirmed by a recent survey of 859,747 patients who underwent emergency and/or urgent laparoscopic cholecystectomy and where IOC was performed in only 29% of cases and CBD exploration in no more than 1%[185]. Nevertheless, the laparoscopic management of acute cholecystitis and CBDS is feasible, with an acceptable 12% conversion rate and 29% morbidity[186]. As we have already mentioned[32], a laparoscopy-first attitude, intraoperatively evaluating the real feasibility of laparoscopic CBD exploration, may allow for CBD clearance in roughly 2/3 of cases, thus reducing the number of postoperative ERCs to a minimum, without excessively long/risky procedures and inopportune conversions.

Acute cholangitis: Biliary decompression is considered as being the primary treatment of gallstone-related acute cholangitis. As acute cholangitis may have various clinical presentations, elective biliary decompression may be planned by endoscopy or laparoscopy in mild to moderate disease, whereas emergency endoscopic sphincterotomy has to be performed in the case of severe sepsis not responding to antibiotic therapy[29,38]. Any surgical treatment in these patients is associated with higher mortality than for endoscopy and therefore should be avoided[187,188]. Given the potentially life-threatening condition, significantly, even if ERC does not show any CBDS, there is a formal indication for endoscopic sphincterotomy followed by balloon or basket trawl of the CBD[38].

Acute pancreatitis: The management of biliary acute pancreatitis has evolved over the last 30 years. Following the results of randomized studies[189,190], the United Kingdom guidelines for the management of acute pancreatitis advocated urgent therapeutic ERC in every patient with acute pancreatitis by suspected gallstone etiology[191]. With the advent of EUS and MRC[192], this management policy has been modified, according to the principle that every effort should be made to identify biliary obstruction before resorting to ERC[193]. Lastly, the American Gastroenterological Association Institute guidelines on acute pancreatitis recommend that early ERC is not indicated in patients with predicted severe pancreatitis without concomitant cholangitis or high suspicion of CBDS[194].

The aging population of Western countries together with the increasingly less invasive nature of CBDS management is rekindling the debate concerning the most appropriate treatment not only after the age of 65 (elderly) but also after the age of 80 (very elderly), where procedure-related complications may become severe or fatal.

Although the small size and retrospective nature of the studies do not confer a clear evidence, no clear benefit of any technique has been shown over another in this class of patients. ERC and endoscopic sphincterotomy are proposed for CBDS retrieval in the very elderly[157,195-197]. Because elderly patients often receive anticoagulant/antiplatelet agents for underlying heart and cerebrovascular diseases, the risk of bleeding after endoscopic sphincterotomy is higher in these patients[77,198] and the ASGE guideline has recommended discontinuing anticoagulant agents before ES[199]. Moreover, patients who are old[200] and/or have haemostasis problems (such as cirrhosis)[201] have been recommended for management by endoscopic balloon dilation instead of ERC, with similar results to those of younger patients (apart from a higher number of endoscopic sessions)[200]. In very old patients and those with serious co-morbidities, where other endoscopic or surgical procedures may confer unacceptably high risks, endoscopic biliary stenting is a useful alternative[202].

Similarly to sequential treatment (ERC followed by delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy)[203], the rendez-vous technique has shown longer operating times and hospital stays in octogenarians compared to younger patients[112], whereas the two approaches did not show significant differences from each other among the octogenarian population[112]. In general, although results of mini-invasive CBDS management in the very elderly patients are seemingly worse than in younger patients, they mostly consist of longer operating times and hospital stays; since clinical impact and morbidity are seemingly lower than those of traditional surgery, age should not contraindicate per se CBDS management.

Biliary stent placement is a possible alternative in elderly patients[158,204], but is likely to put the patients at risk for cholangitis as a result of stent clogging. To avoid this adverse event, a periodic (e.g., every 3 mo) exchange of biliary stents is needed, which makes this option far less attractive whenever any other technique is feasible.

An emerging dilemma is whether to proceed with cholecystectomy after successful CBD clearance in patients of 80 years old or older, where laparoscopic cholecystectomy may be presumed to be associated to increased morbidity/mortality. Indeed, a review[203] reporting the results of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the very elderly showed a cumulative mortality rate of 2% in octogenarians, but this value dropped to virtually 0 if patients presenting with acute cholecystitis and/or concomitant severe disease were excluded, to some extent suggesting not postponing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy in fit octogenarians.

The wide variety of treatment options for CBDS available nowadays makes it impossible to draw up any algorithm/protocol including any possible challenging situations for endoscopists and surgeons. Any systematic approach to CBDS by a single technique, as has been proposed for decades by authors having a great expertise in only one field (endoscopy, laparoscopy, lithotripsy), is slowly but progressively giving way to a more patient-tailored approach, where the pros and cons of different approaches are taken into account[31,33]. Obviously, the increasing availability of instruments and skills in the same environment will allow for a diffusion of such a multidisciplinary approach to CBDS. Moreover, as already pointed out, it is nowadays suggested that asymptomatic CBDS should be managed more conservatively, as some will pass through the papilla within a few weeks of cholecystectomy[31,35]. Thus, following this more multidisciplinary and cautious policy, an unsuccessful laparoscopic CBD exploration, for example, is increasingly often considered an indication not for conversion to open surgery and transduodenal CBD clearance or biliodigestive anastomosis, but rather for a postoperative conservative or mini-invasive approach by ERC[32], based on the assumption that a difficult laparoscopic CBD clearance does not necessarily mean a difficult endoscopic management.

Postcholecystectomy CBDS may be due to residual CBDS misdiagnosed at surgery, as happens after up to 2% of cholecystectomies performed without cholangiogram[205], or recurrent CBDS. The latter are due to intrahepatic or intraCBD lithiasis and are therefore not treated in this review. Other than the already described clinical pictures, residual CBDS are the most frequent cause of a “postcholecystectomy syndrome”, including symptoms originally attributed to gallstones, such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, dyspepsia, and persistent biliary colic and liver serology alterations[206].

Diagnosis of CBDS after cholecystectomy may be difficult, as the absence of a gallbladder may lead to the exclusion of a biliary origin of aspecific symptoms/laboratory test alterations, thus causing a delay in diagnosis. Moreover, transabdominal US is less accurate in postcholecystectomy patients, since the CBD diameter may be larger because of cholecystectomy or old age of patients[55,207,208], where the upper limit for a “normal” CBD diameter is raised to 7.6-10 mm[207-209]. Since the total number of patients undergoing second-line examinations for residual CBDS and finally presenting this feature is 33%-43%[208,210], systematic ERC should result as being unnecessary in more than half of the patients and is therefore seemingly not indicated as a second-line examination. Among less invasive imaging techniques, although MRC and EUS have shown similar results in this setting[208,210], the need for ERC in 1/3 of patients or more should prompt us to favour EUS, possibly followed by ERC and endoscopic sphincterotomy during the same session, for a theoretical one-step-management of CBDS.

The absence of gallbladder and the consequent possibility to avoid surgery and general anaesthesia make endoscopy the most attractive option for several authors[211,212]. For the same reason, lithotripsy may intuitively be useful in this setting[213], whereas open surgery is the last option after the failure of mini-invasive approaches[214]. Although laparoscopic CBD clearance is also possible in such a context in expert hands[215], such a procedure is likely to result as being more difficult owing to the sequelae of cholecystectomy (adhesions, scarring), thus requiring advanced laparoscopic skills.