Retrospective Study
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2019.
World J Gastroenterol. Jan 28, 2019; 25(4): 485-497
Published online Jan 28, 2019. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v25.i4.485
Table 1 Baseline clinical characteristics of patients with common bile duct stones
CharacteristicBefore matching
After matching
EST (n = 168)OCT (n = 134)P-valueEST (n = 88)OCT (n = 88)P-value
Age at enrollment, mean ± SD, yr57.1 ± 14.857.5 ± 13.50.79958.6 ± 14.758.4 ± 13.80.920
Sex, male/female, n73/9565/690.38138/5040/480.762
Bile duct diameter, mean ± SD, mm10.9 ± 4.414.4 ± 5.8< 0.001b12.4 ± 5.112.7 ± 4.20.663
Stone number, multiple/single, n63/10557/770.37433/5533/551.000
Maximum stone size, n (%)1.0 ± 0.51.4 ± 0.7< 0.001b1.2 ± 0.51.2 ± 0.60.484
Cholangitis on admission, n (%)42 (25.0)34 (25.4)0.94123 (26.1)22 (25.0)0.863
Mild28 (16.6)28 (20.9)0.13313 (14.7)18 (20.5)0.139
Moderate7 (4.2)5 (3.7)5 (5.7)3 (3.4)
Severe7 (4.2)1 (0.8)5 (5.7)1 (1.1)
Previous gastrectomy, n (%)
Billroth-I07 (5.2)0.006b---
Billroth-II09 (6.7)0.005b---
Hypertension, n (%)19 (11.3)15 (11.2)0.95112 (13.6)11 (12.5)0.823
Diabetes mellitus, n (%)11 (6.5)7 (5.2)0.6297 (7.9)6 (6.8)0.773
Charlson comorbidity index, mean ± SD0.7 ± 0.90.8 ± 1.00.3340.8 ± 1.00.8 ± 0.90.807
Prior cholecystectomy, n (%)18 (10.7)17 (12.7)0.59512 (13.6)9 (10.2)0.485
Gallbladder with stones in situ, n (%)150 (89.3)117 (87.3)0.59576 (86.4)79 (89.8)0.485
Preoperative biochemical parameters, median (IQR)
T-Bil, μmol/L18.9 (10.8-47.2)16.6 (9.5-39.1)0.16416.9 (10.3-43.5)15.4 (9.1-40.3)0.432
ALT, U/L81.5 (28.8-162.0)40.5 (18.0-96.3)< 0.001b56.0 (22.3-101.8)36.5 (17.5-98.3)0.264
AST, U/L47.0 (22.8-91.0)32.0 (20.0-62.2)0.05337.0 (21.8-79.3)29.0 (19.0-60.0)0.259
γ-GTP, U/L162.5 (82.0-266.3)147.0 (67.5-264.8)0.446131.5 (74.8-296.0)133.0 (64.8-226.8)0.380
ALP, U/L234.0 (76.0-475.5)126.5 (65.5-313.5)0.049a160.5 (66.3-351.5)121.0 (65.8-303.3)0.642
Follow up period, median (IQR), yr6.3 (5.4-7.3)6.2 (5.1-7.8)0.7326.3 (5.2-7.3)6.9 (5.4-8.2)0.168
Table 2 Safety profile and procedure-related short-term outcomes of endoscopic sphincterotomy and open choledochotomy
Short-term outcome measureBefore matching
After matching
EST (n = 168)OCT (n = 134)P-valueEST (n = 88)OCT (n = 88)P-value
Time to biliary obstruction relief, mean ± SD, d2.8 ± 1.67.6 ± 4.3< 0.001b2.8 ± 1.67.1 ± 3.7< 0.001b
Anesthetic duration, median (IQR), min174 (150-215)222 (181.8-269.8)< 0.001b175 (149-217.8)207 (170-252.5)< 0.001b
1Procedure time, median (IQR), min105 (84-141.2)150 (115.8-180)< 0.001b110 (85-151.3)145 (112-180)< 0.001b
No. of complete stone clearance sessions, n (%)< 0.032a0.009b
1149 (88.7)128 (95.5)77 (87.5)86 (97.7)
≥ 219 (11.3)26 (4.5)11 (12.5)22 (2.3)
Methods of cholecystectomy, n (%)< 0.001b< 0.001b
OC7 (4.2)117 (87.3)1 (1.1)79 (89.8)
LC143 (85.1)075 (85.2)0
3Hospital stay, median (IQR), d6 (5-9)9 (8-12)< 0.001b6.5 (5-9.3)9 (8-12)< 0.001b
Hospitalization cost, median (IQR), ×103 yuan17.9 (15.4-21.8)17.6 (13.7-21.2)0.08318.0 (15.9-21.4)17.8 (14.3-21.5)0.115
Complications, n (%)19 (11.3)19 (14.2)0.4559 (10.2)9 (10.2)1.000
Bleeding3 (1.8)7 (5.2)0.0971 (1.1)4 (4.5)0.173
PEP6 (3.6)00.027a3 (3.4)00.081
Hyperamylasemia8 (4.8)00.010a4 (4.5)00.043a
Cholangitis2 (1.2)1 (0.7)0.6991 (1.1)1 (1.1)1.000
Bile leakage05 (3.7)0.012a02 (2.3)0.155
Port site infection06 (4.8)0.006b02 (2.3)0.155
Table 3 Procedure-related long-term outcomes of endoscopic sphincterotomy and open choledochotomy
Long-term outcome measureBefore matching
After matching
EST (n = 168)OCT (n = 134)P-valueEST (n = 88)OCT (n = 88)P-value
Recurrent bile duct stones, n (%)29 (17.3)32 (23.9)0.15518 (20.5)15 (17.0)0.562
With AC4 (2.4)12 (8.9)0.036a2 (2.4)6 (8.9)0.054
Without AC25 (14.9)20 (14.9)16 (14.9)9 (14.9)
Time to initial recurrence, mean ± SD, yr2.8 ± 2.03.5 ± 2.20.1833.0 ± 2.23.9 ± 2.70.321
Times of recurrence ≥ 2, n (%)6 (3.6)11 (8.2)0.0823 (3.4)4 (4.5)0.700
Reintervention rate, n (%)24 (14.3)29 (21.6)0.09515 (17.0)14 (15.9)0.839
Reintervention method, n (%)0.002b0.032a
EST23 (13.7)115 (11.2)14 (15.9)17 (7.9)
OCT1 (0.6)13 (9.7)1 (1.1)6 (6.8)
LCBDE01 (0.7)01 (1.1)
Mortality, n (%)14 (8.3)11 (8.2)0.96910 (11.4)9 (10.2)0.808
Procedure-related00-00-
Cholangiocarcinoma02 (1.5)0.11201 (1.1)0.316
Cardiopulmonary complication8 (4.8)4 (3.0)0.4327 (7.9)4 (4.5)0.350
Unknown etiology6 (3.6)5 (3.7)0.9413 (3.4)4 (4.5)0.700
Table 4 Risk factors for common bile duct stone recurrence
VariableRecurrence, n (%)
P-valueMultivariate analysis
No (n = 241)Yes (n = 61)OR (95%CI)P-value
Age, mean ± SD, yr57.2 ± 14.357.3 ± 14.10.974--
Sex (female)131 (54.4)33 (54.1)0.971--
Intervention method0.1560.841
OCT102 (42.3)32 (52.5)Reference
EST139 (57.7)29 (47.5)0.93 (0.47-1.86)
Bile duct diameter, cm< 0.001b0.011b
< 15180 (74.7)25 (41.0)Reference
≥ 1561 (25.3)36 (59.0)2.72 (1.26-5.87)
Distal CBD angle ≤ 145°78 (32.4)37 (60.6)< 0.001b2.92 (1.54-5.55)0.001b
Stone number< 0.001b< 0.001b
Single167 (69.3)15 (24.6)Reference
Multiple74 (30.7)46 (75.4)5.09 (2.58-10.07)
Maximum stone size, mm0.002b0.904
< 20216 (89.6)45 (73.8)Reference
≥ 2025 (10.4)16 (26.2)1.06 (0.43-2.63)
Mechanical lithotripsy9 (3.7)3 (4.9)0.673--
Bacterial cholangitis63 (26.1)13 (21.3)0.438--
Previous gastrectomy
Billroth-I6 (2.5)1 (1.6)0.696--
Billroth-II6 (2.5)3 (4.9)0.328--
Hypertension26 (10.8)8 (13.1)0.608--
Diabetes mellitus17 (7.1)1 (1.6)0.1450.29 (0.03-2.51)0.261
Charlson comorbidity index, mean ± SD0.7 ± 0.90.6 ± 0.90.499--