To investigate the risk factors of recurrent choledocholithiasis after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC).

A retrospective analysis was made on clinical data of 579 patients who underwent LC from June 2012 to June 2017 in Zhongshan Central Hospital Affiliated to Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine. Patients with recurrence of stones during follow-up were treated as case group and the patients without recurrence were treated as control group. The clinical data were compared between the two groups, and univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to screen independent risk factors for recurrence of common bile duct stones after LC.

Eventually, 547 cases were enrolled in this study, and the mean follow-up period was 31.7 months. A total of 62 cases (11.3%) experienced recurrence of common bile duct stones, with a median time of 24.4 months. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified hepatitis B oirus (HBV) infection (OR=4.82, 95%CI: 2.38-9.79, P<0.001), acute cholecystitis (OR=4.61, 95%CI: 2.31-9.22, P=0.001), periampullary diverticulum (OR=9.29, 95%CI: 4.50-19.19, P<0.001), common bile duct diameter> 6.5 mm (OR=3.46, 95%CI: 1.70-7.05, P=0.001), gallstone diameter ≤0.62 cm (OR=6.60, 95%CI: 2.99-14.53, P<0.001) and multiple gallstones (OR=6.73, 95%CI: 3.15-14.40, P<0.001) were independent risk factors of recurrent choledocholithiasis after LC.

Many factors will influence the recurrence of common bile duct stones after LC. For patients who have high-risk of recurrence of choledocholithiasis after LC, close follow-up is necessary so as to diagnose and treat the disease in early stage.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy; Common bile duct stones; Postoperative recurrence; Risk factors