Protocol for choledocholithiasis at emergency surgery study (ProCESS)

Abstract

Gallstone disease is very common, and results in a large number of hospital admissions per year. Some patients with gallstones can develop a blockage in their main bile duct due to stones, which can put them at risk of severe infection, jaundice or other problems like pancreatitis.

There are several ways in which surgeons can go about removing the stones from the bile duct, including during surgery or via endoscopy (camera test down the mouth). There is also an option of placing a stent in the bile duct. There is currently no agreement between surgeons on which of these options is the best.

We have developed a new protocol to determine if patients can be safely sent home after surgery with a bile duct stent, and then return for an endoscopy electively. We aim to prove that this option is safe, and also improves and steamlines the patient experience.