Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to assess the incidence rate of Common Bile Duct (CBD) stones in patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) and evaluate associated predictors and risk factors among Saudi patients.
Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted at King Fahd Armed Forces Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Medical records of 493 patients who underwent elective LC for symptomatic cholelithiasis between January 2017 and December 2018 were reviewed. Data on demographics, clinical findings, operative details, and post-operative outcomes were collected.
Results: The mean age was 49.1 years, and 72.2% of participants were female. Pre-operative CBD stones were diagnosed in 17.4%, predominantly via abdominal ultrasound (66.3%). Post-operative CBD stones were identified in 1% of cases, significantly associated with emergency LC (p-value = 0.006) and pre-operative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (p-value = 0.010). However, multivariate analysis did not confirm any factor as an independent predictor. Post-operative complications occurred in 2.6% of patients, including bile leak (0.4%) and CBD injury (0.2%).
Conclusion: The incidence of post-operative CBD stones was low but associated with emergency LC and pre-operative factors. Advanced imaging techniques and comprehensive evaluations are vital to reduce complications. Future research should explore tailored management strategies for high-risk populations.

Key words: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy, common bile duct stones, gallstones, post-operative complications, Saudi Arabia