Laparoscopic Common Bile Duct Exploration (LCBDE) with SpyGlass Cholangioscopy

About the service

Based at the Lindo Wing at St Mary’s Hospital, we offer Laparoscopic Common Bile Duct Exploration (LCBDE) with SpyGlass Cholangioscopy at the time of keyhole gallbladder removal surgery. This is a state-of-the-art, minimally invasive laparo-endoscopic procedure designed to diagnose and treat complex conditions affecting the bile duct.

The SpyGlass system is a very thin steerable endoscope featuring a miniature camera and powerful light, allowing clinicians to visualise gallstones and apply lithotripsy therapy to fragment stones for safe extraction.

The procedure is used to:

• remove or fragment large gallstones that have migrated into the bile duct for easy extraction
• clear the bile duct of stones at the same time of gallbladder removal by keyhole surgery
• obtain targeted biopsies (tissue samples)
• manage the narrowing of the bile duct (stenosis)

This treatment enables gallstones in the gallbladder and bile duct stones to be treated at the same time with laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LCBDE) carried out with laparoscopic cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal). This is the preferred treatment compared to a two-stage approach with endoscopic treatment, usually under sedation of general anaesthesia, performed first, followed by a separate admission for keyhole surgery to remove the gallbladder (laparoscopic cholecystectomy).

Laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LCBDE) is not widely performed and therefore most patients in the UK who have gallstones and bile duct stones are managed in a two-stage procedure (endoscopic procedure followed by surgery).

Key benefits of LCBDE SpyGlass Cholangioscopy when performed at the time of gallbladder removal surgery 

• Higher rates of treatment success to clear the bile duct
• Reduced risk of complications
• One single admission rather than two
• Reduced hospital stay
• Increased patient satisfaction

Why choose us?

We deliver world-class expertise and our link to Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust ensures our patients benefit from highly skilled multidisciplinary teams. Our consultants have extensive expertise in a wide range of general surgery conditions, providing comprehensive care for all our patients.

Find out more

For further information contact our private referrals team:

• Call: +44 (0) 20 3311 7700
• Email: imperial.private.healthcare@nhs.net

Most major insurance companies cover the cost of treatment.