Abstract:To study the risk factors for recurrence of common bile duct stones after endoscopic common bile duct stone extraction by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) combined with endoscopic biliary sphincterotomy (EST), and investigate the effect of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) on the recurrence of common bile duct stones. Methods 289 patients diagnosed as common bile duct stones underwent ERCP combined with EST, those patients who merged with cholecystolithiasis were elected to undergo LC. Patients were divided into two groups according to whether the common bile duct stones recurrence: recurrence group and no recurrence group. And the patients were divided into group LC and group no-LC according to whether LC was performed or not. The recorded indexes included: gender, age and body mass index (BMI); the history of cholecystectomy, total bilirubin and jaundice, periampullary diverticulum; whether used ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) or not; biliary stricture, biliary angle, the diameter of common bile duct; the nature, number and size of stones; mechanical lithotripsy, and drainage situation of nasal biliary. All the patients were followed up for 5 years. Results The mean time of recurrence of common bile duct stones was (27.1 ± 14.6) months. The recurrence group compared with the group without recurrence: the diameter of the common bile duct were (17.7 ± 3.7) vs (15.5 ± 4.4) mm; the number of cases of the diameter of common bile duct ≥15 mm accounted for 41.3% vs 16.8%, respectively; the number of cases of periampullary diverticula accounted for 61.9% vs 13.7%, respectively; the differences were statistically significant (P = 0.007 ~ 0.011). The diameter of the common bile duct ≥15 mm and periampullary diverticula were risk factors of recurrence of common bile duct (OR value, from 1.789 to 1.941, P < 0.05), selective LC was not the risk factors of recurrence of common bile duct (P > 0.05). The recurrence rate of common bile duct in the group of LC and the group of no LC was 24.5% and 26.1% respectively, and there was no significant difference (P > 0.05).?Conclusion?The diameter of the common bile duct ≥15 mm and periampullary diverticula are risk factors of recurrence of common bile duct stones after endoscopic common bile duct stone extraction by ERCP + EST. Elective LC does not reduce the recurrence rate of common bile duct stones.