Abstract: Objective The aim of this study was to compare the T-tube drainage through rectus abdominis and right midclavicular line after laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LCBDE) in dealing with patients with common bile duct stones (CBDS). Methods A total of 198 patients with CBDS were admitted to our hospital between January 2021 and December 2022, all patients underwent LCBDE) operation, 125 cases in group A having T-tube drainage through rectus abdominis and 73 cases in group B having T-tube drainage through right midclavicular line. The perioperative indexes and complications in the two groups were recorded. The liver function tests were routinely detected. The gastrointestinal quality of life index (GIQLI) score, the self-rating depression scale (SDS) score and the self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) score were evaluated. Results The operation time, intra-operational blood loss, extubation time and hospital stay in group A were (52.9±3.1)min, (40.2±14.5)ml, (4.1±0.5)d and (7.2±1.1)d, all not significantly different compared to in group B; 5 days after operation, serum bilirubin, ALT, AST and albumin levels in group A were (12.4±2.7)μmol/L, (51.8±4.2)U/L, (36.2±3.4)U/L and (37.9±1.5)g/L, all not significantly different compared to in group B; the GIQLI score in group A was (129.4±10.3), much higher than (105.7±9.9), while the SDS score and the SAS score were (30.2±1.7) and (30.7±1.9), much lower than in group B; post-operationally, the incidence of complications, such as bleeding, infection, biliary leakage and cholangiostenosis in group A was 9.6%, much lower than 20.5%(P＜0.05) in group B; at the end of one-year follow-up, the recurrence of biliary stones revealed by ultrasonography in group A was 3.2%, not significantly different compared to 4.1% in group B (P＞0.05). Conclusion The T-tube drainage through rectus abdominis after LCBDE might ameliorate the mental strain in patients with CBDS, and reduce the incidence of postoperative complications.

Key words: Common bile duct stones, Laparoscopic common bile duct exploration, Drainage through rectus abdominis, Drainage through right midclavicular line, Therapy