OBJECTIVE The aim of this retrospective study was to report the results of the laparoscopic management of common bile duct stones in an unicentric series of 56 patients. METHODS From January 1993 to April 1998, 56 patients, 38 women, 18 men (mean age: 59.2 years), underwent a common bile duct exploration for lithiasis through a laparoscopic approach. The patients were hospitalised for angiocholitis (n = 13), cholecystitis (n = 11), biliary pain (n = 29, nine with jaundice), pancreatitis (n = 3), abnormality of hepatic profile (n = 1). All the patients underwent an intraoperative cholangiography. Removal of the stones was tried in 50 cases through a choledochotomy, in four through the cystic duct, using Mirrizi forceps, or Dormia and Fogarty catheters in case of failure. External biliary drainage and postoperative cholangiography were done systematically. The average diameter of the common bile duct was 10.5 mm (6-20 mm). RESULTS In 41 patients, removal of the stones was laparoscopically successful. In 11 patients, a conversion into laparotomy was necessary for several reasons. In three patients with common bile duct of small diameter, the stones were abandoned for a further endoscopic sphincterotomy. There was no mortality and the morbidity rate was 7%. The mean postoperative hospital stay was 8.6 days (4-20) for all the series and 7.8 days in case of successful laparoscopic management. CONCLUSIONS In 73% of the patients, the treatment of the common bile duct lithiasis could be achieved laparoscopically, but conventional approach and endoscopic sphincterotomy are still useful in case of failure of the laparoscopic management.