Objective To evaluate the clinical effectiveness of laparoscopic cholecystectomy and laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LC+LCBDE) and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography/endoscopic sphincterectomy with LC(ERCP/EST+LC) in treatment for cholecystolithiasis with choledocholithiasis. Methods From January 2008 to July 2011, 127 patients suffered from cholecystolithiasis with choledocholithiasis underwent either LC+LCBDE(85 cases, LC+LCBDE group) or ERCP/EST+LC(42 cases, ERCP/EST+LC group) were collected retrospectively. The clearance rate of calculus, hospital stay, hospitalization expenses, and the rate of postoperative complications were compared between two groups. Results Eighty-five patients were performed successfully in the LC+LCBDE group, out of which 54 patients had primary closure of common bile duct (LC+LCBDE primary closure group), whereas in 28 patients common bile ducts were closed over T tube (LC+LCBDE+T tube group). Forty-two patients were performed successfully in the ERCP/EST+LC group. There were no differences in the clearance rate of calculus〔100%(82/82) versus 97.37%(37/38), P=0.317〕 and postoperative complications rate 〔(4.71% (4/85) versus 4.76%(2/42), P=1.000〕 between the LC+LCBDE group and ERCP/EST+LC group. The median (quartile) hospital stay in the LC+LCBDE group was shorter than that in the ERCP/EST+LC group 〔12 (6) d versus 17(9) d, P<0.001〕. In the LC+LCBDE primary closure group, both median (quartile)?hospital stay and median(quartile) hospitalization expenses were less than those of ERCP/EST+LC〔hospital stay:11(5) d versus 17(9) d, P<0.001;hospitalization expenses:27 054(8 452) yuan versus 31 595(11 743) yuan, P=0.005〕 . Conclusions In the management of patients suffered from cholecystolithiasis with choledocholithiasis, both LC+LCBDE and ERCP/EST+LC are safe and effective. LC+LCBDE, especially primary closure after LCBDE, is associated with significantly less costs as compared with ERCP/EST+LC. Moreover, patients can be cured by LC+LCBDE through one-stage treatment with the protection of the papilla function and no limits to the amount or size of the choledocholithiasis. The LC+LCBDE is a preferable choice for the appropriate cases of cholecystolithiasis with choledocholithiasis.