ObjectiveTo evaluate the value of magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) on prevention of the complications in laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). MethodsThe clinical data of 1 079 patients underwent LC from January 2006 to June 2010 in this hospital were retrospectively analyzed. According to the use of MRCP or not in the different period, the patients were divided into nonMRCP group (n=523) and MRCP group (n=556). The occurrence of bile duct injuries (BDI) and retained common duct stone (RCDS) were compared between two groups. ResultsConversion to open surgery was performed in 35 cases in nonMRCP group and in 41 cases in MRCP group. The intraoperative and postoperative BDI were found in five patients and RCDS were found in 27 patients in nonMRCP group, and those were not found in patients in MRCP group. The differences of BDI and RCDS of patients were significant between two groups (P=0.026 and P=0.000). In nonMRCP group, 23 of 55 patients were found common bile duct stones by intraoperative cholangiography. Common bile duct stones were found by intraoperative cholangiography other than preoperative MRCP in three patients in MRCP group, while another three patients did not find common bile duct stones by intraoperative cholangiography although preoperative MRCP suggested. By MRCP, double gallbladders were found in one patient, Mirizzi syndrome in eight patients, variant cystic duct in 34 patients, accessory hepatic duct in 28 patients, and complicating common bile duct stones in 27 patients in MRCP group, the diagnostic accuracy of those were 100%, 87.5%, 94.1%, 89.3% and 88.9%, respectively. ConclusionPreoperative MRCP is helpful to prevent BDI and RCDS for the patients with LC.