Objective To summarize the therapeutic efficacy of laparoscope， duodenoscope， and choledochoscopein treatment for elderly patients with common bile duct stones associated with acute severe cholangitis. Methods Eighty-six patients with common bile duct stones associated with severe acute cholangitis from May 2008 to December 2012 in this hospital were chosen. The operation methods and their therapeutic efficacy were analyzed. Results ① Thirty-one patients were performed by laparoscopic cholecystectomy （LC） plus common bile duct discission combined with choledo-choscope for removing the stones， which were completely successful. One case of bile duct perforation happened. The total effective rate was 96.77%（30/31）. The hospital stay was （9.05±2.11） d， the hospital costs was （1.47±0.34） ten thousand yuan. ② Forty-three patients were performed by LC combined with duodenoscopic papillotomy， 42 patients were successful，one patients was turned to the other operation， the retained calculus was found in two patients. The total effective rate was 97.67%（42/43）. The hospital stay was （8.64±1.20） d， the hospital costs was （2.36±0.62） ten thousand yuan. ③ Twelve patients were performed by endoscopic nasobiliary drainage and LC plus common bile duct discission combined with choledochoscope for removing the stones， which were completely successful. The total effective rate was 91.67%（11/12）. The hospital stay was （11.06±2.33） d， the hospital costs was （2.79±0.41） ten thousand yuan. No severe complications such as intestinal perforation， hemorrhea， and severe acute pancreatitis and no death happened. Conclusions Three-endoscopy in treatment for elderly patients with common bile duct stones associated with severe acute cholangitis has a good therapeutic efficacy， a suitable operation is chosen according to the different conditions of the patients， the success rate is high， the complication rate and the mortality rate are low.