ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of SpyGlass-guided laser lithotripsy for large common bile duct (CBD) stones with diameter>2 cm. MethodsFrom August 2015 to August 2018, a total of 157 patients with large CBD stones at the First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University who met the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into SpyGlass group (n=78, underwent SpyGlass-guided laser lithotripsy) and laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LCBDE) group (n=79, underwent LCBDE) by using random numbers. Non-inferiority test was used for rates of one-time stone removal and total stone removal, and the non-inferiority margin was set to 10%. The transform rate, incidence of short-term complications, hospital stay, and quality of life (assessed by the gastrointestinal quality of life index) were compared between the two groups. ResultsThe total success rates of stone clearance were 92.3% (72/78) and 96.2% (76/79) in the SpyGlass group and LCBDE group, respectively (P=0.023), with valid non-inferiority hypothesis. The one-time stone removal rates were 83.3% (65/78) and 96.2% (76/79), respectively (P=0.124), with invalid non-inferiority hypothesis. There were no significant differences in the incidence of transform [7.7% (6/78) VS 3.8% (3/79), P=0.294] or short-term complications [5.1% (4/78) VS 10.1% (8/79), P=0.246] between the two groups. Compared with the LCBDE group, the SpyGlass group had a shorter hospital stay (5.65±0.94 d VS 8.84±1.54 d, P=0.001) and higher scores of gastrointestinal quality of life index (1 month after operation: 99.85±4.36 VS 91.51±5.47, P=0.001; 3 months after operation: 131.24±3.32 VS 112.32±7.77, P=0.001). ConclusionFor large CBD stones, the efficacy of SpyGlass-guided laser lithotripsy is not inferior to LCBDE, and it is less invasive. In the future, SpyGlass-guided laser lithotripsy could be an important option for the treatment of large CBD stones.