Objective To compare the clinic research between biliary stent insertion drainage and T-tube drainage after choledochotomy. Methods The clinical data of 90 cases from 2012 to 2014 were analyzed in a prospectively randomized trial, and they were divided into two groups by T-tube drainage and biliary stent insertion drainage. Cathetering and suture time, length of stay, hospital costs, life quality and incidence of complications were compared, respectively. Results After open common bile duct exploration (OCBDE), the life quality of stent group was significantly higher than that of T-tube group, the length of stay in stent group was shorter, and cathetering and suture time of bile duct in stent group was longer than that of T-tube group (P＜0.05); There were no significant differences between the two groups in the hospital costs and incidences of postoperative complications including bile leakage, early stent dislodgement, biliary infection, pancreatitis and residual stone (P＞0.05). Conclusion Endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage (ERBD) with primary closure after choledochotomy is a safe, effective and feasible procedure for the management of choledocholithiasis, it can significantly reduce the postoperative hospital stay and improve the life quality of patients and expand the indications for primary closure of CBD incision.