Abstract
Choledocholithiasis is recognized as a complication after cholecystectomy. The objective of this study was to clarify whether cholangiectasis after cholecystectomy was a risk factor for choledocholithiasis. Subjects were 10 patients who had choledocholithiasis after cholecystectomy, (stone group), and 64 patients who did not have the complication for more than 3 years after cholecystectomy were served as control (control group). The common hepatic bile duct diameter was measured by CT or US before and after the operation and the measurements were compared between both groups. There was no significant difference in the diameter between both groups before the operation. The diameter of the common hepatic bile duct was measured before, one year and more than 3 years after cholecystectomy. The diameter became greater with time in both groups. Specifically, the mean diameter measured one year after the operation was 1.43±0.36 cm in the stone group, versus 0.80±0.19 cm in the control group, with a significant difference (p<0.01). All 7 patients whose diameters were more than 1.3 cm when one year had elapsed after the operation developed choledocholithiasis thereafter. It is considered that cholangiectasis after cholecystectomy is a risk factor for choledocholithiasis, and care must be exercised, if the diameter of the common hepatic bile duct is equal to or more than 1.3 cm after 1 year of the operation.
