Abstract
Operative choledochoscopy following cholangiography has been utilized to reduce the incidence of retained stones. However, comparison of choledochoscopy and intraoperative cholangiography has been described in few reports. During a period of 6 years,99 patients underwent bile duct exploration and choledocholithotomy, in whom 10 had suspected retained stones.
Complete removal of bile duct stones was thought to be achieved in 88 pati e n ts and T -tude drain was inserted. In 56 patients, routine intraoperative cholangiography was performed and after the operation ductal stones were found in 10 (18%). In 33 patients, intraoperative choledochoscopy was performed and ductal stones were found in only one (3%).
The result of this study suggests that intraoperative choledochoscopy redu c es the incidence of missed bile duct stones.
