Role of intraoperative cholangiography for detecting residual stones after biliary pancreatitis: still useful? A retrospective study

Abstract

Abstract Background Intraoperative cholangiography (IOC) may detect residual stones in the common bile duct (CBD) after acute biliary pancreatitis (ABP). The aim of the present study is to analyze the utility of IOC in detecting residual stones in patients undergoing cholecystectomy for ABP and if complications are related with this procedure. Methods Demographic and clinical factors were assessed in patients with mild ABP who underwent IOC during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Factors assessed included preoperative size of the CBD on ultrasonography, presence of stones in the gallbladder and the CBD, and IOC results. For the statistical analysis, χ 2 or Fisher’s exact tests to compare proportions and the nonparametric Mann–Whitney U test for analysis of values with abnormal distribution were used. Results The study included 113 patients, 82 males (72.6%) and 31 females (27.4%), of mean age 46.9 ± 14.7 years (range 18–86 years). All preoperative laboratory indicators were elevated. The group of the patients with stones in the CBD diagnosed by IOC was divided in patients with diameters 0.001). Conclusions IOC is useful to diagnose residual CBD stones, without increasing complications related to the procedure itself.

Keywords

• Acute biliary pancreatitis
• Intraoperative cholangiography
• Common bile duct
• Laparoscopic cholecystectomy
• Intraoperative common bile duct exploration