Low incidence of retained common bile duct stones using a selective policy of biliary imaging

Biliary imaging has decreased since the advent of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. This study aimed to examine the incidence of retained common bile duct (CBD) stones, using a selective policy of biliary imaging.

A prospective computerised database was used to study patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy by one surgeon over 36 months. Two hundred and thirty-five patients (191 female, 44 male) were operated on. Ages ranged from 15 to 82 years (mean 47 years). Follow-up periods ranged from six to 39 months (mean 23.3 months). Selection for pre-operative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopacreatogram (ERCP), intraoperative cholangiography (IOC) or neither depended on liver function tests (LFTs) and CBD diameter on ultrasound prior to surgery. If LFTs were persistently raised and/or the CBD was dilated on ultrasound, patients underwent pre-operative ERCP. If LFTs were raised, and returned to normal promptly, IOC was performed.

Of 235 patients, 26 had pre-operative ERCP, 62 had IOC and 157 had neither. Ten patients had both ERCP and IOC. To date, one patient (0.43%) has radiologically-proven unsuspected retained CBD stones; these were successfully treated with ERCP.

Selective biliary imaging in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy is safe. This process identifies the majority of patients with ductal calculi and minimises the need for unnecessary ERCP and peroperative cholangiography.