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Updated: Jul 12, 2026
Laparoscopic Common Bile Duct Exploration Followed by Primary Suture Using a Modified Bile Duct Incision
Published on: May 2, 2025
[Bile duct diameter before and 12 years after cholecystectomy]
Paula Csendes G1, Attila Csendes J, Ana María Burgos L
1Departamentos de Radiología, Hospital Clínico de la Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
Background:
Surgeons and radiologists commonly believe that common bile duct dilates after cholecystectomy.
Aim:
To measure common bile tract diameter before and 12 years after a cholecystectomy for cholelithiasis.
Material And Methods:
Prospective study of 85 patients (aged 20 to 71 years, 68 females) subjected to a cholecystectomy and followed for 12 years. AH were asymptomatic and had abdominal ultrasound to measure common bile duct diameter, seven days before and 12 years after the surgical procedure.
Results:
Common bile duct diameter before and 12 years after surgery was 4.6+0.9 and 5.0+1.8 cm respectively (p=NS) among 69 patients aged inverted exclamation markess than 60 years. The figures for 16 patients aged more than 60 years were 5+0.8 and 6.7+1.9 (p <0.03).
Conclusions:
Among patients below 60 years of age there is no significant change in bile duct diameter 12 years after surgery. In subjects over 60 years of age there is a significant increase in this diameter.
