[Intraoperative ultrasonographic examination in surgery of the biliary tract]

The diagnostic value of intraoperative ultrasonic examination (IUSE) in surgery on the biliary tract was shown from analysis of the literature and the authors' experience. IUSE in more than 300 patients demonstrated a high resolving power in the diagnosis of choledocholithiasis and the absence of radiation load, allergic reactions and complications. In comparison of IUSE with intraoperative cholangiography in the diagnosis of stones in the gallbladder the total efficacy of the methods was 98.2% and 92.6%, respectively. IUSE has no side effects, is a simpler and cheaper method of examination, and allows goal-oriented removal of stones from the biliary tract. It is shown that with accumulation of experience in IUSE the performance of intraoperative cholangiography can be brought to the minimum.