From shadow to light: visualization of extrahepatic bile ducts using image-enhanced laparoscopy
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Updated: Apr 30, 2026
Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy with Indocyanine Green Fluorescence: Choledochoscopic Stone Extraction and Primary Duct Suture
Published on: November 25, 2025
Thomas Schnelldorfer1, Roger L Jenkins2, Desmond H Birkett2
1Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, Burlington, MA, USA thomas.schnelldorfer@lahey.org.
Background:
Correct recognition of the extrahepatic bile ducts is thought to be crucial to reduce the risk of bile duct injuries during various laparoscopic procedures. Image-enhanced laparoscopy techniques, utilizing various optical modalities other than white light, may help in detecting structures "hidden" underneath connective tissue.
Methods:
A systematic literature search was conducted of studies describing image-enhanced laparoscopy techniques for visualization of the extrahepatic bile ducts.
Results:
In all, 29 articles met inclusion criteria. They describe various techniques in the animal or human setting, including autofluorescence imaging, drug-enhanced fluorescence imaging, infrared thermography, and spectral imaging. This review describes these various techniques and their results.
Conclusion:
Image-enhanced laparoscopy techniques for real-time visualization of extrahepatic bile ducts are still in its infancy. Out of the techniques currently described, indocyanine green-enhanced near-infrared fluorescence laparoscopy has the most mature results, but other techniques also appear promising. It can be expected that in the future, image-enhanced laparoscopy might become a routine adjunct to any white-light laparoscopic operation near the hepatic hilum.
