Intraoperative fiberoptic choledochoscopy for malignant biliary tract obstruction

A prospective study to determine the safety and effectiveness of intraoperative fiberoptic choledochoscopy in the management of malignant obstruction of the biliary tree was conducted in 44 patients. There were 12 patients with cancer of the pancreatic head, 9 with adenocarcinoma of the distal common bile duct, 4 with adenocarcinoma of the ampulla of Vater, 8 with cholangiocarcinoma of the common hepatic duct, 9 with intrahepatic bile duct carcinoma, and 2 with hepatocellular carcinoma. Five patients with intrahepatic bile duct carcinoma and two with hepatocellular carcinoma were found during a search for intrahepatic duct stones in patients with recurrent cholangitis. In nine patients with bile duct carcinoma (seven extrahepatic and two intrahepatic), histopathological diagnosis was made at operative endoscopy. Treatment strategy was altered in seven patients based on findings at operative choledochoscopy. Complications were few with no mortality. Intraoperative fiberoptic choledochoscopy was safe and useful in the management of malignant obstruction of the biliary tree.