Biliary surgery for benign disease a study of 500 consecutive operations

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Hepatobiliary Surgery

Background:

• Benign biliary tract diseases necessitate surgical intervention.
• Understanding the incidence and management of common bile duct stones is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze outcomes of 500 biliary tract operations for benign disease over five years.
• To evaluate the incidence of choledocholithiasis and common bile duct exploration.
• To assess the impact of operative cholangiography on surgical outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 500 consecutive biliary tract operations.
• Data collection on patient demographics, procedures, and outcomes.
• Assessment of choledocholithiasis incidence and re-exploration rates.

Main Results:

• 15.2% incidence of choledocholithiasis, higher in elderly patients.
• Common bile duct exploration increased with age.
• Operative cholangiography use rose but did not alter exploration or choledocholithiasis rates.
• Re-exploration for retained calculi in 0.8% of patients.
• Overall operative mortality was 0.6%.

Conclusions:

• Choledocholithiasis is a significant finding in benign biliary tract surgery, especially in older patients.
• While operative cholangiography use increased, its impact on common bile duct exploration and stone detection requires further investigation.
• The study demonstrates a low rate of retained calculi and overall operative mortality.