Effect of cholecystectomy on common bile duct diameters: a longitudinal prospective ultrasonographic study

The medium-term effect of cholecystectomy on common bile duct diameters (CBD) was investigated prospectively in 64 patients with gallstone disease examined by ultrasonography immediately before and 27 months to 39 months after the operation. In 32 patients with chronic cholecystitis and patent cystic ducts, CBD diameters increased slightly (median 4.6 mm pre- and 5.3 mm postoperatively; p less than 0.05). A group of 19 patients with acute cholecystitis or cystic duct occlusion showed a significant decrease (median 7.7 mm pre- and 5.5 mm postoperatively; p less than 0.05). In 13 patients with common bile duct stones, the CBD diameters also decreased significantly after surgical intervention (median 7.5 mm pre- and 5.0 mm postoperatively; p less than 0.05). The widest CBD diameter after cholecystectomy observed in this study was 10 mm. We conclude that either increases or decreases of the CBD diameters may occur after cholecystectomy in patients with calculous gallbladder disease, and that the postoperative evolution is governed by the exact nature of the underlying biliary disease at the time of the index operation.