Intermediate risk of choledocholithiasis: are we on the right path?

The risk of choledocholithiasis should be assessed in every patient undergoing cholecystectomy to define the next step. The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy proposed a stratified predictor scale of choledocholithiasis. Therefore, we aimed to describe our experience managing patients with an intermediate risk of choledocholithiasis according to the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy guidelines and the actual presence of bile duct stones in magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography.

A retrospective observational study with a prospective database was conducted. The analysis included sociodemographic data, laboratory values, and imaging. Bivariate, multivariate, and receiver operating characteristic analysis were performed.

Three hundred twenty-seven patients had an intermediate risk for choledocholithiasis. Half the patients were at least 65 years old. 24.77% were diagnosed with choledocholithiasis. Bile duct dilation was documented in only 3.06% of cases. Diagnosis of choledocholithiasis is associated with an age odds ratio (OR): 1.87 (P 0.02), alkaline phosphatase OR: 2.44 (P 0.02), and bile duct dilation greater than 6 mm OR: 14.65 (P 0.00).

High variability in the accuracy of imaging techniques results in a large number of patients classified as intermediate risk without choledocholithiasis in cholangioresonance. Therefore, enhancing the criteria to define intermediate risk for patients in order to optimize resources is of paramount importance.