Choledochoscopy in surgery for choledocholithiasis. Six year experience in 380 consecutive patients

Area of Science:

• Surgical Innovation
• Gastroenterology
• Biliary Tract Surgery

Background:

• Choledochoscopy is an emerging technique in the surgical management of biliary tract diseases.
• Minimally invasive approaches are increasingly favored to improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy and practicality of routine intraoperative choledochoscopy in common bile duct exploration.
• To assess the impact of choledochoscopy on operative procedure simplification and retained stone rates.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of routine intraoperative biliary endoscopy during common bile duct exploration procedures.
• Assessment of procedure simplicity, ease of performance, and need for specialized training.
• Evaluation of the impact on retained stone rates post-operatively.

Main Results:

• Choledochoscopy significantly simplifies the operative procedure for common bile duct exploration.
• The use of choledochoscopy leads to a decreased rate of retained stones.
• The procedure is straightforward to perform, requiring no specialized training and proving cost-effective.

Conclusions:

• Routine intraoperative biliary endoscopy is a valuable advancement in biliary surgery.
• Its simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and effectiveness in reducing retained stones support its widespread adoption.
• Recommendation for routine intraoperative biliary endoscopy in all patients undergoing common bile duct exploration.