Intraoperative choledochoscopy: an efficacious adjunct to common duct exploration in calculous biliary tract disease

The authors review their experience with 59 consecutive patients undergoing common duct exploration for calculous biliary tract disease, 33 of whom underwent operative choledochoscopy. It is shown that choledochoscopy is not associated with an increase in the amount of time required to perform cholecystectomy and common duct exploration. It is similarly shown that there is no increase in the incidence of postoperative complications occurring in conjunction with the use of the choledochoscope. Because of the safety of the technique and the subjective satisfaction afforded by its use, the authors, now include choledochoscopy as a routine measure in common duct exploration.