[The importance of sonography before laparoscopic cholecystectomy]

The increasing use of minimally invasive techniques for the treatment of symptomatic cholecystitis requires exact preoperative diagnosis. The significant sonographic findings are stones in the biliary system or indirect evidence of stones, consisting in dilatation of the bile duct to more than 10 mm, as well as free mobility of the abdominal wall to exclude peri-umbilical adhesions. Amongst 100 patients who had laparoscopic cholecystectomies there were 7 with bile ducts wider than 10 mm. In two of these cases calculi could also be demonstrated. ERCP was performed on the remaining five and in 3 of these stones were seen. Peri-umbilical adhesions were seen in 6 Patients, resulting in alternative placing of the incision. The sonographic findings which are of relevance to the surgeon were analysed in these 100 cases. A standardised examination protocol is an important feature for proper patient selection.