Laparoscopic cholecystectomy with operative cholangiogram

Intraoperative cholangiography was successfully performed in 99% of 525 consecutive laparoscopic cholecystectomies. There were 386 chronic, 54 acute, 44 fibrotic, 19 gangrenous, and 22 hydrops cases. Unsuspected common duct stones were identified in 5% of patients. Routine cholangiography to clarify the biliary anatomy, however, was of greater significance than the discovery of unsuspected common duct stones.