ULTRASONIC INDICATIONS TO EXPLORE THE COMMON BILE-DUCT

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 91  (3) , 268-274
Abstract
A prospective comparison between operative cholangiography and operative choledochosonography as made in 100 patients with cholelithiasis and potential choledocholithiasis. Thirty-one common bile ducts were explored and 25 of them contained stones. Operative cholangiography was attempted in every case, but technical difficulties prevented examination of 12 common bile ducts, 2 of which contained stones. Both of these stones were detected by operative ultrasonography. Of the remaining 88 ducts, the sensitivity of the operative cholangiogram was 96% and the specificity 96%. Operative ultrasonography was performed for all 100 patients, with a sensitivity of 96% and a specificity of 93%. The ultrasonic findings of a sonically dense particle, shadowing, dilatation of the duct and the persistence and meniscus signs are described with their relative incidence in the 100 patients. The time required for choledochosonography (3-5 min) compared favorably with the time needed for operative cholangiography (10-15 min). Operative bile duct scanning is a rapid, reliable technique for detecting the presence of choledocholithiasis at the time of routine cholecystectomy.

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