Postoperative Fiberoptic Choledochoscopy

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Abstract
Patients (28) underwent fiberoptic T-tube tract choledochoscopy for the diagnosis, management and treatment of filling defects seen on postoperative T-tube cholangiograms. In 22 patients, 59 retained stones were treated by extraction. In 6 other patients with diagnostic problems arising from cholangiogram defects, the diagnosis was made by direct vision and biopsy specimen examination. There were multiple papillary adenocarcinomas in 1 patient, a malignant stricture in 1 patient, a benign polyp in 1 patient, a normal biliary tree in 1 patient and normal mucosal folds in 2 patients. The procedure was accompanied by a low complication rate, with 2 patients developing pancreatitis and 5 patients developing transient fever. The advantages of the procedure are a direct examination of the biliary tree with the facility to remove stones and biopsy lesions under direct vision.