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PubMed1999

Choledocholithiasis: endoscopic versus laparoscopic management.

Choledocholithiasis is present in 6 to 10 per cent of patients who have cholelithiasis. In the era of laparoscopic cholecystectomy, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography with endoscopic retrograde sphincterotomy (ERCP/ERS) and laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LSCBDE) have been used to treat choledocholithiasis. The purpose of this study is to compare ERCP/ERS with LSCBDE. A retrospective review of 913 patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy identified 61 patients who had ERCP/ERS or LSCBDE to treat choledocholithiasis at a community medical center between 1990 and 1996. Outcome parameters were hospital length of stay (LOS), hospital cost, and complications. The results were: ERCP (n=26; LOS, 5.0+/-3.6 days; cost, $11,823+/-$7,000; complications, 23.1%); LSCBDE (n=35; LOS, 3.4+/-2.4 days; cost, $9,100+/-$2,884; complications, 2.9%); and P value (LOS, 0.028; cost, 0.066; complications, 0.034). LSCBDE results in a significantly shorter LOS and significantly fewer complications, and is less costly than ERCP/ERS. LSCBDE, when feasible, should be considered the gold standard for the management of choledocholithiasis.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Choledocholithiasis: repetitive thick-slab single-shot projection magnetic resonance cholangiopancreaticography versus endoscopic ultrasonography.

This prospective study compares repetitive thick-slab single-shot projection magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) with endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) for the detection of choledocholithiasis. Fifty-seven consecutive patients (36 women, mean age 61) referred for suspected choledocholithiasis underwent MRCP, followed by EUS. Each procedure was performed by different operators blinded to the results of the other investigation. MR technique included a turbo spin-echo T2-weighted axial sequence with selective fat saturation (SPIR/TSE, TE=70 ms, TR=1,600 ms), followed by coronal dynamic MRCP. The same thick-slab slice was sequentially acquired 12 times as breath-hold single-shot projection imaging (SSh, TE=900 ms, TE=8,000 ms) centred on the common bile duct (CBD). Two experienced radiologists independently and blindly evaluated MR images for the detection of CBD stones. Their inter-observer agreement kappa was determined. Secondly, the two observers read MR images in consensus again. CBD stones were demonstrated in 18 out of 57 patients (31.6 %) and confirmed by endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERCP, n=17) or intraoperative cholangiography (n=1). Clinical follow-up served as the "gold standard" in patients with negative results without following invasive procedure (n=28). Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive and negative predictive value for MRCP resulting from consensus reading were 94.9%, 94.4%, 94.7%, 97.4% and 89.5%, respectively. Corresponding values of EUS were 97.4%, 94.4%, 96.5%, 97.4% and 94.4%. Inter-observer agreement kappa was 0.81. Repetitive thick-slab single-shot projection MRCP is an accurate non-invasive imaging modality for suspected choledocholithiasis and should be increasingly used to select those patients who require a subsequent therapeutic procedure, namely ERCP.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Surgical treatment of cholelithiasis and choledocholithiasis in a 2-month-old premature and low birth weight infant.

Detection rates of cholelithiasis and choledocholithiasis in infants and children have increased since the introduction of ultrasonography, and surgical treatment is gradually tending to increase. However, for cholelithiasis and choledocholithiasis, controversies over etiology, diagnostic means, operation time, and operating method remain. Using ultrasonogram and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP), we diagnosed cholelithiasis and choledocholithiasis in a premature and low birth weight infant who was admitted to the hospital with complaints of obstructive jaundice and alcoholic feces. We report the successful treatment of this infant by cholecystectomy and T-tube drainage.

Cholecystectomy↗
PubMed2004

Percutaneous transhepatic papillary balloon dilation as a therapeutic option for choledocholithiasis.

BACKGROUND: For choledocholithiasis, endoscopic therapy, including endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) or endoscopic papillary balloon dilation (EPBD), is now standard. However, the procedure of endoscopic therapy is very complicated and sometimes incomplete for reasons of anatomical anomalies. Therefore, we started performing percutaneous transhepatic papillary balloon dilations (PTPBD) instead of endoscopic therapy for choledocholithiasis 1 year ago for some selected patients. We report our technical methods of PTPBD. METHODS: First, percutaneous transhepatic cholangiodrainage (PTCD) was performed under ultrasound guidance. Via the drainage route, the balloon catheter was inserted until the common bile duct was reached. Then, cholangiography was performed and the stones were identified. The balloon was maintained in the inflated state with 4 ml air at the papilla of Vater for 3 min. Next, the stones were pushed out rapidly into the duodenum with the same balloon catheter. If the stone diameter was larger than 8 mm, then basket lithotripsy was performed before balloon dilation. RESULTS: Five patients underwent PTPBDs. The bile duct stones were successfully pushed out into the duodenum in all patients. The first three patients required two sessions for complete stone clearance due to technical problems; however, the last two patients needed only one session. There were no deaths and no complications. CONCLUSIONS: We recommend that PTPBD might be a feasible and alternative therapeutic option for choledocholithiasis.

Catheterization↗
PubMed2005

Placement of a double-pigtail ERBD tube after primary closure of the common bile duct in three patients with choledocholithiasis.

We devised a procedure for the placement of a double-pigtail endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage (ERBD) tube as an alternative to the placement of a T-tube. We used the procedure, after primary closure of the common bile duct, in three patients undergoing surgery for choledocholithiasis. All three patients were in their eighties, and all were diagnosed with cholecystolithiasis and choledocholithiasis. In all three, there were concerns about possible complications with the use of a T-tube. Two of the patients were senile and were thought to be likely to pull out the tube, and incomplete fistulation was considered possible in the third patient. Thus, there was an increased risk of bile peritonitis in all three patients. Placement of the ERBD tube was successful in all three patients, and there were no postoperative complications. The hospital stay was a few weeks shorter than the usual stay with the placement of a T-tube. We conclude that primary closure of the common bile duct with the placement of a double-pigtail ERBD tube is clinically safe and advantageous for choledocholithiasis patients with senile dementia and for patients with possible incomplete fistulation.

Aged, 80 and over↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Management of choledocholithiasis].

Choledocholithiasis is a not uncommon and potentially grave condition which requires a well-adapted approach. Echo endoscopy and biliary MRI have improved the ability to make the diagnosis non-invasively, but intraoperative cholangiography remains the most accurate study. A surgical approach permits simultaneous treatment of both choledocholithiasis and the associated cholecystolithiasis; laparoscopic common duct exploration has been more frequently performed through a laparoscopic approach in recent years, but this procedure requires specific equipment and surgical experience. In most circumstances, surgery should be preferred to endoscopic clearance of the common duct, but endoscopy may be preferred in the setting of severe cholangitis or pancreatitis. The importance of a systematic search for asymptomatic choledocholithiasis is once again emphasized.

Cholangitis↗
PubMed2006

Two-stage treatment with preoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) compared with single-stage treatment with intraoperative ERCP for patients with symptomatic cholelithiasis with possible choledocholithiasis.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: An ideal treatment for choledocholithiasis in the laparoscopic era has not been established. The objective of this study was to elucidate whether a treatment strategy of performing intraoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) during laparascopic cholecystectomy (when choledocholithiasis is confirmed by intraoperative cholangiography) is better for patients with suspected common bile duct stones than the current strategy (preoperative ERCP followed by laparoscopic cholecystectomy). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a prospective randomized study to evaluate which of these two approaches was most benefit- and cost-effective for patients with intermediate risk of choledocholithiasis. Patients underwent either preoperative ERCP followed by a laparoscopic cholecystectomy a few weeks later (the "preoperative ERCP" group) or intraoperative ERCP (the "intraoperative ERCP" group). Intraoperative ERCP was performed using the rendezvous technique. RESULTS: There were 64 patients in the preoperative ERCP group and 59 patients in the intraoperative ERCP group. The demographic and clinical characteristics of the two groups were similar, except that the bilirubin and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels and the number of patients treated on an inpatient basis were higher in the preoperative ERCP group. Success rates were similar (96.6 % in the preoperative ERCP group vs. 90.2 % in the intraoperative ERCP group in the per-protocol study). Total morbidity, post-ERCP morbidity, and post-ERCP acute pancreatitis rates were higher in the preoperative ERCP group, but there were no differences between the two groups in the frequency of residual common bile duct stones, the conversion rate to open cholecystectomy, or surgical morbidity. The length of hospital stay and costs were lower in the intraoperative ERCP group despite the longer surgical times in this group. Univariate analysis did not find any relationship between morbidity and total bilirubin or GGT. Logistic regression analysis confirmed that morbidity was related only to the treatment group and the time spent in the operating room: the relative risk (RR) was 4.37 for morbidity and 1.015 for the time spent in the operating room); the RR for papillotomy was 5.49. CONCLUSIONS: Both treatment approaches were equally effective but the intraoperative ERCP group had less morbidity, a shorter hospital stay, and reduced costs. The lower morbidity in the intraoperative ERCP group resulted from the lower rate of papillotomy and lower rates of post-ERCP pancreatitis and cholecystitis. Total morbidity was principally related to the type of treatment approach used.

Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde↗
PubMed2006

Impact of the operator's experience on value of high-resolution transabdominal ultrasound in the diagnosis of choledocholithiasis: a prospective comparison using endoscopic retrograde cholangiography as the gold standard.

OBJECTIVE: Transabdominal ultrasound (US) is the most frequently used imaging method for the diagnosis of choledocholithiasis. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of high-resolution US in the diagnosis of common bile duct stones depending on the operator's experience and in comparison with endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC) as the gold standard. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From April 2003 through November 2004, 126 patients referred because of clinically and biochemically suspected common bile duct stones were included in the study. Two patients were excluded because they refused to undergo ERC. Consequently, the study comprised 124 patients (86 F, 38 M, mean age 63.2 years, range 21-91 years). High-resolution US was performed (2-5 MHz sector scanner; Siemens Elegra, Erlangen, Germany) by operators who were unaware of the results of other imaging procedures. The definitive diagnosis was established by means of ERC. RESULTS: Thirty-five out of 124 patients were investigated by experienced examiners. Twenty-seven of 35 patients (77%) were found to have stones at ERC. Bile duct stones were correctly found by US in 22 out of 27 patients (sensitivity 82%, 95% CI: 63-92). Of the 8 patients without stones at ERC, one false-positive diagnosis was made with US (specificity 88%, 95% CI: 53-98). Correct diagnoses were made in 29 out of 35 (accuracy 83%, 95% CI: 67-92) patients investigated by experienced examiners. Eighty-nine out of 124 patients were investigated by less-experienced examiners. Fifty-four of 89 patients (61%) were found to have stones at ERC. Choledocholithiasis was found correctly in only 25 out of 54 patients (sensitivity 46%, 95% CI: 34-59). Of the 35 patients without stones at ERC, three false-positive diagnoses were made with US (specificity 91%, 95% CI: 78-97). In conclusion, correct diagnoses were observed in 57 of 89 patients (accuracy 64%, 95% CI: 54-73) investigated by less-experienced examiners (p<0.05 in comparison with the results of experienced examiners). CONCLUSIONS: High-resolution US carried out by experienced examiners has a high diagnostic accuracy in the diagnosis of choledocholithiasis. Therefore, good training and continued experience are prerequisites for successful sonographic detection of bile duct stones using US. Under these conditions, further expensive and invasive methods such as ERC, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography and endoscopic ultrasonography may not be necessary in cases with a clear sonographic diagnosis.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Laparoscopic common bile duct exploration with T-tube choledochotomy for the management of choledocholithiasis.

Although laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) has become the gold standard for the management of gallstone disease, the application of laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LCBDE) for choledocholithiasis has been slower. The aim of this study is to determine the feasibility and effectiveness of LCBDE. A retrospective cohort study was conducted to compare LCBDE (n = 82) with conventional common bile duct exploration (CCBDE) (n = 75) and endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) (n = 80) in the management of choledocholithiasis. All our LCBDEs were performed through choledochotomy with T-tube placement. The mean operative time of the LCBDE group (124 +/- 48 minutes) was not significantly longer then the CCBDE group (118 +/- 35 minutes), while the postoperative hospitalization was shorter in both the LCBDE (8 +/- 5 days) and EST (9 +/- 4 days) groups than in the CCBDE (13 +/- 6 days) group. In the LCBDE group, 14 patients (17.1%) required postoperative choledochoscopy to clear residual stones through the T-tube tract. The only mortality occurred in the CCBDE group. The morbidity rate was 3.7% (3/82) in the LCBDE group, including bile leakage in 1 case and bile peritonitis in 2 cases; 6.7% (5/75) in the CCBDE group, including atlectasis in 2 cases, sepsis in 1, and wound infection in 2. There were 2 cases of postoperative pancreatitis (2.5%; 2/80) in the EST group. The difference in the average number of sessions needed for complete clearance of choledocholithiasis in each group was statistically significant (EST, 1.46 +/- 0.67; LCBDE, 1.23 +/- 0.42; and CCBDE, 1.09 +/- 0.28; P < 0.0001). Our results suggested that EST and LCBDE tended to require more therapeutic sessions then CCBDE, although these sessions were less invasive. The benefits of LCBDE include minimal invasiveness, concurrent treatment of gallbladder stone and CBD stones in a single session, and a shorter postoperative hospital stay. However a longer learning curve is needed. Selection of the most suitable therapeutic option for individual patients by an experienced surgeon gives the most benefits to patients.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Limitations of fluoroscopic intraoperative cholangiography in cases suggestive of choledocholithiasis.

BACKGROUND: Fluoroscopic intraoperative cholangiography (IOC) has been proposed as a safe and accurate screening method for choledocholithiasis, with a sensitivity and specificity of nearly 100% in selected cases. In the present study we retrospectively reviewed the diagnostic accuracy of IOC in cases highly suggestive of choledocholithiasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 1999 and December 2002, 103 patients underwent IOC as an imaging method for common bile duct (CBD) stone detection. We did not routinely perform IOC in all patients who were submitted to laparoscopic cholecystectomy, reserving the method for patients with a high probability of choledocholithiasis, namely patients with a history or the presence of painful obstructive jaundice at the time of referral, patients with a history of mild acute pancreatitis of biliary origin, and patients with abnormalities in their liver biochemistry profile as measured by liver function tests (LFT). RESULTS: The mean rates of sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) for IOC were 98%, 94%, 94.5%, and 98% for the whole series, respectively. The diagnostic accuracy was 100% in patients with a history of obstructive jaundice or liver biochemical derangement, but was less in patients with a history of biliary pancreatitis. There were 3 false positive cases and 1 case of false negative results, all of which occurred in the subgroup of patients with a history of pancreatitis. CONCLUSION: Selective fluoroscopic IOC is generally feasible and safe, as well as highly accurate (100%) for CBD stone detection in patients with obstructive jaundice or abnormal LFT. The PPV of the method decreases in patients with a history of pancreatitis (75%), while a negative result is highly suggestive of the absence of CBD stones (NPV = 98%). The present study concluded in a higher incidence of false results in patients with a normal size CBD, suggesting that the diagnostic accuracy of IOC is probably related to the size of the CBD rather than the indication for its performance.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Endoscopic sphincterotomy with or without cholecystectomy for choledocholithiasis in high-risk surgical patients: a decision analysis.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is recommended for patients with choledocholithiasis after ERCP with sphincterotomy (ES) and stone extraction. AIM: We designed a decision model to address whether ES alone versus ES followed by LC (ES + LC) is the optimal treatment in high-risk patients with choledocholithiasis. METHODS: Our cohort were patients with obstructive jaundice who have undergone an ES with biliary clearance. Recurrent biliary complications over a 2-year period stratified by gallbladder status (in/out) and age-stratified surgical complication rates were obtained from the literature. Failure of therapy was defined as either recurrent symptoms or death attributed to biliary complications. RESULTS: For age 70-79 years, ES failed in 15% whereas ES + LC failed in 17% of cases. Mortality in the EC + LC group was 3.4 times that of the ES alone cohort. For age 80+ years, ES was dominant with an incremental success rate of 8%. Mortality in the ES + LC was 7.6 times that of ES. For age <70, ES + LC was the dominant strategy with an incremental success rate 5%. Sensitivity analysis in the groups confirmed our conclusions. CONCLUSIONS: Management of choledocholithiasis by ES and stone clearance, but without cholecystectomy, should be considered for patients aged 70+. For low-risk patients, ES + LC should be performed to prevent recurrent biliary complications.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Endoscopic retreatment of recurrent choledocholithiasis after sphincterotomy.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) carries a substantial risk of recurrent choledocholithiasis but retreatment with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is safe and feasible. However, long term results of repeat ERCP and risk factors for late complications are largely unknown. AIMS: To investigate the long term outcome of repeat ERCP for recurrent bile duct stones after ES and to identify risk factors predicting late choledochal complications. METHODS: Eighty four patients underwent repeat ERCP, combined with ES in 69, for post-ES recurrent choledocholithiasis. Long term outcomes of repeat ERCP were retrospectively investigated and factors predicting late complications were assessed by multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Complete stone clearance was achieved in all patients. Forty nine patients had no visible evidence of prior sphincterotomy. Two patients experienced early complications. During a follow up period of 2.2-26.0 years (median 10.9 years), 31 patients (37%) developed late complications, including stone recurrence (n = 26), acute acalculous cholangitis(n = 4), and acute cholecystitis (n = 1). There were neither biliary malignancies nor deaths attributable to biliary disease. Multivariate analysis identified three independent risk factors for choledochal complications: interval between initial ES and repeat ERCP < or =5 years, bile duct diameter > or =15 mm, and periampullary diverticulum. Choledochal complications were successfully treated with repeat ERCP in 29 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Choledochal complications after repeat ERCP are relatively frequent but are endoscopically manageable. Careful follow up is necessary, particularly for patients with a dilated bile duct, periampullary diverticulum, or early recurrence. Repeat ERCP is a reasonable treatment even for recurrent choledocholithiasis after ES.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Endoscopic sphincterotomy or papillary balloon dilatation for choledocholithiasis.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the safety and effect of endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) and endoscopic papillary balloon dilatation (EPBD) for choledocholithiasis. METHODS: 328 patients with choledocholithiasis were subjected to EST or EPBD; they included 174 patients with single stone, 112 patients with two stones and 42 patients with three stones (one patient with 20 stones). Patients with stones less than 10 mm in diameter underwent EPBD and those with stones larger than 11 mm in diameter underwent EST. RESULTS: EST and EPBD succeeded in 323 patients (98.5%), and failed in 5. Stones in 98 patients were excluded spontaneously after endoscopic therapy. 207 patients were subjected to basket or balloon stone extraction. Stones in 14 patients were discharged by basket lithotripsy. Four patients were given wave lithotripsy. Stones in 22 of the 323 patients were extracted thoroughly after 2-3 times attempts. Total complications were noted in 2.5% of the patients. Hemorrhage from the gastrointestinal tract was seen in one patient, cholangitis in 4 patients, and pancreatitis in 3 patients. In 92 patients receiving digestive tract barium X-ray examination, 86 developed no barium reflux to the baliary tract, 2 pneumobilia, 4 barium reflux to the biliary tract. CONCLUSION: EST and EPBD are relatively safe and effective in treatment of choledocholithiasis, and have few complications.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

[Duodenal diverticula and choledocholithiasis in own material].

The detectability of duodenal diverticula (DD), a common duodenal pathology, has been growing with the increasing availability of endoscopic examinations, and especially of endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography (ERCP). The study is a retrospective analysis of incidence rates of DD and accompanying diseases of bile ducts, liver and pancreas detected by ERCP. We performed 8642 ERCP examinations between 1974 and 2001, which detected DD in 622 (7.2%) patients. Of these, 409 (65.8%) had choledocholithiasis, and 97 (15.6%) liver, gallbladder, bile ducts or pancreatic cancer. In the remaining 106 (17.0%) patients no pathologies requiring surgical intervention were found by radiological examination of bile ducts and pancreatic duct. In 10 (1.6%) patients with DD, caniulation of Vater papilla was not performed due to its anatomical location. Obtained results confirm relationship between DD and choledocholithiasis. It has not been established whether DD predispose to choledocholithiasis by interfering with bile duct emptying and causing bile lithogenicity, or rather that duodenal diverticula are caused by a concrement moved to duodenum by contractions of the gallbladder or sphincter of Oddi.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Prospective evaluation in 121 consecutive unselected patients undergoing laparoscopic treatment of choledocholithiasis.

Laparoscopic common bile duct (CBD) exploration was attempted in 115 of 121 consecutive unselected patients with choledocholithiasis (mean age 69 (range 21-92) years) found during routine intraoperative cholangiography. The CBD was successfully cleared of all stones in 100 patients (87 per cent). Ten of 11 patients referred for surgery after failure of endoscopic sphincterotomy had complete laparoscopic choledocholithiasis. Eleven patients (10 per cent) required conversion to open CBD exploration, and laparoscopic exploration was not attempted in six (5 per cent) because of inflammation or fibrosis. Postoperative endoscopic sphincterotomy was required in four patients (4 per cent) for retained stones after laparoscopic exploration. There were no postoperative deaths (39 per cent of patients were aged 75 years or more). Routine intraoperative cholangiography, and when required laparoscopic CBD exploration, should be compared in randomized trials with preoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiography in patients with suspected choledocholithiasis.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy combined with endoscopic sphincterotomy and stone extraction or laparoscopic choledochoscopy and electrohydraulic lithotripsy for management of cholelithiasis with choledocholithiasis.

Six hundred twenty-two laparoscopic cholecystectomies were performed at St. Vincent Hospital over a 14-month period. We reviewed the records of 366 of these patients who were referred to the authors. Thirty-six patients had suspected choledocholithiasis. The primary author (M.E.A.) performed 38 endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCPs) on these patients for diagnosis and management. Seventeen of the 36 patients had common bile duct stones; 19 patients had negative studies. Of the 17 patients with choledocholithiasis, 15 had successful cannulation of the common bile duct, and, of these, 10 underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy plus endoscopic sphincterotomy and extraction of the common duct stone(s). In one high-risk elderly patient, we extracted the stone from the common duct and left the gallbladder in situ. Two patients failed endoscopic cannulation and underwent open cholecystectomy with common bile duct exploration. Four additional patients, cannulated successfully, had unsuccessful endoscopic stone removal because the stones were too large or were impacted. Two of these patients underwent open cholecystectomy and common duct exploration. The two other patients underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy and choledochoscopy through the cystic duct with the flexible choledochoscope. An electrohydraulic lithotripsy probe was then inserted through the choledochoscope to fragment the stones, and stone fragments were allowed to pass through the previously created sphincterotomy. We believe our data, supported by data in the literature, show that these alternative methods for treating choledocholithiasis are safe and effective and should be considered primary modalities for treating this condition now that laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the treatment of choice for cholelithiasis.

Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde↗
PubMed1986

Ultrasound detection of choledocholithiasis: prospective comparison with ERCP in the postcholecystectomy patient.

The role of ultrasound as a screening test for choledocholithiasis was prospectively assessed by comparing the results of upper abdominal ultrasound with direct cholangiography in 59 unselected symptomatic postcholecystectomy patients. Ultrasound detected duct stones in 13 of 29 patients (sensitivity, 45%) and their absence in 29 of 30 (specificity, 97%). A positive ultrasound diagnosis of choledocholithiasis was correct 13 times out of 14 (predictive value, 93%) whereas a negative diagnosis was correct on only 29 of 45 occasions (predictive value, 64%). No significant learning effect was seen. Intestinal gas obscuring the distal common duct was the most important factor limiting the ability of ultrasound to detect duct stones. Duct stones were present in 25 of 35 patients shown to have a dilated common duct on ultrasound, and in 4 of 24 with nondilated ducts; the predictive value of duct dilatation at ultrasound for duct stones was therefore 71% and that of nondilatation in excluding stones was 83%. Dilated intrahepatic bile ducts were demonstrated at ultrasound in only 17% of patients with choledocholithiasis. We conclude that ultrasound cannot reliably diagnose or exclude bile duct stones and is an inadequate screening test for the symptomatic postcholecystectomy patient.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Helical CT without contrast in choledocholithiasis diagnosis.

The goal of this study was to determine the diagnostic value of the helical CT without contrast in suspected cases of choledocholithiasis, comparing this test with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Forty patients with possible choledocholithiasis were studied prospectively. There were 23 women and 17 men, ranging in age from 24 to 91 years. Helical CT was performed immediately before ERCP (time interval between the two procedures was less than 1 h). A biliary area previously selected was studied with a technique of pitch 1 and slice thickness of 3.2 mm. Average time was 30 s. Reconstruction with different increments and windows were made. Stone presence was evaluated in bile duct and Vater's ampulla. Biliary dilation was evaluated too. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography found stones in 19 patients and absence of stones in 20. One case was failed, but stones in bile duct were demonstrated during intraoperative cholangiography. Helical CT demonstrated stones in 15 of the 19 patients with positive ERCP. There were no false positives with CT. Patients without stones in ERCP were also negative in CT. The patient having the failed ERCP was considered positive in CT. The CT sensitivity was 80% and specificity was 100%, with an accuracy of 90%. Helical CT without contrast has sensitivity and specificity good enough to be used as a screening technique in patients with suspected choledocholithiasis.

Adult↗