LAPAROSCOPIC ULTRASONOGRAPHY DURING LAPAROSCOPIC CHOLECYSTECTOMY

Background: This study assessed the effectiveness of laparoscopic ultr asonography in demonstrating biliary anatomy, confirming suspected pat hology, and detecting unsuspected pathology, Methods: Laparoscopic ult rasonography was performed on 48 patients (17 M:31 M) who underwent la paroscopic cholecystectomy, An Aloka 7.5-MHz linear laparoscopic ultra sound transducer was used for scanning. Results: Gallbladder stones we re confirmed by laparoscopic ultrasonography in all patients and unsus pected pathology was found in five patients. Two patients were found t o have common bile duct stones by laparoscopic ultrasonography and thi s was confirmed by laparoscopic cholangiography. Laparoscopic ultrasou nd was found to be helpful during dissection in four patients, particu larly in a patient with Mirizzi syndrome. The entire common bile duct was visualized by laparoscopic ultrasonography in 40 patients but was poorly seen in eight patients, The mean time taken for the examination was 9 min (range 4-18 min), Conclusion: Laparoscopic ultrasound is us eful during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.