ROUTINE LAPAROSCOPIC ULTRASONOGRAPHY IN BILIARY SURGERY - A PRELIMINARY EXPERIENCE

A new technique of intraoperative imaging of the biliary tract in lapa roscopic cholecystectomy is described. A specifically designed laparos copic ultrasonographic probe is used to obtain both transverse and lon gitudinal views of the entire extrahepatic biliary tract. This techniq ue was successfully used in 28 patients. The ultrasonographic imaging quality achieved equals our experience with intraoperative ultrasonogr aphy in open biliary surgery. It may be assumed, therefore, that the a dvantages of ultrasonography over cholangiography as documented in con ventional open surgery will also apply to laparoscopic operations.