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.