SELECTIVE OPERATIVE CHOLANGIOGRAPHY DURING ELECTIVE CHOLECYSTECTOMY -IS IT USEFUL

Operative cholangiography (IC) represents the most reliable investigat ion for common bile duct stones even during laparoscopic cholecystecto my (CHE). To reduce operating time, safety of selective IC was analyse d in the last 308 consecutive patients undergoing conventional electiv e CHE. Obvious indication for common bile duct investigation excluded, IC was performed only in case of elevated liver function tests (n=83, 26,9%), in 12 cases (14,5%) with positive in 2 cases (2,4%) with fals e positive result. In 255 (73,9%) patients IC was omitted. All patient s were controlled after 4 months: no retained duct stone became eviden t in any case. Selective IC is safe and cuts time.