J Korean Surg Soc.  1999 Jan;56(1):106-111.

The Role of Operative Choledochoscopy in the Treatment of Intrahepatic Duct Stone

• Han HS
• Kim YW
• Choi YM

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Choledochoscopy has been widely used to remove residual intrahepatic duct stones postoperatively. Intraoperative use of choledochoscopy may be useful in the assessment of the intrahepatic biliary tree and the removal of stones. The aim of this study was to clarify the role of intraoperative choledochoscopy and its effectiveness in reducing the rate of residual stones.
METHODS
We divided the 73 patients with intrahepatic duct stone into two groups by two periods. In the first period, operative choledochoscopy was not used, 43 patients, during the operation, and in latter period, operative choledochoscopy was used, 30 patients.
RESULTS
The rate of residual stones was 51.2% for the group in which operative choledochoscopy was not used, but in the group in which choledochoscopy was used, the rate was 33.3%.
CONCLUSION
Choledochoscopy is useful in reducing the rate of residual stones by providing direct visualization of the biliary tree and the stones during operation.

Keyword

Operative choledochoscopy; Intrahepatic duct stone

MeSH Terms

Biliary Tract
Humans