Preoperative cholangiography Karachi experience

The results of preoperative Cholangiography [P C] were evaluated at six centres in Karachi. In four centres P.C. was done routinely. Pooled results showed that 14.8% of 222 cases had such exploration and 12.1% yielded stones. In two other centres P.C was employed selectively for cases with a 'relative' clinical indication for duct exploration, pooled results showed that 16.6% of 253 cases had ducts explored and the positive yield was 12.3%. As compared with the results of duct exploration on clinical ground alone, a practice in one of the centres [prior to employing routine P C] it was found that rate of stone retrieval from ducts explored on the basis of P C was much higher