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

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.