During a seven month period ninety consecutive patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy underwent laparoscopic ultrasound, and in 81 patients intraoperative cholangiography was possible. Laparoscopic ultrasonography was performed through the umbilical and epigastric trocars, without duodenal mobilization and after the routine cholangiography. Laparoscopic ultrasound detected common bile duct stones in 11 patients (12.2%), while only six patients (6.6%) had this diagnostic prior to surgery. Cholangiography detected common bile duct stones in 8.8% of cases. Laparoscopic ultrasonography is probably more sensitive than cholangiography for demonstrating intraluminal common bile duct stones or sludge and can be performed more rapidly and at less costs than cholangiography. However ductal anomalies may not be as readly visualized. The most important advantage is the possibility of unlimited repetition. Laparoscopic ultrasonography performed by experienced surgeons is a good and effective method to assess the common bile duct, includind the neighboring structures of hepatoduodenal ligament. During laparoscopic cholecystectomy, ultrasonography is a simple and efficient technique, provinding good detection of biliary stones.
Intraoperative ultrasound; Laparoscopy; Common bile duct stones; lntraoperative cholangiography; Ultra- sound contrast