Exploration of the Common Bile Duct

Abstract

One hundred and fifty patients have had cholecystectomy and there have been 62 common duct explorations during the last four years carried out by the members of the Professorial Surgical Unit, Repatriation General Hospital, Concord. Thirty-eight patients had duct exploration at cholecystectomy, an exploration rate of 24%. Negative exploration occurred in four patients. The indications for duct exploration, the use of cholangiography and the technique of duct exploration are discussed.