CHOLECYSTECTOMY WITHOUT ROUTINE OPERATIVE CHOLANGIOGRAPHY

Abstract

A series of 1575 consecutive patients with cholelithiasis managed by cholecystectomy without operative cholangiography is presented. Exploration of the bile ducts was performed in 185 (12%) patients. During the postoperative period there was evidence of retained calculi in 3 (1.6%) of the 185 patients. The incidence of remote calculi (those presenting at a time distant from cholecystectomy) was determined for patients undergoing cholecystectomy between 1963-1967. Follow-up information was available on 258 (80%) of 321 patients. Clinical evidence of remote calculi was found in 7 (2.7%) patients. The incidence of both retained and remote calculi was similar to that found in a series where operative cholangiography was routine.