The efficacy of preoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in the detection and clearance of choledocholithiasis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticography has been reported to have a high success rate in the detection and treatment of choledocholithiasis. Although there is growing enthusiasm for laparoscopic common bile duct clearance, many patients who present with gallbladder disease and suspected choledocholithiasis have endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography performed with choledocholithiasis cleared if detected. These patients are then referred for laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The purpose of this study is to determine the efficacy of preoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in the diagnosis and clearance of bile duct stones at our institution.

METHODS: A retrospective review was performed of all patients at this institution who underwent preoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography for suspected choledocholithiasis followed by laparoscopic cholecystectomy from January 1997 through July 1998.

RESULTS: Common bile duct stones were detected endoscopically in 12 of 17 (71%) patients. We found serum bilirubin level to be the best predictor of choledocholithiasis. In 12 of 12 procedures, the endoscopist performed an endoscopic sphincterotomy with stone extraction and reported a fully cleared common bile duct. Intraoperative cholangiogram performed during subsequent cholecystectomy revealed choledocholithiasis in 4 of these 12 patients. Laparoscopic techniques successfully cleared the choledocholithiasis in 3 of these patients with open techniques necessary in the fourth.

CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggests that even after presumed successful endoscopic clearance of the bile duct stones, many patients (33% in our series) still have choledocholithiasis present at the time of cholecystectomy. We recommend intraoperative cholangiography at the time of cholecystectomy even after presumed successful endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography with further intervention, preferably laparoscopic, to clear the choledocholithiasis as deemed necessary.