Results of biliary operations without operative cholangiography

Abstract

Paper read at the Meeting of the Moynihan Chirurgical Club held in Malta in May 1969. In St. Lukes Hospital Malta, for a number of reasons, we do not use routine operative cholangiography. In this review an attempt is made to analyse the results of biliary operations without its use. The records of patients who underwent biliary operations for non-malignant conditions in the five-year period between 1963 and 1967 are here reviewed. The total number of patients was 229. Of these, 18 have been excluded because their records could not be traced. This leaves for consideration 211 patients on whom a total of 214 operations were performed. The results of biliary operations, without the use of operative cholangiography are analysed. The low incidence (1.2%) of residual stones following cholecystectomy only does not justify the routine use of operative cholangiography. The high incidence (9.1% to 13.6%) of residual stones after choledochotomy should lead to the adoption of post-exploratory operative cholangiography in those cases where the ducts are explored. Additionally, the exploration rate is also compared to similar studies carried out overseas.