Reoperation of biliary tract by laparoscopy： Experiences with 39 cases

AIM：To evaluate the safety and feasibility of biliary tract reoperation by laparoscopy for the patients with retained or recurrent stones who failed in endoscopic sphincterotomy.
METHODS：A retrospective analysis of data obtained from attempted laparoscopic reoperation for 39 patients in a single institution was performed, examining open conversion rates, operative times, complications, and hospital stay.
RESULTS：Out of the 39 cases, 38 （97%） completed laparoscopy, 1 required conversion to open operation because of difficulty in exposing the common bile duct. The mean operative time was 135 min. The mean post-operative hospital stay was 4 d. Procedures included laparoscopic residual gallbladder resection in 3 cases, laparoscopic common bile duct exploration and primary duct closure at choledochotomy in 13 cases, and laparoscopic common bile duct exploration and choledochotomy with T tube drainage in 22 cases. Duodenal perforation occurred in 1 case during dissection and was repaired laparoscopically. Retained stones were found in 2 cases. Postoperative asymptomatic hyperamlasemia occurred in 3 cases. There were no complications due to port placement, postoperative bleeding, bile or bowel leakage and mortality. No recurrence or formation of duct stricture was observed during a mean follow-up period of 18 mo.
CONCLUSION：Laparoscopic biliary tract reoperation is safe and feasible if it is performed by experiencedlaparoscopic surgeons, and is an alternative choice for patients with choledocholithiasis who fail in endoscopic sphincterectomy.     

Laparoscopic C-tube drainage via cystic duct following common bile duct exploration

Laparoscopic common bile duct (CBD) exploration has come into practice with the development of laparoscopic techniques and instrumentation. However, the use of a T-tube for biliary drainage lessens the advantages of laparoscopic surgery, i.e., short hospital stay and good cosmesis. We have performed CBD exploration by laparoscopic chledochotomy followed by transcystic biliary drainage using a 6 French vinyl tube (C-tube) instead of a T-tube and primary closure of the choledochotomy. The C-tube could be removed within 7 days postoperatively because the cystic duct was ligated with an elastic thread. Twelve patients with CBD stones were successfully treated by this new technique and there was no morbidity attributable to the procedure.     

Treatment of common bile duct stones with laparoscopy. Retrospective multicenter study with 612 patients

OBJECTIVE: To analyse retrospectively the results of one-stage laparoscopic treatment for common bile duct stones in 19 surgical centers in France. PATIENTS: From January 1991 to July 1996, 612 patients with choledocholithiasis underwent laparoscopic treatment. RESULTS: Overall duct clearance was obtained in 489 of the 612 patients (80%): through the cystic duct in 222 of 380 patients (58.4%), by secondary choledochotomy (after unsuccessful transcystic duct extraction) in 77 of 96 (80%), and in 190 of 232 (82 %) by primary choledochotomy. The overall duct clearance rate increased from 65% in 1991 to 84% in 1996. The use of the choledochotomy approach increased from 43% in 1991 to 69% in 1996 (P<0.01), due to a substantial increase in primary choledochotomy. In contrast, the use of the transcystic approach decreased from 57% to 31% (P<0.01). The mean time for surgery was shorter for cystic duct exploration than for primary choledochotomy (101+/-51 vs. 155+/-62 min, P<0.0001). The mean hospital stay decreased from 7.7+/-3.6 days in 1991 to 4.1+/-2 days in 1996 (P<0.001). The main biliary complications were related to biliary drainage (2,8%) and retained stones (3.1%). CONCLUSION: This study confirms that laparoscopy is a good alternative with a low complication rate, a short hospital stay, and is an effective and safe option for the management of common bile duct stones.     

Combination of Preoperative EST,Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy with Choledochotomy,and Postoperative Cholangioscopy in the Treatment of Common Bile Duct Stones

A case of common duct stones, successfully managed with a combination of preoperative EST, laparoscopic choledochotomy and postoperative choledochoscopic stone extraction, is reported. A 32-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of jaundice and right hypochon-dralgia of several-days' duration. CT, US and ERCP revealed stones in the gallbladder and common bile duct. EST was performed to remove the stones in the common bile duct prior to laparoscopic cholecystectomy. However, the patient developed pancreatitis as a complication of EST, which was successfully managed by conservative therapy. Though some stones remained in the common duct following the first trial of EST, the patient rejected a second round of EST. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy and choledochotomy were performed to remove the gallbladder and the stones remaining in the common bile duct. A T tube was placed in the incised common bile duct for management of possible retained stones. Twenty days after the surgery, successful postoperative cholangioscopy was performed, and the stones remaining in the common duct were removed. Hyperamylasemia and pancreatitis are relatively common complications of EST occurring in about 7% of cases, but only 3% of these patients experience severe pancreatitis, requiring hospitalization. Conservative therapy is always the treatment of choice. In our particular patient, pancreatitis caused by EST was successfully managed by decompression with ENBD and administration of ulinastatin. Residual stones in the CBD were completely removed by laparoscopic common bile duct exploration following EST and postoperative cholangioscopy through the T tube fistula.     

Biliary drainage tube evaluation after common bile duct exploration for choledocholithiasis

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We studied the postoperative evaluation of transcystic duct tube drainage (C-tube), T-tube drainage (T-tube), and retrograde transhepatic biliary drainage after common bile duct exploration for patients with choledocholithiasis. METHODOLOGY: We analyzed the preoperative clinical features of patients, intraoperative findings, postoperative status and management, daily output of bile, liver function, postoperative infections, and postoperative complications for patients who underwent common bile duct exploration including 16 C-tube, 17 T-tube, and 8 retrograde transhepatic biliary drainage cases. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the preoperative clinical features, intraoperative findings, or the daily output of bile from the tube. The removal day of the biliary drainage tube and postoperative hospital stay were shorter in the C-tube group than in the T-tube and retrograde transhepatic biliary drainage groups. Aspartate amino-transferase level and body temperature in the C-tube group on day 7 were lower than those in the T-tube group, and the total bilirubin level in the C-tube group on day 14 was lower than in the T-tube and retrograde transhepatic biliary drainage groups. Moreover, postoperative complications occurred significantly less frequently in the C-tube group (25.0%) than in the T-tube group (76.5%). CONCLUSIONS: C-tube drainage is thought to be most useful after common bile duct exploration for patients with choledocholithiasis.     

Antegrade biliary stenting versus T-tube drainage after laparoscopic choledochotomy--a comparative cohort study

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Laparoscopic exploration of the common bile duct (LECBD) has been proven to be an effective and preferred treatment approach for uncomplicated common bile duct stones. However there is still controversy regarding the choice of biliary decompression after laparoscopic choledochotomy. METHODOLOGY: This is a retrospective comparison between the use of antegrade biliary stenting and T-tube drainage following successful laparoscopic choledochotomy. During the period between January 1995 and July 2003, biliary decompression was achieved by either antegrade biliary stenting or T-tube drainage based on the discretion of the operating surgeon. For antegrade biliary stenting, a 10-Fr Cotton-Leung biliary stent was inserted through the choledochotomy and passed down across the papilla. The stent position was confirmed by on-table choledochoscopy before interrupted single-layered closure of the common bile duct. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) was performed to remove the stent 4 weeks after operation and at the same time to check for any residual stones or other complications like stricture or leak. In the T-tube group, a 16-Fr latex T-tube was used and the long limb was brought out through the subcostal trocar port followed by the same method of bile duct closure. Cholangiogram through the T-tube was performed on day 7 and the tube would be taken off 1 week later (about 2 weeks after operation) if the cholangiogram did not reveal any abnormality. The two groups were compared according to the demographic data, operation time, length of hospital stay and complication rates. RESULTS: During the study period, 108 laparoscopic explorations of the common bile duct were performed in our centre of which 95 were attempted laparoscopic choledochotomies and 13 were transcystic duct explorations. Of the 95 patients with attempted laparoscopic choledochotomy, there were 9 open conversions, 17 laparoscopic bilioenteric bypasses and 6 primary closures of the common bile duct. All of these patients together with those receiving transcystic duct explorations were excluded and the remaining 63 patients having postoperative bile diversion by either antegrade biliary stenting or T-tube drainage were included in this study. Bile diversion was achieved by antegrade biliary stenting in 35 patients whereas 28 patients had T-tube drainage. There was no difference between the two groups in terms of age, clinical presentation, bilirubin level, length of hospital stay, follow-up duration, common bile duct size, size of common bile duct stones, incidence of residual/recurrent stone and complication rate. It was observed that more patients in the stenting group developed bile leak (14.2% vs. 3.5%) and required more intramuscular pethidine injections (182.86 +/- 139.30 vs. 92.81+/-81.15mg, P=0.000). On the other hand, the T-tube group had longer operation time (141.4+/-45.1 vs. 11 1.1+/-33.9 minutes, P=0.006) and had a longer postoperative hospital stay (10.0+/-7.4 vs. 8.8+/-9.3 days, P=0.020) reaching statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative bile diversion by antegrade biliary stenting after laparoscopic choledochotomy is shown to shorten operation duration and postoperative stay as compared to T-tube drainage, but the problem of bile leak needs further refinement of insertion technique.     

Removing a biliary T-tube and retained stones by ERCP. A case report

A time-honored praxis is to insert a T-tube after open choledochotomy. Well-known complications of T-tube removal include bile leakage, peritonitis, sepsis and postoperative biliary stenosis. A retained T-tube fragment after surgical common bile duct exploration is an uncommon complication of T-tube removal. We report the first case of retained bile duct stones with a whole T-tube jammed into the biliary tree. A 31-year-old female with gallstone disease was operated on. The operation was started by laparoscopy but converted to open laparotomy because of perforation of the gallbladder. T-tube was inserted but several stones remained in the bile duct. Afterwards routine T-tube removal was impossible: the T-tube had become trapped in the common bile duct. This combination of complications was successfully treated by ERCP.     

Laparoscopy in cholecysto-choledocholithiasis

Gallstone disease is one of the most common problems in the gastroenterology and is associated with significant morbidity. It may present as stones in the gallbladder (cholecystolithiasis) or in the common bile duct (choledocholithiasis). At the end of the 1980s laparoscopy was introduced and first laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed in 1985. The laparoscopic technique for removing the gallbladder is the current treatment of choice, although indications for open surgery exist. To perform laparoscopic cholecystectomy as safe as possible multiple safety measures were developed. The gold standard for diagnosing and removing common bile duct stones is Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). The surgical treatment option for choledocholithiasis is laparoscopic cholecystectomy with common bile duct exploration. If experience is not available, than ERCP followed by elective cholecystectomy is by far the best therapeutic modality. The present review will discuss the use, benefits and drawbacks of laparoscopy in patients with cholecystolithiasis and choledocholithiasis.     

The management of bile duct stones.

Bile duct stones are almost always associated with gallbladder stones and coexist with gallbladder stones in approximately 10% of patients. The frequency of coexisting bile duct stones increases with advancing age. In patients with stones in both the gallbladder and bile duct, therapeutic options for the latter include laparoscopic or open exploration of the bile duct, and pre-operative and post-operative endoscopic sphincterotomy and stone extraction. Endoscopic sphincterotomy remains the treatment of choice for bile duct stones after cholecystectomy. However, management algorithms in individual institutions will be influenced by surgical and endoscopic expertise and by other factors such as overall costs. After surgical or endoscopic removal of bile duct stones, estimates of the lifetime risk of recurrent stones range from 5%-20%. Increased life expectancy and the apparent absence of simple preventative measures indicate that the burden of bile duct stones on health expenditure is likely to increase in many countries.     

胆囊切除术后发生原发性胆总管结石70例临床分析

目的探讨胆囊切除与原发性胆总管结石的关系以及原发性胆总管结石手术治疗模式。方法收集新安县人民医院2007年1月至2013年12月收治的70例胆囊切除术后远期胆总管结石患者的临床资料,结合有关文献进行了分析。结果 70例患者均行手术治疗,术中证实胆总管结石均为胆色素结石。术后并发症:切口感染8例,肺部感染5例,无胆漏、胆道出血等严重并发症,均治愈出院。胆总管结石复发8例,分别于结石复发后2.5~4年再次手术,行胆总管切开取石加胆总管离断、Roux-Y胆总管空肠吻合术治愈。结论胆囊切除术后远期发生的原发性胆总管结石,是一种老年疾病,它不是胆囊切除术后的远期并发症,胆囊切除若未发生胆道损伤,就不会增加原发性胆总管结石的发生率。原发性胆总管结石须手术治疗,对于胆总管扩张直径2.5 cm者或复发病例,建议行开腹手术胆总管离断、Roux-Y胆总管空肠吻合术。     

Recurrence of biliary symptoms after endoscopic sphincterotomy for choledocholithiasis in patients with gall bladder stones

BACKGROUND: There are a few reports regarding the long-term results of endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST). However, little data is available on the recurrence of biliary symptoms after EST for choledocholithiasis, in patients with gall bladder stones. METHODS: All patients had gall bladder and common bile duct stones (n = 60; age 32-84 years, median age 55 years), and had received an EST. One group of these patients had a laparoscopic or open cholecystectomy (n = 39; group A), while the other group did not (n = 21; group B). The follow-up- period ranged from 5 to 54 months (average 22 months). RESULTS: Complications included the recurrence of common bile duct stones, recurrent acute cholecystitis, postoperative bile leakage and papillary stenosis. Nine patients (15%) had a recurrence of biliary symptoms. Two significant prognostic factors for the recurrence of biliary symptoms were identified by multivariate analysis; namely an intact gall bladder and a dilated common bile duct. The recurrence rate of biliary symptoms in group B was 20.4%, while in group A it was 10.3% (P< 0.01). Patients with a larger than average common bile duct diameter (mean diameter 14 mm) were more prone to the recurrence of symptoms than those with a smaller common bile duct diameter (mean diameter 10 mm, P< 0.016). The hospital stay period was 8.9 +/- 3.1 days in group A and 2.8 +/- 1.9 days in group B (P< 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Biliary symptom recurrence occurred in a considerable proportion of patients after EST for the treatment of choledocholithiasis, in patients with gall bladder stones. The prognostic factors associated with the recurrence of biliary symptoms were an intact gall bladder and a dilated common bile duct diameter. Regardless of their short stay in hospital, non-cholecystectomy patients had a higher rate of recurrent biliary symptoms than cholecystectomy patients.     

Outcome of gallbladder preservation in surgical management of primary bile duct stones

AIM: To evaluate the methods and outcome of gallbladder preservation in surgical treatment of primary bile duct stones. METHODS: Thirty-five patients with primary bile duct stones and intact gallbladders received stone extraction by two operative approaches, 23 done through the intrahepatic duct stump (RBD-IDS, the RBD-IDS group) after partial hepatectomy and 12 through the hepatic parenchyma by retrograde puncture (RBD-RP, the RBD-RP group). The gallbladders were preserved and the common bile duct (CBD) incisions were primarily closed. The patients were examined postoperatively by direct cholangiography and followed up by ultrasonography once every six months. RESULTS: In the RBD-IDS group, residual bile duct stones were found in three patients, which were cleared by a combination of fibrocholedochoscopic extraction and lithotripsy through the drainage tracts. The tubes were removed on postoperative day 22 (range: 16-42 days). In the RBD-RP group, one patient developed hemobilia and was cured by conservative therapy. The tubes were removed on postoperative day 8 (range: 7-11 days). Postoperative cholangiography showed that all the gallbladders were well opacified, contractile and smooth. During 54 (range: 6-120 months) months of follow-up, six patients had mildly thickened cholecystic walls without related symptoms and further changes, two underwent laparotomies because of adhesive intestinal obstruction and gastric cancer respectively, three died of cardiopulmonary diseases. No stones were found in all the preserved gallbladders. CONCLUSION: The intact gallbladders preserved after surgical extraction of primary bile duct stones will not develop gallstones. Retrograde biliary drainage is an optimal approach for gallbladder preservation.     

Management of cholelithiasis with choledocholithiasis: Endoscopic and surgical approaches

Gallstone disease and complications from gallstones are a common clinical problem. The clinical presentation ranges between being asymptomatic and recurrent attacks of biliary pain requiring elective or emergency treatment. Bile duct stones are a frequent condition associated with cholelithiasis. Amidst the total cholecystectomies performed every year for cholelithiasis, the presence of bile duct stones is 5%-15%; another small percentage of these will develop common bile duct stones after intervention. To avoid serious complications that can occur in choledocholithiasis, these stones should be removed. Unfortunately, there is no consensus on the ideal management strategy to perform such. For a long time, a direct open surgical approach to the bile duct was the only unique approach. With the advent of advanced endoscopic, radiologic, and minimally invasive surgical techniques, however, therapeutic choices have increased in number, and the management of this pathological situation has become multidisciplinary. To date, there is agreement on preoperative management and the need to treat cholelithiasis with choledocholithiasis, but a debate still exists on how to cure the two diseases at the same time. In the era of laparoscopy and mini-invasiveness, we can say that therapeutic approaches can be performed in two sessions or in one session. Comparison of these two approaches showed equivalent success rates, postoperative morbidity, stone clearance, mortality, conversion to other procedures, total surgery time, and failure rate, but the one-session treatment is characterized by a shorter hospital stay, and more cost benefits. The aim of this review article is to provide the reader with a general summary of gallbladder stone disease in association with the presence of common bile duct stones by discussing their epidemiology, clinical and diagnostic aspects, and possible treatments and their advantages and limitations.     

Laparoscopic treatment of common bile duct lithiasis

With the advances of videolaparoscopic surgery, this approach had become the treatment of choice for cholelithiasis. However, about 5% to 10% may present common bile duct lithiasis. Most surgeons have still difficulties to deal with this situation and do prefer resolve with open surgery or with further endoscopic approach. We present a case of a 60-year-old man, with 18 months history of right upper quadrant pain, weight loss and jaundice. He was referred with diagnostic of pancreatic cancer. Laboratory investigation showed increased bilirubin (10 mg/dL), alkaline phosphatase and GGT. Abdominal ultrasound showed atrophic gallbladder with dilated intra and extrahepatic biliary tree. Computerized tomography scan disclosed enlarged biliary tree with 3 cm stone in the distal common bile duct. The patient underwent a laparoscopic cholecystectomy followed by choledochotomy and retrieval of the large stone. A latero-lateral choledochoduodenum anastomosis was then performed to decompress the biliary tree. The patient had an uneventful recovery being discharged at the 6th postoperative day. Laparoscopic management of choledocholithiasis is feasible in many patients, specially those with dilated biliary tree. The retrieval of stones may be followed by biliary drainage with T-tube. In some elderly patients with chronically dilated common bile duct, as in the present case, a choledochoduodenal anastomosis is the procedure of choice.     

Laparoscopic choledochotomy for bile duct stones

In the era of laparoscopic surgery, treatment strategies for common bile duct stones remain controversial. Laparoscopic choledochotomy is usually indicated only when transcystic duct exploration is not feasible. However, laparoscopic choledochotomy provides complete access to the ductal system and has a higher clearance rate than the transcystic approach. In addition, primary closure of the choledochotomy with a running suture and absorbable clips facilitates the procedure. Therefore, to avoid postoperative biliary stenosis, all patients with bile duct stones can be indicated for choledochotomy, except for those with nondilated common bile duct. Placement of a C‐tube also provides access for the clearance of possible retained stones by endoscopic sphincterotomy as a backup procedure. C‐tube placement, in contrast to T‐tube insertion, is advantageous in terms of a relatively short hospital stay. In conclusion, laparoscopic choledochotomy with C‐tube drainage is recommended as the treatment of choice for patients with common bile duct stones.     

Surgery in biliary lithiasis: from the traditional"open" approach to laparoscopy and the"rendezvous" technique

BACKGROUND:According to the current literature, biliary lithiasis is a worldwide-diffused condition that affects almost 20% of the general population. The rate of common bile duct stones (CBDS) in patients with symptomatic cholelithiasis is estimated to be 10% to 33%, depending on patient's age. Compared to stones in the gallbladder, the natural history of secondary CBDS is still not completely understood. It is not clear whether an asymptomatic choledocholithiasis requires treatment or not. For many years, open cholecystectomy with choledochotomy and/or surgical sphincterotomy and cleaning of the bile duct were the gold standard to treat both pathologies. Development of both endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and laparoscopic surgery, together with improvements in diagnostic procedures, influ-enced new approaches to the management of CBDS in associ-ation with gallstones. DATA SOURCES: We decided to systematically review the lit-erature in order to identify all the current therapeutic options for CBDS. A systematic literature search was performed in-dependently by two authors using PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus and the Cochrane Library Central.RESULTS: The therapeutic approach nowadays varies great-ly according to the availability of experience and expertise in each center, and includes open or laparoscopic common bile duct exploration, various combinations of laparoscopic cholecystectomy and ERCP and combined laparoendoscopic rendezvous. CONCLUSIONS: Although ERCP followed by laparoscopic cholecystectomy is currently preferred in the majority of hospitals worldwide, the optimal treatment for concomitant gallstones and CBDS is still under debate, and greatly varies among different centers.     

十二指肠镜、电子胆道和腹腔镜序贯治疗胆总管结石合并胆囊结石834例临床观察

目的：探讨十二指肠镜、电子胆道镜和腹腔镜序贯治疗胆总管合并胆囊结石的临床疗效。方法回顾性分析1999年6月至2010年6月间本院采用十二指肠镜、腹腔镜和电子胆道镜序贯治疗的834例胆总管结石并胆囊结石患者。结果834例接受“二镜”（即腹腔镜、十二指肠镜）治疗,成功793例（95．08％）。41例“二镜”治疗困难转入选择“三镜”（即腹腔镜、十二指肠镜、电子胆道镜）治疗,成功39例（95.12％）,“三镜”治疗未取得成功的2例患者因肝门部及小网膜口严重黏连,无法显露胆总管,遂转为开腹手术治疗。834例患者共出现并发症28例。结论序贯性多镜联合技术治疗胆总管结石合并胆囊结石切实可行,并发症率低,安全可靠,值得临床推广。     

Gallstone disease: Epidemiology, pathogenesis, and classification of biliary stones (common bile duct and intrahepatic)

Gallstones are common in Western countries and Japan. Most gallstones are found in the gallbladder, but they sometimes pass through the cystic duct into extrahepatic and/or intrahepatic bile ducts to become bile-duct stones, causing conditions known as choledocholithiasis and hepatolithiasis. Some 10-15% of gallstone patients concomitantly suffer from bile-duct stones. Bile-duct stones can also be formed in the absence of gallbladder stones, and such primary bile-duct stones are more common in East Asian countries than in the Western world. Thus pathogenesis of primary and secondary bile-duct stones is unlikely to be similar. Furthermore, the gallbladder stones are primarily cholesterol or black-pigment stones, whereas most bile-duct stones are brown-pigment stones (calcium bilirubin stones). Thus, epidemiology, pathogenesis and classification of biliary stones are very likely to differ according to stone location (intrahepatic and/or extrahepatic bile duct).     

Does endoscopic sphincterotomy cause prolonged pancreatobiliary reflux?

OBJECTIVE: Endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) reduces sphincter function, which may allow reflux of pancreatic juice and intestinal contents into the common bile duct. The reflux, if present, may cause development of biliary tract carcinomas, as may anomalous pancreaticobiliary junction. We prospectively investigated pancreatobiliary and duodenobiliary reflux after ES. METHODS: In 15 patients with choledocholithiasis, ductal bile was sampled for amylase concentration and bacterial culture during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, before and at 7 days to 5 yr after ES. To provide comparative data, ductal bile was sampled in 11 patients with gallbladder cholesterol polyps or anomalous pancreaticobiliary junction who did not undergo ES. RESULTS: Amylase concentration of ductal bile in patients with choledocholithiasis before ES was not different from that in patients with gallbladder polyps. Its concentration was increased 7 days after ES compared with that before ES, reaching the level of that in patients with anomalous pancreaticobiliary junction. Thereafter, amylase concentration gradually decreased, returning to that before ES by 1 yr. After ES, bactobilia occurred in 60-80% of patients, although none developed acute cholangitis. CONCLUSIONS: Although ES causes transient pancreatobiliary reflux, the reflux is abolished by 1 yr after ES. ES is unlikely to increase the risk for development of biliary tract carcinoma as long as cholangitis or bile duct stones do not recur.     

Prospective assessment of the utility of EUS in the evaluation of gallstone pancreatitis

BACKGROUND: The ability to identify common bile duct stones by noninvasive means in patients with acute biliary pancreatitis is limited. The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the ability of endosonography (EUS) to identify cholelithiasis and choledocholithiasis and predict disease severity in patients with nonalcoholic pancreatitis. METHODS: EUS was performed immediately before endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) by separate blinded examiners within 72 hours of admission. Gallbladder findings were compared between EUS and transabdominal ultrasonography (US). Using endoscopic extraction of a bile duct stone as the reference standard for choledocholithiasis, the diagnostic yield of EUS was compared with transabdominal US and ERCP. Features identified during endosonographic imaging of the pancreas were correlated with length of hospitalization. RESULTS: Thirty-six patients were studied. EUS and transabdominal US were concordant in their interpretation of gallbladder findings in 92% of patients. The sensitivity of transabdominal US, EUS, and ERCP for identifying choledocholithiasis was 50%, 91%, and 92% and the accuracy was 83%, 97%, and 89%, respectively. Length of hospital stay was longer in patients with peripancreatic fluid (9.2 vs. 5.7 days, p < 0.1) and shorter in patients with coarse echo texture (2.6 vs. 7.2 days, p < 0.05) demonstrated on EUS. CONCLUSIONS: EUS can reliably identify cholelithiasis and is more sensitive than transabdominal US in detecting choledocholithiasis in patients with biliary pancreatitis. EUS may be used early in the management of patients with acute pancreatitis to select those who would benefit from endoscopic stone extraction. The utility of EUS for predicting pancreatitis severity requires further investigation.