| Abstract: | The diagnosis and management of choledocholithiasis has improved greatly in recent years. Newer diagnostic techniques, including ultrasonography, computerized axial tomography, transhepatic cholangiography and endoscopic retrograde cholangiography have been developed. There have been operative improvements, including the use of the Fogarty catheter, choledochoscopy and image amplifiers in the operating room for more precise intraoperative cholangiography. Nevertheless, choledocholithiasis remains a major problem. Choledocholithiasis increases the mortality rate of gallstones as compared to mortality rates resulting from stones in the gallbladder only. Furthermore, retained stones still occur in 4 to 10% of patients operated upon in whom stones are found in the common bile duct. The majority of these, however, can now be removed nonoperatively. |
