title: Postoperative percutaneous choledochoscopy.
abstract: Postoperative percutaneous choledochoscopy (PC) is becoming an important aid to surgeons in the diagnosis and treatment of complex biliary tract disease. The authors retrospectively examined the results of 27 PCs performed on 22 patients at the University of Louisville Affiliated Hospitals from 1980 to 1987. Indications for PC included: suspected choledocholithiasis stricture, sclerosing cholangitis, and cholangiocarcinoma. The biliary tree was accessed through a T-tube tract in 18 patients, and through a biliary-enterocutaneous fistula in four patients. The patient population included 11 men and 11 women with a mean age of 62 years. T-tubes varied in size from #16F to #24F. The time allowed for T-tube tract maturation ranged from four weeks to five months. Percutaneous choledochoscopy was performed 16 times in 13 patients for possible choledocholithiasis. Stones were present in 13, and 11 of 13 attempted extractions were successful. Two patients underwent PC for stent placement. Nine procedures were performed on eight patients to obtain biopsies or to evaluate possible strictures. Four studies were normal, two patients had sclerosing cholangitis, one had a stricture of the Sphincter of Oddi, and one patient had benign ductal tissue on biopsy after an iridium implantation for cholangiocarcinoma. Two minor complications occurred in this series. The authors conclude that by using PC the surgeon may safely manage complicated biliary problems and avoid re-operation in selected cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Louisville School of Medicine, James Graham Brown Cancer Center, Kentucky 40292.
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Wieman
authors.forename: T S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Corey
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Shively
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001649:Bile Duct Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001662:Biliary Tract Surgical Procedures; D003135:Common Bile Duct / Q000473:pathology*; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011677:Punctures