The size of the normal common hepatic duct following cholecystectomy: an ultrasonographic study.
Sixty-seven asymptomatic patients underwent repeat ultrasonography four to 16 months following cholecystectomy with or without common bile duct exploration. Fifty-six patients (84%) had common hepatic ducts with a normal internal diameter of 4 mm or less. Four patients had common hepatic ducts measuring 5 mm, and seven patients had common hepatic ducts measuring 6 to 10 mm. It is concluded that, although the common hepatic duct generally is not dilated following cholecystectomy, there is a significant minority (16%) of asymptomatic patients who have common hepatic ducts larger than 4 mm, and in these patients the duct may measure up to 10 mm.
D002763:Cholecystectomy; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006500:Hepatic Duct, Common / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D014463:Ultrasonography