Laparoscopic ultrasonography during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
BACKGROUND
This study assessed the effectiveness of laparoscopic ultrasonography in demonstrating biliary anatomy, confirming suspected pathology, and detecting unsuspected pathology.


METHODS
Laparoscopic ultrasonography was performed on 48 patients (17 M:31 M) who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy. An Aloka 7.5-MHz linear laparoscopic ultrasound transducer was used for scanning.


RESULTS
Gallbladder stones were confirmed by laparoscopic ultrasonography in all patients and unsuspected pathology was found in five patients. Two patients were found to have common bile duct stones by laparoscopic ultrasonography and this was confirmed by laparoscopic cholangiography. Laparoscopic ultrasound was found to be helpful during dissection in four patients, particularly in a patient with Mirizzi syndrome. The entire common bile duct was visualized by laparoscopic ultrasonography in 40 patients but was poorly seen in eight patients. The mean time taken for the examination was 9 min (range 4-18 min).


CONCLUSIONS
Laparoscopic ultrasound is useful during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
Kelly
S B
SB
Department of Surgery, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong.
Remedios
D
D
Lau
W Y
WY
Li
A K
AK
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D019160:Endosonography; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016343:Monitoring, Intraoperative / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity