title: How often might a trans-cystic-duct stone extraction be feasible?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although the sizes of the cystic duct and concomitant bile duct stones are fundamental in evaluating the possibility of a trans-cystic-duct approach as an alternative to cholangiotomy, no conclusive data are supplied in the reports on laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  The narrowest inner diameter of the cystic duct and the diameter of the largest concomitant bile duct stone are compared in a prospective study of 30 consecutive patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The bile duct stones were smaller than the cystic duct in 14 patients, 47%, and of equal size in nine, 30%. They were larger than the cystic duct in the remaining seven patients, 23%, with a difference of only 1 mm in five patients and of 2 and 4 mm, respectively, in two.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Physical conditions allowing a trans-cystic-duct stone extraction were present in 23 of 30 patients and an attempt might have been possible after, for example, cystic duct dilatation in a further five.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Medical Centre, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vracko
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Wiechel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002758:Cholangiography; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000601:surgery*; D003549:Cystic Duct / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D042882:Gallstones / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies