Efficacy of laparoscopic ultrasonography in laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Laparoscopic ultrasonography (LUS) allows the visualization of the biliary system and it is widely used in many facilities. In this study, we assessed the usefulness of LUS during Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy (LC) as compared with intraoperative cholangiography (IOC). From September 1995 to March 1997. 188 patients underwent LC in our hospital. Among them, 35 were examined by LUS and 17 are by IOC only or both. Using LUS the visualization rates in the respective images for the upper, middle and lower part of bile duct were 94.3. 100 and 91.4%, respectively. LUS proved useful to detect common bile duct stones and it was not associated with complications such as CBD injury. We are able to correctly identify the cystic duct and we can also detect common bile duct stones perioperatively. And it takes shorter to obtain images by LUS than by IOC. Thus we believe that LUS might be a substitute for IOC.