The value of operative cholangiography.

A retrospective review was made of the records of 152 patients undergoing cholangiography at the time of cholecystectomy. Of the 152 cholangiograms, 65 revealed major technical deficiencies. In spite of this, the use of cholangiography allowed 31 patients with classical indications to be spared common duct exploration. Furthermore, the procedure detected unsuspected common duct stones in nine patients. As a result of these findings, we recommend the use of cystic duct cholangiography routinely in patients undergoing cholecystectomy.