Intravenous infusion cholangiography for investigation of the bile duct: a direct comparison with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy has led to an increase in preoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for the investigation of bile duct stones. ERCP and intravenous infusion cholangiography (IIC) were compared in 111 consecutive patients without jaundice considered to be at high risk for bile duct stones. Both investigations were successfully completed in 100 patients. IIC and ERCP demonstrated a normal bile duct in 81 patients and bile duct stones in 16 patients. IIC failed to identify bile duct stones in two patients (1.8 per cent). IIC was 89 per cent sensitive and 99 per cent specific for detecting bile duct stones in patients without jaundice. It is suggested that IIC is a cost-effective preoperative investigation for bile duct calculi.