Intraoperative Videolaparoscopic Cholangiography and Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography in Patients with Suspected Choledocholithiasis

Abstract

Introduction: Choledocholithiasis has become a health problem for which there are dissimilar treatment options.

Objective: To present the results obtained with intraoperative videolaparoscopic cholangiography and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in patients with suspected choledocholithiasis.

Methods: A retrospective and descriptive study was conducted in patients with suspected choledocholithiasis and submitted to videolaparoscopic cholangiography and endoscopic cholangiopancreatography at Hospital Militar Clínico Quirúrgico Docente Dr. Octavio de la Concepción y de la Pedraja, of Camagüey, during the period from January 2015 to December 2019. The study universe consisted of 117 patients submitted to both procedures. The variables of suspected choledocholithiasis, age groups, sex, imaging findings, complications and index of suspected choledocholithiasis were controlled.

Results: Intraoperative videolaparoscopic cholangiography had a higher diagnostic possibility and lower complications. The diagnosis of choledocholithiasis was higher in patients submitted to endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, although this did not allow the assessment of low-risk patients. Female patients were more frequent in both groups, while suspected choledocholithiasis was observed in patients between 31 and 45 years of age. However, the finding of a normal biliary tract was common to both procedures.

Conclusions: Both methods are safe and useful in the study in patients with suspected choledocholithiasis, with greater diagnostic efficacy, as well as fewer complications, for the videolaparoscopic technique. The finding of a normal biliary tract was the prevailing result in both procedures.