Early Detection of Common Bile Duct Injury Post Cholecystectomy, What are the Options?

Abstract

In the present scenario, laparoscopic cholecystectomy remains the most common surgery performed by the general surgeons but there is constant fear of the common bile duct injury associated with it. We have moved from the era of open to laparoscopic cholecystectomy with a long initial learning curve for surgeons.2,3 During this period, the most vulnerable structure to injury is the common bile duct1,4 which can lead to serious complications like biliary peritonitis, hepatic failure and death. 22 Majority of the patients are identified later with the progression of jaundice and a few are recognized on table as requiring immediate repair. Our study is focused on the role of ultrasound in the postoperative period as a tool for detecting common bile duct injury within 72 hours of cholecystectomy.