Summary
In the last decade, choledochoscopy has become an essential tool for biliary surgery. It is widely accepted, but it is not employed by every surgeon who performs choledocholithotomies. The reason is the limited experience of surgeons performing 30–40 cholecystectomies per year. A survey of 150 hospitals clearly showed that common bile duct exploration is performed in 10%–15% of these cases. General surgeons are not endoscopists. A new video choledochoscope that displays the image in a large format via the TV monitor was developed, which can be viewed with both eyes and an assistant's help; this expedites and coordinates the procedure. The entire process is videotaped and can be used for further analysis and during consultation. It has become the method of choice for teaching. Most importantly, the learning curve of general surgeons has become significantly shorter. The procedure is taught and the surgeon can learn it easily. Its use will contribute to a decrease in the incidence of retained stones and will improve patient care.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Bakes J (1923) Die Choledochopapilloskopie. Arch Klin Chir 126: 473–483
Berci G (1961) Choledochoscopy. Med J Aust 2: 861–863
Berci G (1981) Incidence of retained stones. In: Berci G, Hamlin JA (eds) Operative biliary radiology. Williams & Wilkins, Boston, pp 7–12
Berci G (1981) Unsuspected stones. In: Berci G, Hamlin JA (eds) Operative biliary radiology. Williams & Wilkins, Boston, pp 7–12
Berci G, Cuschieri A (1987) A biliary endoscopy model. Am J Surg 153: 576–578
Berci G, Hamlin JA (1981) Critical analysis of fluorocholangiography. In: Berci G, Hamlin JA (eds) Operative biliary radiology. Williams & Wilkins, Boston, pp 203–213
Berci G, Paz-Partlow M (1984) Operative biliary endoscopy (choledochoscopy) in common bile duct exploration. In: Cuschieri A, Berci G (eds) Nijhoff, Boston Dordrecht, pp 55–59
Berci G, Hamlin JA, Grundfest W (1983) Combined fluoro-endoscopic removal of retained stones. Arch Surg 118: 1395–1398
Berci G, Shulman AG, Morgenstern L, Paz-Partlow M, Cuschieri A, Wood RA (1985) Television choledochoscopy. Surg Gynecol Obstet 160: 176–177
Corlette MB, Schatzky S, Ackroyd F (1978) Operative cholangiography and overlooked stones. Arch Surg 113: 729–734
Courvoisier LG (1980) Kasuistisch-statistische Beiträge zur Pathologie und Chirurgie der Gallenwege. Vogel, Leipzig
Feliciano DV, Mattox KL, Jordan GL (1980) The value of choledochoscopy in exploration of the CBD. Ann Surg 191: 649–654
Kehr H (1913) Die Praxis der Gallenwegschirurgie. Lehmanns, München
King ML, String TS (1983) Extent of choledochoscopic utilization in common bile duct explorations. Am J Surg 146: 322–324
Lennert K (1980) Choledochoskopie. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York
Shore JM, Morgenstern L, Berci G (1971) An improved rigid choledochoscopy. Am J Surg 122: 567–568
Shulman AG, Berci G (1985) Intraoperative biliary endoscopy (choledochoscopy) in California hospitals. Am J Surg 149: 703–704
Wildegans H (1953) Grenzen der Cholangiography und Aussichten der Endoskopie der tiefen Gallenwege. Med Klin 48: 1270–1272
Yamakawa T (1976) An improved choledocho-fiberscope and nonsurgical removal of retained biliary calculi under direct visual control. Gastrointest Endosc 22: 160–165
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Based on a presentation to the International Congress on Surgical Endoscopy, Ultrasound, and Interventional Techniques, Berlin 1988
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Berci, G., Morgenstern, L. & Paz-Partlow, M. The impact of electronic imaging in intraoperative biliary endoscopy (choledochoscopy). Surg Endosc 2, 167–171 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02498793
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02498793