A plea for the routine use of operative cholangiography at cholecystectomy.

THE place of operative cholangiography is discussed. Of 134 patients undergoing routine cholecystectomy 24 had choledochotomy. In four patients stones were discovered unexpectedly by this X-ray technique. Nine patients did not have choledochotomy because their operative cholangiogram was normal yet without the help of cholangiography this would have been indicated. Routine operative cholangiography is thought to be an essential technique in modern biliary surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]