Clinical significance of choledochal diameter and hyperbilirubinemia in acute cholecystitis

Persistent choledochal stones as well as negative choledochal explorations lead to increased morbidity and expense in surgery for acute cholecystitis. In an attempt to establish more precise criteria for the presence of CBD stones, 300 consecutive emergency cholecystectomies were studied and computer analyzed. Precise determination of the choledochal diameter and preoperative bilirubin levels permit a very accurate estimation of the probable presence of choledochal stones. On the basis of this information, more than 50% of patients can be classified in the low risk group, in which operative cholangiography can be omitted with minimal risk when technical difficulties are encountered, and choledochotomy may be avoided when cholangiography is unclear.