Intraoperative ultrasonography of the biliary tract using saline as a contrast agent: a fast and accurate technique to identify complex biliary anatomy

摘要

Background: Intraoperative assessment of biliary tract anatomy is relevant for a number of benign and malignant hepatobiliary diseases. During biliary reconstruction, drainage of all relevant bile ducts is imperative to prevent atrophy of undrained segment, cholangitis and secondary biliary cirrhosis. Intraoperative cholangiography, though widely used for intraoperative imaging of the biliary tract, involves heavy equipment use, radiation risk and has a limited role in the evaluation of isolated segmental bile ducts.