Routine operative cholangiography: a critical appraisal.

If abnormal liver function tests are added to the classic criteria for expectancy of common bile duct stone, the rate of unexpected common bile duct stone findings should be 1 percent or less. This low rate does not justify the cost of routine operative cholangiography. However, a preexploratory operative cholangiogram should be performed prior to common bile duct exploration in order to avoid negative, and therefore unnecessary, common bile duct explorations.