Selective intraoperative cholangiography during laparoscopic cholecystectomy in children is justified.

Intraoperative cholangiograms (IOC) during laparoscopic cholecystectomy have been advocated to detect biliary anomalies and intraductal calculi. However, IOC increases operative time and patient irradiation, and therefore is not universally used. We hypothesise selective IOC may be a valuable tool in children.A retrospective case note review was performed of all children who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy at a single institution by a single surgeon between January 2011 and March 2017. Demographics, radiological imaging, indications for surgery and IOC, and clinical outcomes were collected. Chi-Squared and Wilcoxon Rank Sum tests were used for comparisons.Sixty-two patients were reviewed. Median follow-up was 2 months (0.1-60), and 53 (85%) had complete symptom resolution following surgery. Twenty-two patients underwent IOC. Six (27%) had anomalies undetected by preoperative imaging. IOC identified common bile duct (CBD) stones in 2 patients which were cleared at laparoscopy. One patient required subsequent ERCP for impacted stones. One patient has a long common channel and pancreatitis. Two patients have CBD strictures. These last 3 are awaiting biliary reconstruction. Presence of CBD dilatation or ductal stones on preoperative ultrasound were significantly associated with positive findings at IOC. No complications resulted from IOC. Patients who did not undergo IOC did not represent with missed anomalies.Despite using multimodal preoperative imaging, IOC detected biliary anomalies requiring further treatment in 6/62 (10%) of patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Our data support the use of IOC in selective patients with CBD dilatation or suspicion of ductal stones on preoperative imaging.Study of Diagnostic Test: Level III.