Background:

Common bile duct pressure (CBDP) after surgical exploration has not been fully detailed. The objective was to describe the changes of CBDP after open surgical exploration in patients with choledocholithiasis, considering clinical scenarios in remote locations.

Material and methods:

A before-after study was designed. Patients with choledocholithiasis who required an open cholecystectomy with exploration of bile ducts were included in the study. Open cholecystectomy was performed and perioperative T-tube CBDP was registered immediately after the procedure and weekly thereafter, with a 6 week follow-up. Control T-tube cholangiogram was performed at week 6 to exclude residual stones. Data were analyzed with T test for paired samples.

Results:

Thirteen patients were included (age range, 17-69 years; 38.69 ± 17.97). Mean CBDP (cm H2O) registered were as follows: Initial = 19.5, week 1 = 16.2, week 2 = 14.3, week 3 = 13.0, week 4 = 12.1, week 5 = 11.1, and week 6 = 9.7. There were significant differences shown when comparing week 2 (p = 0.05), week 3 (p = 0.036), week 4 (p = 0.023), week 5 (p = 0.010), and week 6 (p = 0.004) with the initial value.

Conclusions:

CBDP decreases between 2nd and 3rd post-operative weeks. The use of choledochomanometry is useful in clinical scenarios with no access to imaging or interventionism facilities as in remote populations or rural locations.