Intermediate Risk of Choledocolithiasis: Are We on the Right Path?

Abstract

Abstract Background Choledocolithiasis is the presence of stones in the bile duct, commonly associated with cholelithiasis, with an incidence of 5-18%. Risk of choledocolithiasis should be assessed in every patient who must undergo cholecystectomy to define the next step, which can be either surgical or endoscopic. The American Gastroenterology Society (ASGE) proposed a predictor scale of choledocolithiasis based on ultrasound findings, liver function tests, and the presence of pancreatitis and/or cholangitis. Therefore we aim to describe our experience managing patients with intermediate risk of choledocolithiasis according to the ASGE guidelines and actual presence of bile duct stones in magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography. Methods A retrospective observational study with a prospective database was conducted. Patients over 18 years old who complied with inclusion criteria between January and December 2019, were registered. Descriptive statistics of all study parameters were provided. Analysis included socio demographic data, laboratory values ​​and imaging. Bivariate, multivariate and ROC analysis was performed. Results 327 patients with biliary disease were classified as having intermediate risk for choledocolithiasis. Half the patients were at least 65 years old (iqr 20). All patients underwent MRI cholangiography. 24.77% were diagnosed with choledocolithiasis. Bile duct dilation was documented in only 3.06% of cases. Diagnosis of choledocolithiasis is associated with age OR: 1.87 (p 0.02), alkaline phosphatase OR: 2.44 (p 0.02) and bile duct dilation < 6 mm OR: 14.65 (p 0.00). Conclusions There is a high proportion of patients classified as intermediate risk who did not have choledocolithiasis by colangioresonance. There is a persistently high variability in accuracy of imaging techniques in intermediate risk patients. Therefore, enhancing the criteria to define intermediate risk for patients in order to optimize resources is of paramount importance.