Endoscopic ultrasound in diagnosis and treatment of choledocholithiasis in children

   Aim. To evaluate the informativeness of endoscopic ultrasound examination in children with suspected choledocholithiasis.   Materials and methods. The study enrolled 20 patients with suspected choledocholithiasis. All patients underwent endoscopic ultrasound. Patient follow-up ranged from 4 to 14 months.   Results. Endoscopic ultrasound proved to be informative in all patients and determined the treatment tactics in 10 patients. In 1 observation, the results of endoscopic ultrasound allowed for omitting endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography as well as surgery. No complications were reported during the diagnostic examination.   Conclusion. Endoscopic ultrasound is considered to be an informative and safe method in adults as well as in children. High efficiency in detecting gallstones enabled unnecessary and traumatic surgical interventions to be avoided. Assessment of anatomic features of the ductal system during endoscopic ultrasound serves as a significant factor for safer transpapillary surgeries.