Biliary lithiasis: combined endoscopic and surgical treatment.

A combined endoscopic and surgical procedure was performed in 69 patients suffering from gallbladder lithiasis with suspected associated lithiasis of the common bile duct (CBD). The procedure was spread over two days: Day 1 - Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) revealed choledocholithiasis in 50 cases and papillary sclerosis in 4 cases. In 15 patients, the common bile duct was found to be normal. Fifty-four endoscopic sphincterotomies were performed. Among the 50 cases of choledocholithiasis, endoscopic removal of the stones was judged complete in 44 cases and incomplete in the other 6. Day 2 - Cholecystectomy was carried out in all the patients. Peroperative cholangiography confirmed the results of the pre-operative ERCP with respect to the CBD in all the patients except one, and a choledochotomy was necessary in 6 patients. Results were as follows: The average length of hospitalization was 12.4 days. No residual choledocholithiasis was noted. The morbidity of the procedure was 7.2%, and the mortality 1.4% unrelated to the technique. The diagnostic and therapeutic significance of the procedure is discussed.