Endoscopic papillotomy without cholecystectomy for bile duct stones.

Endoscopic papillotomy without cholecystectomy has been performed in 20 elderly patients with complications of bile duct stones. Good biliary drainage was achieved in 17, and there were no complications. One cholecystectomy was subsequently required. Later deaths have been due to unrelated causes. It is concluded that endoscopic treatment alone may be all that is required to manage bile duct stones in the elderly.