Removal of common bile duct stones after emergency drainage of the gall bladder.

Because of the hazards associated with cholecystectomy and choledochotomy in acute biliary tract disease, cholecystostomy may be performed as an emergency procedure. Postoperative tube cholangiography in such patients may show calculi in the biliary ducts. The percutaneous extraction of these calculi prior to cholecystectomy simplifies the elective surgical procedure.