[Endoscopic papillotomy and extraction of bile duct calculi in patients with gallbladder in situ and cholelithiasis].

Cholecystectomy with surgical papillotomy is a prolonged procedure with significant morbidity and mortality. In patient stay is usually extended. Occasionally the bad general conditions and the advanced age of the patients contraindicate surgical procedures. Eventually, the drainage of the biliary ducts is inevitable. For this reason, since 1983, we are performing the endoscopic papillotomy and extraction of stones from the bile duct in patients with choledocholithiasis and cholelithiasis. Cholecystectomy was performed only in cases with real necessity. Ninety one patients, 26 men and 65 women, between 25 and 82 years, have been submitted to this procedure in our department. Cholecystectomy was performed in 52 cases after 24 to 72 hours post-papillotomy. Due to acute cholecystitis 12 patients had to be operated after a period of 2 months to 2 years. No cholecystectomy was performed in 27 patients, they are still asymptomatic. Then were no mortality related to the method.