Successful treatment of postoperative external biliary fistulas by endoscopic sphincterotomy

External biliary fistulas occur as a complication of biliary tract surgery. Until recently, excision of the fistula was the primary therapeutic modality. We describe seven cases of postoperative external biliary fistula successfully treated by endoscopic papillotomy. Fistulation occurred in four patients after operations for hydatid cysts of the liver, in one patient after cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis, in one patient with carcinoma of the periampullary region after a decompression procedure, and in the remaining patient after an intraoperative biopsy of a carcinoma of the gallbladder. Endoscopic sphincterotomy is a reliable and effective therapeutic alternative in patients with external biliary fistulas.