Hazards following T-tube removal after choledochotomy

Eight patients from a total number of 105 who underwent, after choledochotomy and T-tube drainage, removal of the T tube had severe adverse reactions develop secondary to bacteremia from the presence of bile infection and possibly to minor trauma secondary to T-tube removal. Taking into consideration the various characteristics of the aforementioned patients in terms of clinical presentation and of operative findings, we conclude that, in clinical practice, T-tube drainage after choledochotomy has to be avoided in the presence of the aforementioned clinical and operative elements. For those patients, it could be safer to consider either primary closure of the coledochotomy or internal biliary drainage through either choledochoduodenostomy or sphincteroplasty.