Influence of endoscopic papillotomy on the management of bile duct stones

In a 4 year period two hundred and seventy-nine patients were treated for gallstones in a single surgical unit. One hundred and thirteen were treated for stones in the bile duct, of them 49 patients were treated surgically and 64 endoscopically. Twenty-three patients had papillotomy without previous cholecystectomy. There were two deaths, both after surgery following failure of endoscopic treatment. Morbidity was greater in the surgically treated group. It is concluded that a large proportion of patients with bile duct stones can be treated by endoscopic papillotomy.