[Composition of gallbladder and bile duct calculi]

The composition of gallbladder and bile duct stones removed at the time of cholecystectomy was analysed in a consecutive series of 45 patients. The type of stones at the two sites was similar in all but two patients. Cholesterol content differed by more than 20% in only six patients. Cholesterol stones were found in the gallbladder of 33 patients, in the bile duct of 36 patients (73 and 80%, respectively); mixed stones in eight and five patients, respectively (18 and 11%); brown-pigment stones in three patients each (7%); black-pigment stones in one patient each (2%). Bile duct stones overlooked during cholecystectomy are thus suitable for litholysis, e.g. by irrigation with monooctanoin, in the majority of cases.