[Choledochoduodenal anastomoses in biliary lithiasis]

In choledocholithiasis, after opening the common bile duct, we used to perform choledochoduodenostomy in old patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate our results in 77 patients. The mean age of the patients was 75 years. Twenty-two patients were operated for angiocholitis, 19 had jaundice, and 36 had gallstones without angiocholitis or jaundice. There was two hospital deaths (2.6 p. cent). All the patients but two could be traced. The mean follow-up was 6.7 years. Two patients had had transients episodes of angiocholitis. Twenty-five patients have dead. Expected mortality in french population corresponding in age and sex was 29 deaths. Our results suggest that choledochoduodenostomy is a safe and effective procedure in the management of calculous biliary tract disease for old patients.