The problem of the cystic duct remnant

Symptoms persisting after cholecystectomy for gallbladder disease are often attributed to a long residual cystic duct. Of 30 patients who underwent excision of their cystic duct remnant, 15 were found to have common duct stones which accounted for their symptoms, while an additional four patients had had previous episodes of jaundice which suggested passage of a common duct stone. Those patients with common duct disease in addition to the cystic duct remnant were completely relieved of their symptoms by operation while only eight of the patients without common duct stones obtained relief. A cystic duct remnant infrequently causes symptoms in the absence of pathologic conditions in the common duct.