[Mirizzi syndrome: anamnesis, diagnosis and therapy based on 5 cases]

It is reported on 5 patients with Mirizzi syndrome. This syndrome is defined by the trias "chronic cholecystitis, cholelithiasis and benign stenosis of the hepatic duct with jaundice". The biliobiliary fistulas are the more severe forms of this syndrome. There is no typical anamnesis. The diagnosis can be assumed by sonography or computed tomography. A biliobiliary fistula can be demonstrated by direct cholangiography (ERC or PTC). The malignant tumor of the gallbladder or the bile duct is a difficult differential diagnosis. The cholecystectomia simplex is the therapy of choice in the uncomplicated Mirizzi syndrome. In case of a biliobiliary fistula one should try to close the defect of the hepatic duct with a "cuff of the gallbladder". If this procedure is technically impossible, several methods of biliodigestive anastomosis can be chosen.