[12 years' experience in surgery of the biliary tract]

Operations on the biliary tract increase constantly, not only in our country, but around the world. From a total number of operations performed in our department in one year period, those caused by biliary disorders increased from 6.4% (1970) to 28% (1980). The authors present a low mortality rate and few intra- and postoperative complications. By contrasting X-ray and ultrasound, the diagnosis in 97.5% of the cases was exact. Having combined intraoperative cholangiography and choledochoscopy, the percentage of residual stones decrease do 1.5%; there have also been reduced indications of bilio-digestive anastomosis and papillotomy. The common bile duct is not to be closed primarily, instead a T-Tube is to be put in. The authors insist on retrograde cholecystectomy and they place a drain in the majority of cases.