Early post-operative endoscopy after biliary tract surgery

Immediate post-operative complications such as obstructive jaundice, biliary fistulae or gastrointestinal hemorrhage, occurring after biliary tract surgery can be diagnosed endoscopically. The causes of bile flow obstruction and leakage from the common bile duct can be identified using ERC. In many cases the diagnosis can be followed by endoscopic treatment, therefore obviating re-laparotomy. Between 1972 and 1979 we carried out early post-operative ERC or esophago-gastro-duodenoscopy in a total of 94 patients after biliary tract surgery. In 75 patients with residual gallstones and 4 cases with overlooked stenoses of the papilla, successful papillotomies were carried out. The procedure was unsuccessful in one case with an extremely narrow papilla. Complete removal of stones was achieved in 72 cases. In two other patients with gastroduodenal stress ulcers, bleeding was stopped by submucosal infiltration.