Recurrent common duct stones, with special reference to primary common duct stones

A series of 1,358 cholelithic patients operated on at 32 affiliated hospitals during the last year and 492 patients operated on at authors' hospital during the last 21 years were reviewed with special reference to the cases of recurrent common duct stones. Of the former series 15 patients and of the latter series 12 patients respectively were reoperated on for recurrent, but not for residual, common duct stones, and all of them had in the markedly dilated common duct bilirubin stones showing characteristics of stasis stone-primary in common duct. Two representative cases are presented briefly. Congenital hypotonia of the common duct and inflammatory choledochitis are condemned and bilioenterostomy is recommended for preventing stone recurrences.