Choledochoscopic removal of retained stones via a T-tube tract

Common duct stones retained after choledocholithotomy were removed in 11 patients under intravenous sedation using the Olympus fiberoptic choledochoscope passed through a T-tube tract. A total of 39 stones were removed during 12 procedures, with one patient requiring 2 procedures for complete stone removal. All common duct stones were removed, with no patient requiring further operation or procedures for stone removal. The complication rate was low; one patient had pancreatitis and four patients had a transient fever 8 to 12 hours after the procedure. Direct visualization proved an advantage in stone removal, and the patients were not exposed to the radiation required by the fluoroscopic method of stone extraction.