[Long stump of the cystic duct causing trouble after cholecystectomy (author's transl)]

Of 4,058 patients who had had surgery in the years 1964-1977 because of disease of the extrahepatic biliary system 232 had to be operated upon again; in 9% of these the remaining stump of the cystic duct was found to be too long. In one third of these cases a causal relationship between long stump and clinical trouble could be suspected. From analysing these cases it became clear, that complications arising in the long stump e.g. inflammation or formation of new stones, involving in some cases extended parts of the hepatic biliary system,--caused the troubles. Reoperation should be performed early; a long stump should be shortened and the biliary duct system should be investigated intraoperatively in order to exclude other pathological conditions. Three fourths of our patients became symptom-free after the second operation; in the other patients secondary changes of the hepatic biliary system had already become autonomous and were responsible for the further course of the disease.