[Current approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of residual choledocholithiasis]

Residual calculi were removed by different methods in 704 patients aged 22-86 years having residual choledocholithiasis. The author considers non-operative eradication of it to be a preferable method for patients with the external drain of bile ducts, for patients without the drain endoscopic papillosphincterotomy (EPST) should be chosen. The removal of residual concrements with the Dormia basket through the external bile fistula gave positive results in 94.5% of cases. The effectiveness of EPST in removing the calculi without the external drain was 86%. Reoperations were performed in 9.5% of the patients. Long-term results were followed up in all the patients during 5 years: good long-term results after non-operable removal of the residual calculi through the external duct were from 92% during the first 3 years to 98% in the following 7-10 years.