Retained common bile duct stones. Endoscopic papillotomy is the preferred approach.

In six patients who had undergone cholecystectomy and common bile duct exploration, the postoperative T-tube cholangiogram demonstrated stones. Endoscopic cholangiography demonstrated a normal common bile duct in 2 patients and stones in 4 patients. In the latter group, endoscopic papillotomy and stone extraction were successful.