[Common bile duct calculi after biliary surgery. Postoperative endoscopic papillotomy is the solution].

In 37 patients with retained bile duct stones after operation using a T-tube, endoscopic papillotomy (EPT) was used as the therapeutic procedure. In 27 patients the stones were successfully removed in one session. Eight patients needed two to six endoscopic attempts before the stones could be removed. In two patients we failed to solve the problem endoscopically; in both patients we could remove the stone through the T-tube channel using a Dormia basket. The endoscopic method of removing retained bile duct stones is safe and quick. Most of the patients can be discharged from the hospital the following day.