Early endoscopic sphincterotomy for extraction of residual stones of the common bile duct.

Retained calculi of the common bile duct are a significant cause of morbidity after operations upon the biliary tract. When percutaneous extraction is not possible or delay undesirable, endoscopic sphincterotomy is a safe and effective technique even when used in the early postoperative period. Five such patients treated at Beth Israel Medical Center within the past year are presented and discussed. Successful stone extraction was done in all patients, and there was no morbidity or mortality related to the procedure.