BILIARY SURGERY FOR BENIGN DISEASE - STUDY OF 500 CONSECUTIVE OPERATIONS

An analysis of 500 consecutive operations on the biliary tract for benign disease, performed over a 5 year period is presented. Twenty-two per cent of patients had common duct exploration, and the incidence of choledochotomy increased with advancing age. The overall incidence of choledocholithiasis was 15.2% and calculi in the common duct were found more frequently in the elderly. The use of operative cholangiography increased over the 5 year study period, but was not associated with any change in the incidence of common bile duct exploration or choledocholithiasis. Four patients had re-exploration for retained calculus (0.8%). The overall operative mortality was 0.6%. © 1978, Springer-Verlag. All rights reserved.