BILIARY STENTING FOR MANAGEMENT OF COMMON BILE-DUCT STONES

Large and multiple common bile duct stones may defy extraction despite an adequate endoscopic papillotomy;. We treated 65 patients with symp tomatic bile duct stones with endoscopic stents after failed attempts at: stone extraction. Of the 65 patients, bile duct stones were extrac ted in eight at a second attempt, 29 underwent elective surgery and 28 patients were followed with the stent in situ for 21-52 months (media n 42 months). During follow up, two patients had recurrent pain and tw o required surgery. The remaining 24 patients remained asymptomatic. B iliary stenting is a safe and effective mode of treatment. fur common bile duct stones in patients who have failed stone extraction after en doscopic papillotomy.