Background and study aims: Most follow-up studies of patients with com
mon bile duct stones treated with endoscopic sphincterotomy include ol
der patients. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to do a medi
um-term follow-up of patients under the age of 60 years, who underwent
endoscopic sphincterotomy and removal of common bile duct stones. Met
hods: Eighty-six (68 women) consecutive patients less than 60 years of
age (median age 47 years) were evaluated. The median observation time
after endoscopic sphincterotomy was 27.1 months. Complete follow-up w
as accomplished in 80 patients. Results: Twenty-five patients had unde
rgone cholecystectomy prior to the endoscopic sphincterotomy. Sixty-on
e patients were discharged after endoscopic sphincterotomy with gallbl
adder left in situ. Cholecystectomy was not needed in 27 patients, of
whom 23 had gallbladder stones. In 13 of 61 patients subsequent electi
ve cholecystectomy was planned at the time of endoscopic sphincterotom
y. Recurrent attacks of biliary colic required elective cholecystectom
y in another thirteen patients. Acute cholecystectomy was undertaken i
n eight patients due to acute cholecystitis (n = 4) or biliary colic (
n = 4). Seven of eight acute cholecystectomies were performed within 1
52 days after the endoscopic sphincterotomy. The overall median time u
ntil cholecystectomy was 51 days (25-75 percentiles, 23-103 days). Con
clusions: One third of the patients had been cholecystectomized prior
to the endoscopic treatment of their common bile duct stones. Nearly h
alf of the young patients discharged after endoscopic sphincterotomy f
or common bile duct stones with the gallbladder left in situ at the ti
me of endoscopic sphincterotomy managed well without any need for chol
ecystectomy.