title: Biliary lithiasis: retrospective analysis of a case series.
abstract: The paper analyses a series of biliary lithiasis cases encountered in 1983-92 in which cholelithiasis accounted for 79.3%, cholecystocholedochic calculosis for 16.6%, chronic stenotic papillitis for 2.1%, residual/recurring calculosis of the main biliary way after cholecystectomy for 1.7% and intrahepatic calculosis for 0.3%. Among the cases involving the main biliary way, the highest percentage (35/50 cases or 70%) of transduodenal papillosphincterostomies was performed in the first five years, while endoscopic papillosphincterotomy prevailed (28/42 or 66.7%) in the second five years. The endoscopic technique was initially considered elective for residual/recurring biliary calculosis after cholecystectomy and for cholecystocholedochic calculosis in patients who were elderly and/or at risk. Thereafter its use was gradually extended as technological developments allowed its use as a complementary technique in cases of giant stones. The advent of minimally invasive surgery has given a further boost to the use of endoscopic clean-up procedures in cases of biliary calculosis prior to laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The laparoscopic treatment of gallstones is a more recent development.
authors.affiliation: Division of General Surgery B, S. Giovanni Battista and Turin City Hospital, Italy.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lasagna
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002763:Cholecystectomy; D002768:Choledochostomy; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000401:mortality; D012189:Retrospective Studies