Primary choledochorrhaphy after common bile duct exploration.
OBJECTIVE
To prove further the safety of primary closure of the common bile duct.


METHODS
Twenty patients among 99 common bile duct explorations underwent primary closure. Pre- and postoperative liver function test, ultrasound and intraoperative cholangiography data, operation time, postoperative complications and the length of postoperative stay were recorded.


RESULTS
Nineteen patients did not suffer any biliary complication. One had bile leakage and bile peritonitis, and another had duodenal leakage. One case was complicated by gastric ulcer perforation. The mean postoperative hospital stay except for the 2 patients with complications was 8.72 +/- 0.75 days. Preoperative abnormal liver function tests recovered within 2-3 weeks after the operation. Postoperative ultrasound scan of the biliary tract within 2 months revealed no stenosis and residual stone.


CONCLUSIONS
Primary common bile duct closure is a safe alternative to routine biliary drainage in selected patients.
Tu
Z
Z
Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Ganquan Hospital, Medical School of Shanghai Tiedao University, Shanghai, PR China.
Li
J
J
Xin
H
H
Zhu
Q
Q
Cai
T
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001649:Bile Duct Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002768:Choledochostomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D003135:Common Bile Duct / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D016896:Treatment Outcome