title: [Primary common bile duct closure after choledochotomy].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the rationality and feasibility of primary closure of the common bile duct after choledochotomy for common bile duct calculi.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 1990 to June 2001, 386 patients with the evidence of stones in the common bile duct underwent choledochotomy. Among them, 215 received primary closure of the common bile duct (group A) and 171 T-tube drainage (group B). The patients with emergency operations were excluded. Intraoperative choledochoscopy or cholangiography was routinely performed to rule out the possibility of retained stones. The duct was meticulously stitched using 0/3 to 0/5 absorbent sutures for primary closure. A T-tube was placed in the subhepatic space in the patients of both groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Postoperative bile leakage was seen in 9 patients of group A and in 5 of group B, respectively (P > 0.05), and no reoperations were necessary. After surgery, the average time and volume of transfusion was 4.9 days and 9.1 liters in group A, versus 7.3 days and 12.8 liters in group B (P < 0.01). The patients in group B had a longer postoperative hospital stay than the those in group A (average 17.6:10.0 days, P < 0.01). T-tube removal resulted in bile peritonitis in 5 patients at day 16, 17, 19, 21 and 22 after surgery in group B, and 3 patients required repeated surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Primary closure of the common bile duct after choledochotomy is safe, effective, and inexpensive in selected patients with common bile duct calculi, and should be regarded as an alternative procedure.
authors.affiliation: Jinhua Municipal Central Hospital, Zhejiang 321000, China. xlt5211@cmmsil.com
authors.forename: Longtang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Zhangdong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Rongjin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Genjun
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Jiansheng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Jiamin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Tianding
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zeng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001662:Biliary Tract Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D042883:Choledocholithiasis / Q000601:surgery*; D003135:Common Bile Duct / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome