Choledochoduodenostomy for calculous biliary tract disease

M. Huguier, F. Lacaine, S. Houry and G. Pascal

After the opening of the common bile duct, several controversial procedures may be used. In choledocholithiasis, our preference is to perform choledochoduodenostomy in older patients. We report the results in 77 consecutive patients with a mean age of 75 years. There were two hospital deaths (2.6%). Follow-up ranged from six months to 15 years, with an average of 6.7 years. Fifty patients are alive and well. Twenty-five patients have died. Only two patients were unavailable for follow-up. Expected mortality in the French population corresponding in age and sex was 29 deaths and the overall survival is not different, including the two postoperative deaths. Delicate technique allows anastomoses to ducts of any size, with no difference in long-term survival compared with a French population similar in age and sex.