A fourteen‐year experience with nonoperative instrument extraction of retained bile duct stones

This is a report of nonoperative extraction of residual biliary stones in 1,086 patients over a period of 14 years. Successful stone extraction was accomplished in 95.9% of patients, including extractions effected through the most complex accesses of the cystic duct. The author favors the use of a variety of extraction instruments because so doing makes it possible to cope with the various situations which may arise. It is strongly recommended that surgeons leave short, large diameter drainage tubes in the common bile duct, so as to facilitate the instrumental extraction of residual stones should this need arise.