[External drainage of the bile ducts via the stump of the cystic duct to prevent postoperative complications in elderly patients].

Operated on were 165 elderly and 68 young patients for calculous cholecystitis complicated by choledocholithiasis and obstructive jaundice. Drainage through the cystic duct stump is the most effective method for external drainage of the common bile duct in operative interventions on the bile ducts in elderly patients, which permits to reduce considerably the incidence of postoperative complications.