[Internal biliary fistulas of cholelithic origin].

The investigations performed have established that the cause of formation of internal biliary fistulas in 162 patents was cholelithiasis in combination with obstruction of the bile tracts, purulent cholelithiasis, cholangiolitic abscesses of the liver, pancreatitis and cholelithic ileus. The operation of choice is thought to be cholecystectomy, removal of the stones from the bile ducts, reestablishment of the major bile outflow, liquidation of the pathological anastomosis and suturing the hollow organ defect. Fibrogastroduodenoscopy, retrograde cholangiopancreatography and percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography are the most informative methods of diagnosing the internal biliary fistulas. The postoperative lethality was 17.2%.