[Endoscopic sphincterotomy in choledocholithiasis (author's transl)].

43 patients had 51 endoscopic sphincterotomies within 4 years; there were 2 complications, 7 patients had to have surgery in spite of endoscopic sphincterotomy. Stones, which had been left unnoticed in the choledochus during surgery could be removed in all cases endoscopically. These results speak in favour of endoscopic sphincterotomy, if compared to results of other non-operative treatments of retained bile duct stones such as percutaneous stone extraction. Endoscopic sphincterotomy has been widely used meanwhile and may be apt now to be introduced as a routine procedure also in smaller hospitals.