Per endoscopic sphincterotomy: a minimum trauma technique for the removal of retained common bile duct stones.

Drainage of the biliary tree and removal of retained common bile duct stones can be achieved by performing a sphincterotomy of the ampulla of Vater using a diathermy sphincterotome directed through a fibre-optic endoscope. The procedure was successfully performed on two patients considered unfit for abdominal surgery. It is a useful method in selected patients to release stones retained in the common bile duct after cholecystectomy.