BACKGROUND: The recurrence rates of choledocholithiasis depend on the type of the disease. This study was undertaken to examine recurrent lithiasis after surgical treatment of elderly patients with choledocholithiasis, especially with primary common bile duct stones, and thereby to determine the best treatment modality for choledocholithiasis in the elderly.
METHODS: The recurrence rates of choledocholithiasis were calculated from the records of 193 outpatients who had been treated from January 1993 to January 2005 and monitored for periods ranging from 1 to 12 years (mean 6.7 years). The patients were divided into 3 groups: 81 who had undergone choledocholithotomy and T-tube drainage, 41 who had had choledochoduodenostomy, and 71 patients who had received choledochojejunostomy.
RESULTS: Since the 41 choledochoduodenostomy cases had only one recurrence of choledocholithiasis, the recurrence rate was analyzed for the remaining 152 cases, which were divided into two groups: group A with recurrent lithiasis (13 cases), and group B without recurrence (139 cases). The recurrence was found in 7 patients after choledocholithotomy and T-tube drainage (7/81, 8.6%), and in 6 patients after choledochojejunostomy (6/71, 8.5%). The recurrence rates for these procedures were higher than for choledochoduodenostomy (1/41, 2.4%, P<0.05). Moreover, stones recurred in 4 of the 11 patients with primary bile duct stones who underwent choledocholithotomy and T-tube drainage (4/11, 36.4%), and in 5 of the 34 patients who had choledochojejunostomy (5/34, 14.7%). The recurrence rates for these procedures were higher than for choledochoduodenostomy (1/39, 2.6%, P<0.05). The diameter of the common bile duct was more dilated in group A (14.6±3.9 mm) than in group B (10.8±4.5 mm, P<0.05). Primary bile duct stones were found in 9 cases of group A (69.2%), and in 36 cases of group B (25.9%, P<0.01).
CONCLUSION: Choledochoduodenostomy should be recommended for elderly patients with primary bile duct stones to prevent postoperative recurrent lithiasis.